Jack Parkman

BTW, I hope the USFL or XFL turns into a viable feeder league for the NFL.

I really used to think that bonus pools and individual player limits were the answer, but you guys pointed out ways in which that could be corrupted so it sucks.

I personally find the draft unjust, but I'm failing to come up with an equivalent option that maintains competitive balance.

That loophole would have to be closed, so that it can't be done.

If instead of of having the draft, they had the 10 round pool meaning the most you could spend on your top 10 contracts given out this season, and the first round pick slot value being the maximum amount that you could spend on any one player........do you really think that players would give up $4M to sign with the Yankees instead of the Pirates? But lets say, for example, someone like Druw Jones likes the hitting philosophy of The Rangers, and would rather sign with Texas than Pittsburgh, and he's willing to give up the difference in available money to go somewhere where he's more comfortable......he should be allowed to make that decision.

It's really simple, Anyone should meet the kid's price.

I completely understand the merits of a draft for competitive balance. I want Amateurs to get paid more too, that is the whole point. I don't like the idea of surplus value as I view it as exploitation.

Like I said, I'd prefer that competitive balance was maintained by the ability of the worst teams to offer these kids the most money, and a spending limit like the draft pool for the 1st 10 rounds. If they wanted to tell teams: This is the amount of money you have to spend on amateur talent this year, go spend it however you want. That would be the best way. The Yankees don't always get the best Latin American talent. Neither do the Dodgers. A lot of times, those guys sign elsewhere, for different reasons, be it financial or comfort with the coaches/org. Some kids will make a decision that is not entirely financially motivated, and I think they should be free to make that decision.

Good compromise. I can be down with a 5 round draft, as long as all of the money isn't going just to the kids drafted. However, knowing that MLB wants to eliminate affiliated baseball doesn't sit well with me on that front.

I do understand how seniority works, but that's also how the MiLB guys have been left behind for so long.

My proposal is that we run the domestic player acquisition similarly to how International free agency is done and fix the bullshit. No team contact before sr. year of HS.

Bingo.

They do, but the NBA has the freest player movement in all of sports. There is no sport at which one player at one position means so much as the NFL Quarterback. If you don't have one, you have no chance. In the NBA, if you don't have 3 top 30 or so players, you have no chance. It is the chalkiest of all sports. The best team wins more often than not.

That's how it already is in the NFL and NBA, and those are the most popular leagues. I really don't think it matters to be honest. Fans should also consider being a fan of the name on the back of the jersey rather than the name on the front. The players make sports. Somehow they have convinced us to be a fan of local teams rather than our favorite players.

Do you think if Andrew Vaughn had a choice, he'd have gone to the White Sox, who are loaded with 1B/DH types?

That's because the owners choose it to be that way. All of the owners have the money to play ball like NY and LA. They just choose not to. That's ownership deliberately choosing to be non-competitive, and nothing else. There is nothing you could do to convince me that if there were players that warranted it, that every team couldn't spend as much as the Dodgers and Yankees do on a regular basis. Non-competition is a choice. Don't like it? Don't own a baseball team.

There are ways to eliminate the draft that still maintain competitive integrity.

Why? How would you like it if you didn't get to choose your first job as an adult? If you had to work for significantly less than your co-workers for 4 years before being offered a comparable wage?

Which is really fucked, if you ask me. Everyone should have to play by the same rules. Either stand up for the minor leaguers or don't.

Thank you..... The draft existed before the MLBPA though. I think that has a lot to do with it. If the MLBPA existed and Curt Flood had done his thing before there was a draft, I don't think there would have been one.

I'm talking about eliminating the domestic draft. MLB could bust the Buscones if they wanted to. They don't, because allowing it saves them money. It is my opinion that in a system dominated by owners, that the players should be allowed to choose where they pursue their dream. The corruption in Latin America needs to end. No arguments there. I completely agree with everyone else on that. I disagree that an international draft is the answer or a good idea.

I think that they should give teams signing pool money like they do for the slots in the draft and let players sign wherever they want. As long as the signing pools are distributed by record each year, I don't think it would change much. The worst teams can offer the best players the most money.

If they're really against the international draft, keep the QO system.

I think that it has to do with the living conditions in Latin America and that they want to pay the top kids earlier than at 18.

I'm against drafts in general, but I could allow an international draft temporarily just to stop the fucked up shit that is happening in LA.