poppysox

I have a young friend of the family who was drafted in the 13th round by Oakland approximately 5 or 6 years ago. His career in baseball was the typical 4 years and had TJ surgery and was done. He wouldn't trade a minute of his professional baseball career. As a person, I would always choose to work in a job I liked rather than one that paid more as long as the bills could get paid. I am not at all in favor of the low minor league salaries as I've stated elsewhere. I've spoken in favor of raising the minimum starting salary as well. The low end of the baseball pay scale is not at all where my frustration lies.

I am "rooting" for this thing to get settled and don't care who is perceived to be the winner. If you would actually read my postings I have said repeatedly that I hope the minimum is increased substantially so I have no ax to grind with the newbie. I don't favor a fast track for free agency and I want my management to spend money prudently. By prudently I mean that money wasted today will not be available tomorrow. I have also expressed a preference for creating a team minimum payroll (my example was $70M) as I think it would improve parity as opposed to raising the current CBT which will IMO further disparity between teams. Lastly, I think higher pay for minor leaguers is very justified but is not part of this contract negotiation. It is just brought into the discussion to make the millionaire/billionaire argument seem more out of balance.

Curt is defined as rudely brief. Would you prefer 6 or 7 paragraphs of rude comments? It seems to me you had a clear understanding of my intent without my needing to spell it out.

What would be the point? Can you read?

This remark is so incredibly stupid I'll let it go and just consider the source.

That just might be because they are not as good.

Why would you think I am trying to emulate what you do?

Take a look.

Jose is exactly who I want to use as an example. He has been treated fairly throughout his major league career and has repeatedly said he will end his playing days with the WS. Some players use more than dollars as the barometer of being treated fairly.

Scroll through Bleacher Report. Plenty of articles that might interest you.

yep...on both sides.

It was reported on Page 95 that revenue of $568 produced an operating income of $20 million. It's been fun but I have a house full of friends coming over and I will be tied up for 3 or 4 hours. Have fun with your posse.

If you were as smart as you obviously think you are...the name-calling wouldn't be necessary.

I am sure you realize revenue is not profit. The "assbags" have agreed to raise the minimum by 60K the last time I looked.

I'm sure you are aware that both you and I have a bias as I stated. You are claiming to have knowledge of how many people I interact with in my regular life. You obviously have no idea of the size of my "group" and you have no idea if I have a basement. I guess you were engaging in hyperbole.

I suppose that is correct. In a way, anyone who picks a side acts as a shill for that side.

Good Luck with attaining whichever of those is your goal. I would have been happy to play baseball for a living for damn near any amount of pay the owner wanted to give me. That is why Jose is the popular player he is. He wants to play for the WS whatever the cost might be in dollars.

Pyrrhic Victory is a victory won at too high a cost to have been worthwhile. I think that might be the case when big money spars with big egos.

A scab is someone who crosses a picket line and works for the employer while a strike is in progress. Has some player decided to do that?

I disagree with your premise that the public favors the players. Most of us tend to hang around with people who think like ourselves. We tend to read the articles and watch/listen to media that supports our point of view. You hang with a crowd that thinks the players are being unfairly treated. The primary reasoning of your crowd is the owners are making tons and therefore should part with a bigger piece of the pie. I hang with a crowd that thinks the players are unbelievably greedy. My group thinks that when a player has shown himself to be really good the individual owners have rewarded their players with unimaginable salaries of 20 and 30 million dollars (hardly miserly). It is true that after serving an apprenticeship...the player is free to go to work for the highest bidder. I realize that I am just hitting on a couple of talking points for both sides and some will want to amplify their side's points of view. I would agree that the demographics of this forum favor the players. The public at large is a different matter.

Neither side could be that dumb...I hope.

I plan on the same symbolic act on Monday evening. Until then...I refuse to believe both sides are stupid enough to kill their golden goose.

It was always going to be a last-day situation. Just the way it is. Frankly, I am happy the owners have come down hard on "a deadline is a deadline." Nothing is going to be agreed on in a month or two that can't be settled in the next few days. The only people who will be hurt are the fans and the young guys hoping to make a spring impression. A few low-level FA's might find it hard to find a landing spot as well.

You do realize I supported raising the wage of the player you describe.

Some forum members simply think that no matter how much the players make...they should get more. Jerry makes tons of money so he is a greedy owner, etc. For all we know he might give every dime he makes to White Sox Charities. I would fully support raising the minimum wage along the line that is currently being offered by the owners. However, I look at our major league payroll and don't see anyone being underpaid IMO. I just want this to be over and start the fun. If the owners want to pay the players demands...fine. If not...fine. I am very tired of rich guys arguing about money.