In life, "E" sometimes is the symbol for effort. In the MLB standings, an "E" stands for something you don't want, that you don't brag about and in which you get no solace: elimination. By the time the 2021 regular season ends on Sunday, 20 of the 30 teams across the majors will don that "E" on their standings line, and they'll head home to watch the postseason with the rest of us.
When the World Series is over, questions about the expiring collective bargaining agreement will loom over teams, players, fans and reporters alike. They will loom over any of the fun baseball stuff that we usually love to track over the hot stove season.