Outside The Confines: Is today the day?

As negotiations began in earnest between MLB and the MLBPA, a deadline was set that would need to be met if there was a hope of the regular season beginning on time, without games being canceled and not made up (and thus players not getting paid).

That date is today, February 28.

At the time of this writing, there have been conflicting reports about how close or far apart the sides are from reaching an agreement, but there is not an agreement in place. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as we’ve passed the date where pitchers and catchers would report, the day where spring training games would begin, and now the self-imposed deadline that would see the season begin on time.

If an agreement isn’t reached today, then it could be anyone’s guess as to when the season will start. So let’s take a quick look at what happened this weekend and temper our expectations going into the day. Fingers and toes crossed.

More on this weekend’s negotiations:

• Zach Koons notes that while things have improved, there’s still a big distance between both sides.
• Ken Rosenthal suggests that Rob Manfred set himself up to fail with today’s deadline. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Similarly, Evan Drellich doesn’t believe that Opening Day ever had a chance. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Jesse Rogers brings us reports that the two sides are still far apart.

Now on to the rest of the links!

• THIS is how you take a TikTok trend to the next level in baseball social media. Incredible.

• Matt Monagan gives us a look at the most scenic ballpark in America.
• Adam McCalvy brings the story of cancer survivor Tyler Gillies, who makes his way back to baseball this year.
• Elizabeth Benn makes Mets history as she joins the club in the role of director of major league operations, shares ESPN.
• Players are ready to get back to the game as they reach the end of their lockout training schedules and look to what comes next, writes Buster Olney.
• Remind me to start keeping my ticket stubs...

• With the delay of spring training, the cities that host MLB clubs are feeling the brunt of the lockout in their own way. Story by Matt Kawahara and Susan Slusser.
• Bob Klapisch is recalling the 1995 season when the Yankees reached out to guys like him to play for them.
• The new Australian model for pitch development could change things across baseball, writes Matt Gelb. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Teams might be banning scouts until after the Rule 5 Draft, writes Josh Norris.
• Bill Ladson looks at the newest venture for Darryl Strawberry, who is now a traveling minister.
• Eno Sarris and Alec Lewis spotlight the new technology of baseball with biomechanics. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Daaaaaaaaaang.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.