Games really need to start. Everyone is so amped for something (anything) to happen, that they jump all over stories like this. Let’s get to actual games, so most of this can go away.

Not surprised this is a story from Craig. Most of his stories this week are written as if his opinion is fact and law, rather than just opinion, and he is trying to get people riled up. Looks to be working for some of you folks…..

That was sarcasm.

Oh wait.

They get $66k more this year for absolutely no additional effort or output above what they would have done anyway. My family will probably get a $20k increase this year because, after three years of unemployment, I took a part time job. So, I have to work an additional 20-30 hours a week for a whole year, while they just have to ride pine for six months for an additional $66k. I also have to spend 30-40% of my increase on daycare, while the only change in their expenditures is 10% to their agent.

When you consider that a Minor Leaguer who gets called up for the month of September this year will make $78k over his Minor League salary for one month’s work, it’s hard to have ANY sympathy for players’ financial statuses.

The Union needs to get some perspective, and keep it’s trap shut on this issue.

Anywho, he’s a douche.

Can I get nickle and dimed like that? While I understand the idea trying to be pushed here, the fact that the minimum is nearly half a MILLION dollars really makes me have zero sympathy on this issue. This also works out to be a 15.9% raise. After enduring two years of wage freezes myself, and then lucky to get something in the 3% in raises, I have no sympathy for the players. Buck up, play well, and get to arbitration, where you can get raises even if you don’t perform particularly well.

It’s bad form? Is this important? Cheapskates, ..Really?

Usually, I side with the MLPA on most matters but frankly they’d be shooting themselves in the foot if they make a big deal over this non-issue. Considering that the national unemployment rate is about 8.5%, even higher in Florida, … and the fact that most people like myself haven’t had a decent raise in four or five years, .. or that the increase alone in player minimum amounts to more than a significant portion of the population even makes it would be profoundly tone deaf to suggest that guys who’s minimum wage hovers around a half a million bucks are somehow being mistreated. Tone deaf on the scale of Mitt Romney suggesting that he too is included in the middle class or that he’s not worried about the very poor because we have safety nets in place.

I get why players make what they make, .. supply and demand, .. and don’t have a problem with that in general. In fact I’d rather a few ball players be over paid than already very very wealthy owners acquire yet more wealth. Remember, nobody ever paid a nickel to see an owner do anything. The players are the product. But, working class hero BS aside, it would be a strategic blunder of epic proportions on the unions part to make a big deal over the fact the least experienced players in the game are only getting a $66.000 raise this year and suggest that they are somehow being treated unfairly.

Keep in mind two things; 1. Owners don’t pay for anything. The fans pay the bills. 2. Considering the state of the economy most of us would pee our pants to get a 16% raise and in most cases that 16% wouldn’t come to anything near $66K.