Red Sox may boycott season opening trip to Japan

[Steve615]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080319/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bba_red_sox_boycott

[Earl Bonovich]

1) I am surprised that the other coaches and staff are not paid for to go to the game (just like any other road game)....

2) $40,000 STIPPEN? EACH!!!! Even for the players that is kinda crazy. Even if the players had to pay for ALL their meals, All their lodging, All their transportation... $40k EACH!!! come-on now.... (Since pretty much their meals, lodging, and transportation is probably paid for)

[tcusta00]

:confused: Why are the players getting paid extra in the first place?

It would seem since this is a regular game (just being played somewhere else) that they should play it, with travel expenses paid by the team. $40,000 for two days abroad is quite a stipend.

[Earl Bonovich]

Now that I have heard a bit more about the story (ESPN Radio).

This isn't like a "weekend" trip.... they are going to be out there for 20 days.

So... I still have an issue with them getting a "stippen" since pretty much all their expenses are going to be covered, and they are already over-paid.

Their coaches and support staff should also be compensated the same as any other person that is going on that trip........

[Carl Spock]

The Red Sox players refused to take the field for their exhibition game today against the Blue Jays over this matter. As it was to be aired live on ESPN, that was a big matter, making this whole issue very public.

They must have worked something out. The game is on now, abet starting late. It is really good HD, too.

[alevine1986]

It doesn't matter how much money the players make or if the hotel, airfare, etc is free. If MLB offered them and the coaches $40,000 each to make the trip then reniged the offer to the coaches after the team agreed to go, they have a legitimate beef. Except for the manager, most coaches make a salary where $40,000 would be a huge difference in their life. Also, the players should be commended for fighting for the coaches money.

[Earl Bonovich]

ESPN Radio is reporting that issue was one of mis-communication, or that a resolution has been reached.

[Carl Spock]

Yeah, miscommunication. :grin:

They forgot to communicate to the coaches that they were getting paid for the trip before the world found out. :D

[DCSholtis]

ESPN Radio is reporting that issue was one of mis-communication, or that a resolution has been reached.

It's been reported that the A's were not aware of the situation regarding the coaches, support staff not being paid etc. and are holding their own team meeting this afternoon for a vote. The "agreement" apparently is only for the Red Sox staff. Alan Embree their union rep said he first found out when a Red Sox player called him this morning. What communication. :lol:

[tcusta00]

Break out the string and tin cans... or telegraph machines. I thought we lived in the information age?:lol:

[DCSholtis]

I guess MLB hoped that Oakland never found out. :lol:

[Steve615]

I guess MLB hoped that Oakland never found out. :lol:

Speaking of Oakland... :)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=25043

[DCSholtis]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3301195&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Major League Baseball agreed to pay the managers, coaches and trainers on the trip $20,000 each from management's proceeds, a person familiar with the agreement said, speaking on condition of anonymity because details weren't announced. The Red Sox agreed to make up the difference to make the amount equal, and to pay some of the other team personnel making the trip, the person said.

"The players just stepped up and they did what I think was right," Boston bench coach Brad Mills said.

It had not yet between determined whether Oakland would make additional payments to its staff.

Be interested to see what Billy Ball did in Oakland.

[Game Fan]

With a comissioner like Bud Selig, anything MLB does or doesn't do, in regards to anything, should not come as a surprise!

[SamC]

$40K is a lot of money, considering this is "gravy". The entire costs of the trip are covered, including the standard roadtrip "meal money" that the whole traveling party gets.

If the players wanted the coaches paid, they could have paid them.

[Ken S]

Twenty days? The Red Sox and As are going to be in Japan for about a week. The Players Association negotiated the extra payment for their union members (the players). Managers, coaches, trainers, front office staff, etc are not part of that union.

The $40,000 payment to the players is on top of their salary and their $100/day per diem. All travel, hotel and meal expenses are picked up by the team. It's not a bad deal if you can get it :)

Some of the major league managers and coaches get very nice salaries others not that great (but we're not talking poverty line by any means.). Terry Francona, the Red Sox manager is going to make about $1.8 million this season.