Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 19, 2008
Japan Trip in Peril

The Red Sox players are upset a promised payment to coaches for the Japan trip was withdrawn (It's not clear if this was the team or MLB making the promise.) They've voted not to go unless the coaches get paid:

''When we voted to go to Japan, that was not a unanimous vote,'' said Lowell, "but we did what our team wanted us to do for Major League Baseball. They promised us the moon and the stars and then when we committed, they started pulling back. It's not just the coaches, it's the staff, the trainers, a lot of people are affected by this.

"I'm so super proud of this team, when we put it to a vote it was unanimous, we're all in agreement that we're not going to put up with this.''

I suspect the funds will be available quickly.

Update: The sides are talking. This appears to be a case of Major League Baseball lying.

Schilling said a few things have already been "taken away" by Major League Baseball, according to the pitcher.

"In October when we were on the phone call, they wanted this trip to happen so badly, and now they've fallen by the wayside time and time again. The things we were adamant about at the time we reiterated time and time again, and it was never an issue."

What things?

"Different personal things that were supposed to happen from an accommodations standpoint. Little things that tend to make trips like this easier. It's been more than one thing. Hopefully, it's just miscommunication, and it will be fixed," Schilling said.

A great way to run a business.

Update: There appears to be plenty of blame to go around on both sides.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:45 AM | International | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I'm pretty sure it was MLB who made (what the Sox' organization thought was) the promise to pay the coaches.

But it also looks like the Oakland coaches were not expecting to be paid any extra. So, hm. If the A's show up and the Sox don't, is it a forfeit?

Posted by: James at March 19, 2008 11:00 AM

I've only heard the Sox complain about the trip, not Oakland.

Maybe if the staff doesn't get paid, the players could pool some of the 40K they will each receive to help. I doubt it though.

Posted by: salb918 at March 19, 2008 11:22 AM

It's a good thing that Boston isn't supposed to be complaining about anything. Heaven forbid the players chip in a couple bucks. $20M/yr isn't enough for Manny? Drew isn't making enough money? Maybe Schilling should put up or shut up. What, the chocolates on the pillows are now milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate?

Posted by: sabernar at March 19, 2008 11:56 AM

That's ridiculous sabernar. If MLB agreed to pay the stipend, why should the players pay it? MLB should honor the agreement.

Posted by: Tom at March 19, 2008 12:12 PM

I'm glad the players are taking a stand. If it was promised in order to get the teams to agree to the trip, it has to be in a contract somewhere. I am absolutely shocked that MLB would ever lie about something.

Coaches have little leverage compared to the players and owners. They're stuck in the middle.

Red Sox players are, for the time being, refusing to play their game against the Blue Jays today, which was scheduled for 12:05.

Posted by: Matt at March 19, 2008 12:22 PM

MLB flat out lies on a regular basis and no one cares.

Let's have MLB produce the contract - and alsotell us how much the Japanese sponsors were going to pay that Bud was to pocket!

Posted by: rmt at March 19, 2008 01:06 PM

I have a really hard time believing that MLB would promise to pay the Red Sox coaches but not give the same offer to Oakland coaches. I also have a hard time believing that none of this would be in writing.

Who's more likely to misunderstand the agreement and/or miscommunicate it? MLB execs that were probably working on the logistics of the trip all winter or a bunch of coaches that had the winter off? Given that the A's were able to understand the agreement, I'm going to assume that the Red Sox coaches and management have some fault in this deal.

Posted by: MH at March 19, 2008 02:53 PM

I wouldn't be surprised at all if it wasn't in writing.

I remember past years when a labor agreement was announced as being reached there were still many points that would be left to be resolved at a later date

Posted by: Basura at March 19, 2008 03:10 PM
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