It’s Just Business ep 237: Enjoy Baseball While You Can

Posted on by

October 13, 2026

After some wistful baseball talk, we discuss:

Summary:

This is an episode of It’s Just Business on The Hog Sty Network with Steve Thomas and Chris Lawrence. It covers three main topics.

Cold open
Steve celebrated the Dodgers advancing in the playoffs, while admitting their payroll is far larger than the lowest-spending teams. They noted small-market teams making noise this postseason, including Tampa knocking out the Yankees. Chris mentioned attending Game 1 of Yankees–Red Sox, and they swapped ballpark stories about Fenway and Wrigley.

1. MLB’s looming lockout

  • Both expect a lockout when the CBA expires, likely starting December 2. The core fight is the owners’ push for a salary cap, which players oppose.
  • League memo: Per Yahoo Sports, MLB sent owners and executives a 34-page memo on conduct during a lockout. The gist is don’t engage, and if you must, be brief and cordial. It even covers when holiday cards can be sent.
  • 154-game proposal: MLB proposed a 154-game season starting in 2029, Mondays off except for featured national games, and a best-of-7 Division Series. Steve sees it as a bargaining chip, since players would get fewer games at the same pay. Chris noted it also creates premium media windows. Both said fans wouldn’t miss the extra games.
  • Sponsors on hold: A Sports Business Journal piece reported that sponsors are holding off on renewals and that team business staff could face layoffs. Because MLB teams sell more of their own sponsorships than NFL teams do, they’re more exposed. Kalshi, which sponsors five MLB teams, shows a 95% chance of no new CBA by the deadline.
  • Predictions: Chris expects a “salary cap light,” meaning a tightened luxury tax that nobody calls a cap. Steve agrees there will be no true cap and stresses that any cap would need a floor, since part of the fight is among owners over revenue sharing. Steve thinks a deal will come before Opening Day, but if it isn’t nearly done by mid-February to March 1, the season is in trouble. A marketing executive quoted by SBJ predicted missed spring training and a delayed Opening Day.

2. NFL’s Supreme Court brief on Kalshi

  • Steve explained that an amicus brief is a filing from a non-party with an interest in the outcome. The NFL argued that prediction markets are gambling and should be regulated by the states, siding with New Jersey.
  • Steve’s theory: The NFL prefers state rules to federal oversight, which would make it easier to eventually partner with Kalshi or Polymarket. He predicted a deal with one of them “in the coming years.”
  • Chris’s view: This is the established, approved sportsbooks fighting upstarts that don’t follow the same rules. He gave the NFL credit on integrity, since prediction markets are much easier to manipulate. His example was betting on which running back takes the first snap.
  • Other notes: Kalshi accepts 18-year-olds, while the NFL backs a 21-plus age limit. The NFL is willing to go to Congress if needed. Steve cheered the brief’s argument that gambling falls under the states’ police powers. They also noted the circuit split is why the case is headed to the Supreme Court.

3. The Buss family fight over the Lakers

  • After the sale to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner, the Buss family keeps about 17.8%, held in a trust, and Jeanie Buss remains governor. Her five siblings want to sell the rest.
  • Jeanie sued to block the sale, and the siblings have now countersued, calling her petition baseless.
  • Steve’s prediction is that Jeanie loses, since trust votes likely go by majority. That would leave her out as governor, with Iger or Kushner likely taking over. Both think the new owners are quietly rooting for the siblings. They estimated her share at roughly $35M and doubted she could afford to buy her siblings out.
  • Chris jokingly hopes she reinvests in the Commanders. Steve thinks the Dodgers are more likely.
0