Players take social-media stand after MLB removed images, stories from website
Major League Baseball has removed all images and news stories of active players from their official website following the lockout announcement, and the players are not happy.
This is how rosters now appear on team websites in day one of the lockout. pic.twitter.com/d3l8ww7vvV
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) December 2, 2021
Several players showed their dissatisfaction with the changes by switching their Twitter avatars to the same faceless photo being used on the website.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/monyD2CDeL
— Joe Musgrove (@itsFatherJoe44) December 2, 2021
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/YUmIhSybau
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) December 2, 2021
It’s amazing to see players around the league change their avi in solidarity. MLB can take away our image but never our LIKENESS!
— Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) December 2, 2021
Clubs replaced news stories of active players with content about Hall of Famers, retired players, and great moments in franchise history.
https://t.co/gumOwwxNwe dumped all the stories about the current players. That'll show 'em. pic.twitter.com/39iO3qzWGQ
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) December 2, 2021
Some of the changes led to interesting content appearing as lead stories.
This is the first thing that pops up on the White Sox website now lmaoooo https://t.co/foub9poL5o pic.twitter.com/QcYR6J8QJ5
— DaWindyCity Productions (@dwcprodz) December 2, 2021
Additionally, promotional items involving current players no longer have names attached. The giveaways have been replaced with generic titles.
Oh this is a trip. Promo items based on current players no longer have names attached.
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) December 2, 2021
For example, the giveaway on April 9 was originally Adam Wainwright/Yadier Molina mystery jerseys. Now, get ready for “adult Cardinals battery” mystery jerseys https://t.co/vWp08kqRtQ pic.twitter.com/iqI516k56T
During a press conference on Thursday, commissioner Rob Manfred said the changes were made for legal purposes.
MLB entered a lockout after the league and players' union could not agree on a new collective bargaining agreement before Wednesday's deadline, forcing baseball's first work stoppage in 26 years.
Sentiment among players that the league's readiness to scrub https://t.co/7QjUM7HxKr of their likeness shows that they were interested in the appearance of negotiation more than actually negotiating
— Joon Lee 이준엽 (@joonlee) December 2, 2021