Marvin Miller is turning over in his grave.

My friend Eric sent me an e-mail with that subject and this in the body of the message:

"Could the player's union be any dumber?"

Here is what provoked it:

MLB, MLBPA agree to enhance joint drug program

More frequent testing, increased suspensions part of new agreement

Marvin Miller was executive director of the MLB Players Association from 1966 to 1982.  Miller transformed the relationship between the players and team owners, which ironically led to unprecedented wealth for both groups.  Apparently a combination of affluence for players and the careless use of social media has contributed to the players turning against each other.  This agreement is an inevitable result.  Future negotiations will be much more difficult for the players on all subjects.

Read the details for yourself but the basic issue is that the players gave something but did not receive anything.  That's a basic dynamic of negotiations.

I discussed this a couple of days ago with a few knowledgeable friends and I made the point that something like this should get a fundamental concession such as an increase in roster size from 25 to 30.  I have long thought that the players would agree to just about anything in exchange for a roster increase.  Instead the players gave up something for nothing.

Also, they did not close a huge hole in the basic agreement: players can be suspended for any number of games without failing a drug test.  The commissioner can do pretty much what he wants.

Further, is this part of a corporate code of conduct?  If so, then all members should be subject to drug testing, including the owners and commissioner Allen Huber "Bud" Selig.  The National Football League (NFL) owner of the Indianapolis Colts was just busted on a drug charge and apparently faces discipline by the NFL commissioner

See my previous post, which I wrote without any hint that the baseball player's union would make this incredible concession:

Crime and Punishment