NEW YORK – Within minutes of blocking players Thursday amid contentious negotiations over the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, Major League Baseball removed all traces of player likeness from its official properties as MLB.com, replacing photos of the players. players with generic silhouettes.
In response, the players decided to get together entirely.
Players began to change their profile photos on Twitter to generic player silhouettes in solidarity and in response to league action. The decision to do so was not an organized and calculated move by the Major League Baseball Players Association, but rather started as a joke in a small group text chat of a little boy, according to the New York Mets pitcher, Trevor williams, one of the first to change his profile picture.
“It was just silly,” Williams told ESPN. “It’s a meme. When you think about it, by posting a photo of what MLB is doing, we duplicate what they’re doing. It’s not supposed to be serious.”
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
I have no idea what likeness means
– Trevor Williams (@MeLlamoTrevor) December 2, 2021
During a press conference Thursday morning, Commissioner Rob Manfred said the league was legally bound to remove all images of the players due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement.
Along with Williams, the San Diego Padres pitcher Joe musgrove, Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, the New York Yankees pitcher Jameson taillon and the Mets pitcher Taijuan walker they were among the first players to change their profile photos on Twitter.
Due to the lockout, players cannot use team facilities or work with coaches. Taillon underwent surgery in October to repair a partially torn ankle tendon and was expected to miss five months.
“Since MLB decided to block us, I cannot work with our amazing team of physical therapists who have been directing my post-op care / progression,” Taillon tweeted. “Now that I’m in charge of my own PT, what should my first order of business be? I think I’m done with this boot. It can work.”
Since MLB chose to lock us out, I’m not able to work with our amazing team Physical Therapists who have been leading my post surgery care / progression. Now that I’m in charge of my own PT- what should my first order of business be? I’m thinking I’m done with this boot. It can go😎
– Jameson Taillon (@ JTaillon50) December 2, 2021
The initiative soon began to prevail among those who were not in the initial group chat. When the Mets reliever Trevor may woke up on Thursday, noticed players changing their profile pictures, and decided to join.
“I saw it, and that’s what I did,” May said. “Anything when it comes to Twitter, memes, I totally agree. I just did. It’s not a strong message that I’m trying to send. … This is one of the fun ways for players to tell [la liga]. It’s a fun way of pointing out that they really have nothing without us. “
Other players who joined were the Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, the free agent reliever Sean Doolittle, Minnesota Twins pitcher Randy dobnak, Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger and shortstop JP Crawford, the free agent second baseman Shed Long Jr. and the Mets closer Edwin diaz .
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Players make fun of MLB silhouettes on social media