After two more failed attempts to come up with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Wednesday afternoon that two additional series to begin the 2022 regular season have been canceled, with a new (tentative) Opening Day now set for April 14.

Here is his statement:

“In a last-ditch effort to preserve a 162-game season, this week we have made good-faith proposals that address the specific concerns voiced by the MLBPA and would have allowed the players to return to the field immediately. The Clubs went to extraordinary lengths to meet the substantial demands of the MLBPA. On the key economic issues that have posed stumbling blocks, the Clubs proposed ways to bridge gaps to preserve a full schedule. Regrettably, after our second late-night bargaining session in a week, we remain without a deal.

“Because of the logistical realities of the calendar, another two series are being removed from the schedule, meaning that Opening Day is postponed until April 14th. We worked hard to reach an agreement and offered a fair deal with significant improvements for the players and our fans. I am saddened by this situation’s continued impact on our game and all those who are a part of it, especially our loyal fans.

“We have the utmost respect for our players and hope they will ultimately choose to accept the fair agreement they have been offered.“

As you might expect, Manfred’s statement drew an immediate – and very direct – response from the MLB Players Association, who posted this on Twitter:

And then, of course, there’s this:

The beat(ing) goes on.

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