Why today's MLB labor talks represented a step in the right direction

In the land of MLB lockdowns, concessions made are progress.

Talks between two groups don’t begin when they sit down at a table and start negotiating. The talks truly begin when concessions are made.

Any concessions. It can be an amount of money in player arbitration or one of the issues that the other side wanted looked at badly. Progress is made by lessening what you want in order for the greater good. In this “greater good,” it’s a baseball season played by highly-paid individuals starting on time.

Imagine if Starbucks or McDonalds didn’t open on time—or at all due to labor disputes between the employees and owners. The people who just want a good hot cup of coffee that their taste buds adore will be unhappy and go somewhere else. The people who just needed that comforting egg mcmuffin before the big meeting will now be getting a flattened croissant sandwich from Burger King.