Can I Save Baseball? (Lockout Simulator Game)

0:00Following baseball means following it to new cities new ball parks new neighborhoods new restaurants and new spots to hit before the very first pitch Sometimes that's a hotel right in the heart of Boston or a weekend in San Diego booking.com makes it easy for every baseball fan to find the right stay Wherever the game is taking you next from where you are to where you want to be that's booking.com booking. Yeah an official travel partner of MLB major league baseball trademarks used with permission Hello and welcome to a very special edition of Wakin Jake. It's the lockout online video game. What do I need to shout out, Beeps? Lockout 2027.com is where you can play. I'll have a link in the description all that lockout simulation game So I heard this came out. We have some of our John Boy media people featured in it And yeah, this is also coming out on Labor Day. We weren't going to be planning on recording so you can consider it bonus content

1:03Might be a weird listen might be a fantastic listen And thank you guys. So this is a little And how how how coincidental Labor Day and where to fix Now we didn't even plan that I see what's happened here Enjoy your Labor Day and if you're one of the people that watches this I hope you like it. So let's get into it again You can you can just make stuff now It's crazy. You guys should see John Boy in the lab making stuff Let's begin. So this is the opening Opening page Jeff pass and tweets out. There's a lockout All characters and events in this game even those based on real people are entire fictional. Okay sure Anya like I've said I've I've played four minutes of this when it came out and then note it was I was playing like through Twitter So it was one of those things I couldn't access like the rest of my phone. Oh, yeah, so I was like I'm not gonna computer helps

2:04I'm not gonna be I'm not gonna keep playing This camp chose texting people um I Should I be me? I think we're gonna I'm technically these are gonna be just the hosts of the program But I I figured you're in this game, so we'll get you um And I believe I'm still in this game, so we'll get me I see what's happened here. Okay Okay Okay, breaking news breaking news There's been a lockout December 2nd. Oh, that's funny So is it midnight December 1st and not midnight Yeah, I guess December 1st is last day Of the scene. That's funny. Okay, calendars. We're shut down. And this is me Huh, I mean there's a blitzball. I like that. I look a little bit that looks like me and a young al lighter Oh, wow

3:05Kind of mixed. Oh, I mean, I guess as I'm looking at myself pretty basic B fluffy hair brown dog Uh, okay labor stoppage good Oh, okay, you got They got me in my check republicat. We love that. Wow some jamboy media stuff. Okay All sorts of stuff. Oh strike The owners want a salary camp. That's true. The players refuse to accept one. Also true Albat Millionaires versus millionaires. Yeah, when this parts are to go and I was like, oh, okay I get it like if you pick any character. This is gonna be yeah, I believe I believe these are basically You know predetermined dialogue. I think we'll we'll just take Rob man. We want Rob Manfred. He's the he's the commissioner. We're simulating Uh, who do you you have winning the world series? I remember this being in a an interesting decision for me

4:06Um It's like the game pre highlighted the Dodgers I feel like that's gonna make it tougher for us, but let's do the Dodgers Well, I'm a moto and well good for him. Hell of a ball player Dodgers just won the world series Uh, we can pick anybody Right because this these choices this doesn't actually affect things. I think I picked Ellie when I did my five minute I don't know. They can be a star It's fun reds trade them Um choose your lead owner Um, go Cohen a Cohen for clicks. Yeah, obviously Union leader and bursom iris like that guy now give me CC. I want I want him in charge Oh, you're agent Um, we'll we'll keep it Might as well. He's gonna talk. He's got Boris, you know

5:07Okay, I think that's where I stopped Or no, I did I did this first thing Uh, rumors are swilling commissioner rob manfred could be fired if he fails to broker deal. Okay, and what do we have? So this is a days till opening day possible games remaining And then it kind of has different stamina on how the players are feeling how the owners are feeling and how the public are feeling Yeah, so you get you can see like the the kind of how you're standing with everybody approval ratings I guess it would be the term and and how close you are to losing the season. Okay Let us popular No, no, come on biggest crisis and baseball history So I guess we're technically manfred playing Oh, so where it's one of those types again, we are kind of essentially in Okay, the cameras are live the world is watching commissioner. What do you say? Um, I'm not here to pick side. Let's get both sides in a room and make a deal

6:10Uh, let me be clear We will reach a deal. I'm setting a 90 day deadline. That's not how we do it Before I make promises, I need to hear from both sides. That's kind of my lane Um Um You know, let's go with the red one, right? I'm not here. I'm not here to pick sides. Let's go to both sides in the room make so the owners aren't gonna be happy with me They're probably not gonna like that, but that's true But like how we would handle it. Yeah, let's do that 23% of players are made the same choice. Okay Sick were uniting Okay, I make my announcement Both sides not cautiously a measure. It's our good. Well positive sound of that Am I Rob manfred Is Sarah do we know Sarah T Is that don't recognize that that made up

7:12Because it looks like she's just our assistant In the in the game, but she could be she could be a real person. I'm aware in the game. Okay Uh Great next day Now the real negotiate begins These are the people who decide a basal their CC It's good 1200 players and their families are counting on you commissioner manfred We prefer to be called the clubs and not the owners of Steve Cohen. Okay, it's getting hot It's getting hot. Okay, Steve Cohen trash talking me Boris is there I'm not your enemy commissioner. Just heard to make sure nobody leaves money on the table All right, Ashley my clients All right, here's me an aliter December 4th Tweet from Ellie Dale Cruz. Okay, this is where I stopped

8:12Remind Ellie Dale Cruz tweeted late reminder the game works best when there's actually a game cc at rob manfred hashtag open the gates damn 2 million impressions Ignore it like the tweet the old salty x Retweeted writer response. I'm ignoring that. I'm rob manfred. I'm above this. You don't need to tweet I'm above this. I shouldn't be doing this I say this is a little bit of weird third person commissioner saying silent interesting play So this is an episode of wakenjake and wakenjake yeah, they're kind of just watching Wakenjake uh Publicated that And the players owners didn't care. Okay, I'm just trying it. I'm just trying to get the people to game I've core issues expansion team salar calf floor

9:12Only a salary this is where the game begins. Okay Tap any issue and learn what's at stake. Um, I mean, am I gonna end up clicking all of these or like what pretty much I think some depending how how you play in my experience you might end up leaving one sort of Uh, time to iron out. Let's do the team salar cap in the floor. Right. I mean, that's the big one. That's what we're here for Players the players don't want to cap the owners do right That's a long way of saying that all the small market teams want to be able to compete. Oh, okay Oh, this is this screen is just okay, we know that we know that we're in the game Complete this checklist to end the lockout and save baseball. Okay Oh, so the Team salar cap is locked Worried about that and what's the other thing that's locked down there The bottom one there issue something we just got to work through. Okay, maybe some other issues are this is kind of like lockout meets organ trail

10:20Little bit. I think that's how they would describe it Uh-oh expansion big topic here. This is inception right now. Wow Multiple owners filed for expansion. Okay Nashville Portland Montreal the list goes on the players love expansion more teams more roster spots, but the owners They like the fees billions, but hate the competition tricky Uh, yes to expansion blah blah I mean people already know here where I'm pro expansion I have an expansion path the draft is fun for me um We can find bodies We can find bodies Expansion is on the table, but how many teams? Oh my god We're not clicking 16. It's two new teams 32. That's fine Yeah, good round number

11:20Who like that? Oh people playing the game like that. Okay, most people when they when they click right 2.5 bill for franchise to new team sure Expansion is back. I can't wait That's gonna be some fun apps for us. You're gonna have some fun Let's have some fun. This beat is sick That's a double a pitcher texted you Yeah Texted me saying this is gonna give him his shot stop texting Seth May that's you would text Seth may to be fair I will I would do that Okay, I'm texting him Uh, okay, we're sneaking up on the holidays Which issue do you want to work on next Minimum salary years before free agency revenue sharing. Okay, so we need to do the other issues before we get on the cap floor Let's do the uh, let's do

12:25Revenue sharing that's I feel like that was the last lockouts Deal Commissioner man Fred wants to talk revenue sharing first the owners already circling the way. It's okay Oh Steve Cohen national media deal brings in 12 billion the players get their cut one more do they want We want transparency says CC he would he would type it with two C's Transparency C We know the real numbers are higher open the books god. I'm having flashbacks right now Wow Now is our decision point Uh Current revenue structure is fair Progress 50 50 split on new media deals Demand independent audit of all 30 teams know Here for small mark increased What's that say increased tired? Reve? Teared revenue sharing among owners

13:30Getting getting more to the to the small little guys Um Current revenue structures there Let's Again Some of the owners aren't gonna like this. Let's go tiered. Let's start spreading that money out a little So Cohen's into it Cohen likes it. I doubt that Better than nothing we need more okay Looks like we're doing great. Yeah, we covered revenue sharing that's I'm bad add more to the proposal 99 days to opening day. Oh shoot. We are in it Shedding down for the holidays. Yep. I like that. That's in the game because that's how it'll be yep. Okay After the one reporter lingers barber Jackson Barbara don't linger here around the holidays

14:31Get out of here Barbara What? Meet barber Jackson. What is this? I don't know this was Not like you're guaranteed to get this situation Dude Do the middle option. We're staying away We're not putting ourselves at risk I don't I don't know barber Jackson Howl days and go-shadings are going pause says bbd Nobody wants to be the Grinch classic They're not talking oh my god Seth May is always texting and emailing us Seth May I didn't know he was gonna be such a big part of this I don't know if I have a job in February. Yeah, there's gonna be stories like that. Oh man. Oh

15:32What's gonna be Are we gonna have guys drive an Uber eats are we gonna have oh there's gonna be some Uber stories only fans Mm-hmm. I don't know That's the new year happy new year We're back pictures and catchers in three weeks. I don't think that's gonna happen Okay, what do we got I was just saying what's on what's on the agenda's and negotiations city selection Realignment all that okay, oh Uh-oh going just got off the phone with Bob nutting It's a bad sign. Oh Oh, okay, it's the so-fi suite. Oh for the Super Bowl in LA people forget that wow I'm Valentine's Day so see you there Um interesting

16:34Goodwill with ownership Ah, this is tough the Super Bowl It's a Super Bowl suite. I think you got to be real you're attending Super Bowl in LA you're gonna talk a bunch of owners there Most popular decisions to really All these guys doing oh Ellie players hated it Okay, what Caching in on Super Bowl tickets Ellie you got a chill, Bob No baseball is trending Oh my god, Tony Clark Tony Clark's new book sisters This is This is Clark was named a name okay, Tony Clark out of here Clark was supposed to protect us and said he's profiting off of our pain

17:36I get Jesus okay Okay, so we're commenting on Tony Clark's book we're issuing a statement on Tony Clark The Owners I'm launching an investigation the fans to serve the truth We're in a good spot with owners right now. I'm making all future negotiations fully public. That's not happening Uh, I'm gonna find a way to my all sides happy Um to the top one the players are the real victims. I'm launching an independent review You know That's a good Yeah, it's the part It's the part of negotiations where throwing the players a little something Because I'm really what It's for Tony Clark sister sister Nashville Portland Monterey all

18:36Um You think we need the full get cities we're not getting the presentations we already know the presentations I think review top cities Support for today's episode comes from square there's a good chance your favorite local spot runs on square already And if check out there just feel smoother than everywhere else That's probably why whether you're selling smoothies cut in hair fixing bikes or running a boutique Square gives business owners one connected system to take payment manage inventory run payroll and send invoices all from one place Businesses using square online earn 36% more revenue on average any payment method is covered tap chip apple pay online Square isn't just fast. It's built for the way people actually run their businesses right now You can get up to $200 off square hard where it's square.com slash go slash bakers that's square.com slash go slash bakers run your business smarter with square get started today So who do we got albacurkey? No, I think these are ordered alphabetically

19:39Calgary no Charlotte no Chicago third team Chicago 13 LA You can they get some options in um, I mean let's do Nashville right Nashville's happening I think literally And figuratively great city Um And then I get assault lake was our original daydream. Let's I kind of like Austin, but Austin gets one I think we can pick we can pick up to five to pitch us right now. Oh, okay, then let's do Austin Um throw Montreal in there I like that um Get like Portland in the mix. They're they're just a common choice. I know they are a common choice Uh to chalky it's a little chalky. Let's do Portland Yeah, I wanted to get mexico city in there, but Austin that is that's what Austin looks like people if you haven't been

20:44Boomtown with a boardroom tech capital of the south fastest growing metro. All right I I'm not super locked into these presentations Nashville Already sells out stadiums Nash about a fortune 500 music It's what it looks like in my head that is Portland I went there once City with a strong identity Pacific West Stadiums going to be a public fight absolutely Montreal you know they used to used to have baseball International metro they never stops loving baseball God blue jays would hate that so like city Yeah, very pretty place Mountain market regional monopoly like that

21:44Family friendly Okay So now we pick we pick the end so now we gotta pick all right so we're going Nashville That was locked in from the start Did that presentation change anything for us um You know what I think it did Uh Let's go Austin wow yeah, we're just Two cool new cities we're going for it I Don't feel great about it. I feel like I panicked Okay expansion draft I mean you got university of Texas Austin's booming people yeah people are still That could be that could be great Ain't no state income tax all that Be warm Uh what do we got here the players competitive long competitive balance

22:45Realignment or no realignment the realignment's coming I think we kind of got a we're doing it Oh, yeah, oh three divisions per league or four to oh yeah and we're at 30 teams now I've got this when I played the previous times I played all I think this is kind of the fun part I Let's try the four I was interested by it divisions per league so that will be eight divisions total of four teams per yeah Those of you keeping score at home Oh they smokes Yankees red socks Orioles blue jays can you zoom in at all babes Okay, yeah, that would be great Yeah So I think we can move these teams around to yeah I mean, let's go nuts Let's get trade the mats for the Orioles oh

23:47Shoot Um and then do we want the blue jays What was the other team we're putting in the northeast I think in the past we've talked about fillies and it's just the Just the hate division. Yeah, that's a blood bath. Oh Um Yeah, but the fillies there let's do it Uh in the north white socks twins tigers guardians Cubbies this is tricky um Okay, put Austin with the Astros and Rangers. That's a no-brainer. Mm-hmm Let's get the race just out of there Yeah Let's get them let's get them in the NL get them away from yeah, we don't need that Um The royals with Kansas City be a good fit the Rockies that would just be a death wish. I guess they're just frequent Texas

24:50um Which it isn't easy flight Let's do that because the Rockies have kind of been a problem Trade them for the royals Mm So we're getting the royals in here. Yes, and then in the West athletics angels mariners Um can't put Nashville Dodgers Giants Padres D-Backs, huh? I want to keep the Dodgers Giants and Padres together Um Let's go put the D-Backs D-Backs could change People could change D-Backs to the AL West yes Uh, so Dodgers Giants Padres God, I forgot how tricky this exercises the maps just just funky that map just be mapping sometime Um God, we really should add it a Western team, huh

25:50Yeah, it makes us a lot tougher Nashville can't play in the West um all right put the Rockies in the NL West again Because we can find another yeah put Nashville there two expansion teams and one is that nuts? We swap them we can swap them with somebody I think we're gonna want them in the NL South Okay, in the National right uh put the Cardinals of God people would hate that Tough to get get the raise back to the AL let's put the Royals back in the AL South So they were originally there they're now in the NL North which never made sense So that was my bad go there put the Cardinals in the NL North On the other keep their their old friends raised their so with the Cubs Rave some Arlins raised Nashville Cubs brewers reds cards nationals pirates Orioles Blue is yeah It's pretty Pretty logical you could trade

26:54I mean the Blue Jays Orioles pirates Um, no Um trade Blue Jays and Phillies I was being dramatic but um Then you have two Philly teams Or excuse me two Pennsylvania teams two pirates and the Phillies and then the two DMV teams okay This is the future of baseball people confirm Yeah, we just we just change it all we kind of leaned into the current rivalries More than changing them as the I like less travel I think the nice travel I think we all like less travel I think everybody would like that Okay, keep going Barber Jackson back Coffee offer still stands

28:02How are those the only You know I'm not saying no So what oh my god What the fuck when did Barbara Barbara's crazy we can't barb Okay, which issue do you want to tell oh my god Am I the commissioner we have to cover minimum salary right let's do minimum salary I See sees battling of course we haven't kept up at the rate of inflation Cutting development but it's Scott Boris defending it Uh, so with the one mill and annual salary Um annual CPI adjustments Time minimum to team revenue no like that games the game yeah um

29:06Let's do This is probably the genuine yeah, let's go with that we're gonna be aiming for a male With some CPI adjustments CC likes it a little bit Cohen doesn't like it Okay, doesn't like it but it's not a deal breaker Steve Cohen understands it's a business we gave them two teams Okay, so what do we need we need years before free agency Think we need years before free agency Oh boy here's Don the president's getting involved This baseball strike is a total disaster the so-called commissioner better get tough and make a deal for America's people I will get involved nobody makes deals like me fix it now save baseball Okay, how do you respond?

30:11Ignore it we're ignoring that Oh my god The M will be commissioner things you can ignore the president of the United States We'll see about that many people are saying baseball serious trouble Congress will be very interested sad M will be disgraceful Uh-oh Everyone's down Don just cooked me This came in and fucked our shit up Pictures and catchers are supposed to report Okay No pictures and catchers since 95 it's happening No more so No more so Fans are furious Next issue Salah look okay get down to bring the text Cece yeah teams are spending less on their roster than one star blah blah okay

31:15Floor would destroy small market teams I clients don't want to pay for teams that don't want to invest sure Um no floor keep the current luxury tax Uh What's that say soft floor? 90 million floor Raise luxury tax 50% no cap strong floor keep luxury tax no hard cap floor 100 soft cap Um Let's go 90 million floor Raise the luxury tax 15% no cap I think that's God Cece keeps nodding with me If for what are well I guess our player rating has gone up but he's been he's been agreeing with he's liked what we've been doing I mean if we get it smart middle ground We could actually put in a floor and no hard cap yeah

32:15Then yeah, Boris is gonna like that It's Cohen likes it Cohen doesn't care. I am killing it Uh owners went down a little bit but players are inspired and the public's inspired let's go Let's save this one up a lot and the owners still are mostly happy with us. Let's save baseball Uh I don't know what that what that what we know we got the years before free agency opening. Oh god 162 days left to finalize the deal I feel like I I feel like I just blew it possible games are down to 160 out of 162 Son of a gun Okay, okay Who's their prime years Service time is how baseball builds through the draft shorted and you can kill competitive rebuilds

33:1724 superstars making like minimum owner drives a two million dollar car that doesn't exist. I guess it does but Um maintain six years but service time Band service time manipulation. I mean isn't it already banned this kind of manipulation There's measures in place. I mean if we're being honest, right we cut. We just gave the players a floor with no cap Yeah, I don't again, I see how we could I have my dream world where players can like If you have a contract during your fifth year, you can hit free agency And somehow your team can get rewarded. I don't know how we do that. Yeah Like I like I've had like shower thoughts of like who's or somebody to like either add like a restricted free agency after four years or There isn't good point like If you reduce it you really are limiting the smaller market teams, but they have to spend more um

34:22I mean, I want the players to play CCC's been nodding a lot Let's reduce it to five five years is a lot And it used to be five Let's go to five years. I forget which CBA they we got more players gave up this we got more teams we got the owners more teams Yeah And 90 mil go pay these guys see she's always nodding slowly and let's sign something. Why are we missing games? Steve Collins pissed It's progress We can live with five years the escalators makes it expensive, but man, okay Steve gets it players on the whole really like it The owners on the whole we we lost some of them, but still 50% the public's just mad that yeah They want to get into the season they don't see all that we're doing to you We can submit that we can add more I mean the only people I'd want to make happier at this point are the public

35:27Yeah, and I don't and the nicest way rob man for it shouldn't care about that I let's submit it if we win we win I think this would have us This would just be games. I believe so let's add one more you talk me into it Oh boy, they saw the super bowl super bowl son of a bitch Bill's one oh boy Al of a game. Oh, I should have submitted Oh, I'm I'm back up with the owners They're happy players so okay DVD defending all the people Seth May Seth Mayer 24 and double a Go to Nashville Layla Doyle runs a food card at the stadium Anonymous sources leaked oh Kill the story

36:29You got to kill the story I'm sorry That breaks it in Fresh air leaders. Oh my god antitrust exemption. I'm losing it Congress just put a gun to baseball's head the antitrust Welcome the pressure we need accountability rush to Capitol Hill negotiate directly with the senator Announce the deadline I this I am not versed in this part Um seems like this would get us the most points we need accountability No, I'm if I'm if I'm man for it. I'm going to Capitol Hill We got to figure this out I Okay, we can do it so ABS ghost winner rule playoff structure WBC stuff like there's kind of the fun stuff. Let's let's do playoff structure

37:38We got real line right More playoff teams means more players getting October paychecks, but it also means less rest and more wear okay CC are going for himself 16 that's high What are we currently at right now we are at 12 Um We're going we're going to 14 Yeah, we're expanding some of those series are going to be tight It is what it is That's a compromise CC's not just nodding Cohen likes it Oh, Cohen okay Barbara I can't with you I can't talk about that Barbara

38:41There is Commissioner you need to go through the barber Jackson screens with Joe What I'm sorry this has to act If you if you've been just listen you got a company YouTube Commissioner man for it Getting That this is what Yeah, in the game that's what he's bringing Can we submit no we need to do more I think present your deal Yeah, but yeah see there's so so many options here if you at home on a play this yeah, I think we're we're about ready to present our deal You Off the screen I was Barbara so we she left we're not even talking to her submit the deal on you still get 142 42 games and by the way

39:46They do the same thing next year for the Olympics boom Owners and players in union must ratify the deal come on I've got some good scorn owners approve there's a prove big come on cc I feel like we did less for the owners players approve Baseball's back people hope you like watching show hey hope you like watching judge Mizorowski a plus I mean come on now Come on now and the public approve once games are back they won't care anymore. What's the score breakdown did I get the best score ever Oh, why am I both approve what's that We completed opening And everything we did netted us Okay, all right, I thought there was gonna be that leader board gonna be more something

40:49Oh, it's some reactions Does Ellie is ready. Dayla Cruz is ready baseball fan Cc played all of cc says we played him like chess pieces Stress test manfred boar is as happy Ellie's happy Seth May Made the opening day roster that's huge Layla Doyle her food card is ready for opening day 22 years and counting No update on Barbara Barbara wasn't at the end there That's good Did I die? 10 and 10 year 2034 and Rob said he's retiring and after 29 or whatever All right, that's great some of you really like that some of you are lost and scared If you think we if you think we need to do it again if you've played and found a feature you'd love to see us

41:51Mess around with will play every day during the offseason during the lockout will play every day Um, no, I love it. I'll shout it. Do we know the name of the cat who created this? I don't know the guy's name but lockout 2027.com to play play yourself. Thank you to him Joe's and Barbara I'm worried Um, thank you guys so much Uh, I hope you had a good labor day weekend. We will be back Uh, Wednesday I suppose wow it's gonna be a minute who knows what's going on in baseball by then Uh, we'll see you soon share subscribe. Maybe don't share Mm-hmm. Maybe do share Uh, we'll see you guys bye MLB on Fox is streaming on Fox one the race to October starts now and we have your front row seat to the wildest walkoffs Lights out pitching and clutch plays all season long follow every can't miss matchup His teams battle for a spot in the postseason then stream the 2026 world series on Fox one at home or on the go

42:53Liver on demand never miss a moment stream Fox one now