Joe DiMaggio was once asked, "Why do you play so hard in a game that means nothing for your team?"
The Yankees were already in the playoffs and just finishing out the rest of the season.
He replied, "Because there's at least one person in the stands that has never seen Joe DiMaggio play before." It's one of my favorite Joltin' Joe quotes.
This attitude was most certainly not displayed on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. I turned on ESPN to relax and watch some spring training baseball, but alas, the game was delayed by more than an hour.
Rain? No.
Bus breaking down? No.
Field unplayable? No. It’s none of these!
It’s the Red Sox being greedy.
There was a disagreement with MLB regarding compensation for the trip to Japan for which the Red Sox will leave after the March 19th game.
Steve Phillips—who used to be the General Manager for the New York Mets and is now an analyst for Baseball Tonight—said that when this first happened in 2000 (when the Cubs played in Japan) there was no “extra” money or “compensation” for the trainers, coaches, or players.
The same was true in 2004 when the Mets—the team that Phillips himself agreed to bring over to Japan—were not compensated either.
Phillips said the players got a royalty fee, but the trainers and coaches did not.
How much of what the Red Sox are telling us is true? Who’s supposed to get paid—the trainers and coaches, or the players alone?
Phillips went on to say, “The underlying problem here is that the funds have been taken away from their [the Red Sox players] families to travel with them.”
It's probably the players being greedy for themselves instead of looking out for other people.
Jason Varitek met with reporters and is quoted as saying, “It’s no longer about money, it’s about principle. It’s to take care of the people who take care of us.”
Varitek was paid $11 million dollars in 2007 to hit .255 and 17 HRs. The year before he hit .238 with 12 HRs and was paid $10 million.
Why doesn’t he take some of this money and give it to the trainers and coaches that he says, “Are our extended family and do everything for us”?
I’m not taking anything away from the “captain” because he’s an amazing player—the best pitch caller in the league, in fact.
9 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
aH...you misconstrued the point entirely...your piece is totally inaccurate. It's not about their families, it's about their coaches and staff that are "like family" to these guys. Your Yankees coaches received this kind of stipend when they played overseas, and they were assured they would be when they agreed to this back in November. The players had NOTHING to gain here.
Got Rings this Century?
Red Sox 2 Yankees 0
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Steve Phillips said the underlying problem was the players families, not the write of this piece.
What does "Rings this Century" have to do with anything? If were talking rings, how about:
Yankees 26
Red Sox 6
And please don't say Yankee fans live in the past because 2007 was the past.
Edit Comment Cancel
Timothy Davis about 1 year ago
The story is still developing and there are many things floating around, but I did get the comments right. Boston players are calling the trainers and coaches their "extended family" but Steve Phillips is reporting that the families of the players are supposed to travel with them and that was to also be paid for by MLB. The Sox are going to be on an extended road trip to start the season, 17 games I think, and the only way they agreed to do this is if their families, kids and wives, could come too. I think Mike Lowell is quoted as saying this is the only reason he agreed to do this. Plus the Sox and A's players are supposed to receive an appearance fee of $40,000.
The point I'm trying to make is that the Sox are claiming it's for the trainers and coaches, but ESPN is saying the players are also supposed to get paid too. Also, I'm not "hating" on the Sox, only for this, so how about you act professionally.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Here you go Mr. Red Sox fan (please note the Yankee and Devil Ray players voted the coaches a share of their money!):
"Information on the compensation issue is sketchy, but the players are all scheduled to make $40,000-plus for appearing in Japan. Coaches and managers were given shares in 2004 when Tampa Bay and the Yankees opened in Tokyo, but apparently the players voted the staff shares, as they would with a postseason pool of revenue."
It's nice to see that the Red Sox players care so much about their "extended family!" Enough that they don't want to pool their $40,000. Losers.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Steve Phillips?
You're counting on *Steve Phillips* for correct and accurate info?
. . .
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Edit Comment Cancel
Timothy Davis about 1 year ago
I have to wonder why everyone commenting is so afraid to post their names? Also, one of the Mr. Anonymous is helping my case by pointing out that the players are supposed to receive $40,000+ and not just the coaches and trainers. Thanks!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Webb about 1 year ago
Why doesn't Varitek give his own money to the coaches? Simple. He shouldn't have to.
MLB made a promise, then broke its word.
The only way to get MLB's attention was to threaten to mess up their little Far East garden party.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If the professors at Yale stop giving lectures until the lecture hall cleaning staff is properly compensated, would you call the professors greedy? Of course not. They are using their leverage as highly skilled and hard to replace employees to advocate for fair compensation for employees without such leverage. So no you would not call the professors greedy, and if you did, you would yourself be called a complete and utter moron. Which is why you, Timothy, are a complete and utter moron. Replace "professors" with "players" and "cleaning staff" with "trainers, equipment managers, and coaches" and you have the exact same situation. The Sox players were putting themselves out there so that OTHERS got paid.
Edit Comment Cancel
Timothy Davis about 1 year ago
Can we act professionally? Name calling? How old are you? Also, why don't you post your name? Your point, by the way is probably the worst idea ever! They're not even on the same level!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.