Red Sox Vote Solidarity, Threatening Japan Trip
I turned on the TV while making the bed, and saw that the start of the Red Sox-Blue Jays game was delayed because the Red Sox have apparently voted not to play this last Spring Training game, nor make the trip to Japan. They are apparently upset that Major League Baseball has supposedly reneged on an agreement to pay coaches $40,000 apiece. As of now, the game is delayed and the trip to Japan in jeopardy.
I can't claim to know the terms of the agreement between the Red Sox, MLB and the MLBPA (which covers the players, not the coaches) about the terms of the trip, or whether or not paying the coaches was in the original agreement. But it seems that the players and coaches were under the impression that MLB would pay the coaches then, according to Mike Lowell, have begun to take things away. If it were the case that MLB originally agreed to pay the coaches and since reneged, shame on them. MLB is awash in money. This really should not be an issue. If the Red Sox did not get these terms solidified and ironed out beforehand, shame on them AND MLB. Negotiations can be a tricky business, but nothing should be left to chance. The terms should be clear and clearly understood by all affected parties.
Either way, MLB should pony up the cash for the coaches, no two ways about it. It's unfortunate that the dispute came down to this, with many paying customers inconvenienced in Florida now, and others in the coming days. Yet that's what strikes do, they inconvenience people in order to make a point about justice and fairness. Make no mistake, this is a strike that the Red Sox have undertaken and, if MLB has in fact reneged, one that I fully support. Additionally, I'm not convinced at all that this is a ploy by the Red Sox not to have to make the trip to Japan, a long and arduous trip the Yankees made in 2004 that will require adjustment time for some time afterwards. Anyone undertaking some form of protest and/or strike does not take that action lightly. They are often worked up over issues of fairness, and they don't take those lightly, either. Baseball is different from most workplaces in that coaches, a form of lower-level management, can often have close relationships with players not only at but away from the ball park. These people matter to players, and unquestionably do with the Red Sox.
I'm awaiting further word on this but, based on what I know, I side with the Red Sox players on this one. I generally side with workers in labor disputes for many reasons. This is a labor dispute. I'm with the players, especially because they seem to be doing the right thing and fighting for others.
Update: Apparently MLB has caved to some degree, for the boycott is over. The Red Sox and Blue Jays are stretching on the field, and the ESPN announcers said that this game and the Japan trip are on. Good for the players. They did the right thing. Solidarity CAN work. I also think players such as Varitek handled this well, saying in an ESPN interview that they didn't want to inconvenience fans who "have a right to see the game. But if need be, we'll hang around here and sign autographs." Public relations, especially fan relations, are an enormous part of work disputes, and I'm glad to see the players do and say the right things today.
are you kidding? they ( and i'm sure any other team ) are using this as an excuse not to have to go to japan. no team would want to face that grueling road schedule which will no doubt put them in a hole.
i agree with the players actions however...MLB should be ashamed of their blatant parsimony. they are happy to screw their fans as well. remember last year they were going to give a monopoly to DirecTV to show the extra-innings package..people like us living outside of the YES umbrella would be forced to buy MLB.TV or change to DirecTV. only threats from congress stopped them.
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I don't think the trip to Japan was the motivation for the boycott vote. I wouldn't doubt it if the players expressed some frustration about the trip during the boycott discussion and vote. But I think they considered it a matter of people they work with, like, and respect getting the shaft. They're spending some considerable time overseas, and the idea of some people doing so for expenses only would have rankled me, too.
MLB really looked bad today, in my view.
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It's amazing that this disagreement, misunderstanding, miscommunication, [or, maybe, MLB just "misremembered" what they promised to the Red Sox (and, A's?) players and coaches for taking part in the Japan trip], was allowed to come so close to the Sox leaving on their 19-day extended road trip to Japan!!!
I mean, this issue was only found out just before a 1:00 p.m. spring training game, on the same day that the Sox have a scheduled 5:30 p.m. flight to Japan!!!
Anyway, I totally agree with the Red Sox players on taking their stance in support of the coaches and staff...
Many of the coaches are former players, who didn't make the kind of money the players are making today; but, paved the way for the hugh amount of money the players "now" make...also, any extra money the coaches will earn on this trip will mean more to them - then the players - 'cause in relation to all the money being doled out in MLB, the coaches are probably not getting paid what they should be paid...
I don't know how MLB could let this issue get to this point, but at least it was resolved and the game was played [actually, it's now the top of the 9th - Jays 4, Sox 3], and the trip to Japan will go on as scheduled!!!
I think these trips to Japan are great for Baseball, and I look forward to the two games next week - Red Sox vs. A's...
Of course, it will be "Go A's" as I watch the two early morning games [I think 6:00 a.m. EST start times for both games]...
It should be fun, with Dice-K being treated like a returning hero, just like Hideki Matsui when the Yankees made their Japan trip a few years ago!!!
Update: Going into the bottom of the 9th - last AB's for the SOX...
Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3
Game Over...Final:
Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3
Jimmy
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ok, i just listened to everything Varitek had to say and i'm in complete agreement with those guys
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I wondered the same thing about the timing, Jimmy. It makes me wonder what was actually nailed down about the trip financially, and who knew what. Parsimony is as well as it could possibly be stated, Mike.
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Hughes gave up a lead-off homer to McLouth, missing with three of his first four fastballs to fall behind 3-1, then serving one up to left. But he settled down nicely, and just embarrassed Bay on three pitches--a first-pitch fastball, a curve that got the inside corner, and another curve swinging. Excellent, and hopefully he can settle down.
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A-Rod K’d looking (it looked inside, but the ump is giving the inside corner), Giambi singled. Jorge just misread two fastballs on the inside part of the plate, 0-2, and on a 1-2 pitch, Hip-Hip-Jorge! Homer to right, 2-1 Yanks. Morris left that chest high and, with the wind blowing out, forget it. 2-0, Matsui chased ball 3, then scalded a double inside first. Soft infield grounder from Betemit moves Matsui to third with two outs. Betemit looks like he’s pressing. Mclouth’s diving catch off Ransom robs a single and a run, but still 2-1.
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Hughes started LaRoche with a rope at the knees, 0-1, popped him up to third, one down. 0-1 to Doumit, Hughes starting to throw first-pitch strikes, down 2-1, Hughes missed Jorge’s inside target, leaving it over the plate and belt-high, Doumit deposited it to right-center to tie the game. Hughes blew a fastball by Nady, 1-2 now, curve missed in 2-2, fastball in 3-2, shattered bat, 5-3 nice scoop Giambi, two down. Hughes surrendered ANOTHER homer, to former Oriole Chris Gomez, missing Jorge’s spot away again. It was over the plate belt-high, 3-2 Pirates, four homers, three solo homers by the Pirates. Eeeesh. Nice charging play by Ransom at second mercifully ends the frame, 3-2 Bucs.
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Gardner just laid down a beautiful bunt for a single down the third-base line, then Doumit threw it away, giving Gardner second. The announcer said Gardner has no chance to make the Yankees. That’s not quite accurate, and something you and Mike wouldn’t agree with. His speed is something. Sanchez just robbed Jeter of a single, and maybe the Yankees of a run. Gardner misread the passed ball; he could have taken third easily. With one out, that could hurt. Abreu’s single to right makes it academic, 3-3 tie.
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Abreu just stole second off a curve with ease. I love that the Yankees are running a lot this Spring. A-Rod’s two-hop single up the middle, 4-3 Yanks. A-Rod’s only batting .500 with 8 RBIs this Spring–what a slacker. Giambi singles sharply–another bum, batting .423. They’re pounding Morris like they did last June, when they let him and the Giants off the hook in Frisco.
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Matsui’s single scores another, and Betemit–who just can’t produce–hit a sac fly to deep center, 6-3 Yankees. Ransom’s 6-4-3 DP ends the top of the third, but the Yankees pounded Morris.
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McLouth belts a change-up belly-high to the gap in right center, double. Hughes is struggling. 2-2 to Wilson, 4-3 advances McLouth to third. Fastball low, fastball high to Sanchez, single through the hole, 6-4 Yanks. A-Rod broke on the pitch for a pick-off play, and Sanchez hit it 2-3 feet from where he was stationed. Hughes got Bay again on a curve, this time looking and over the inside corner. 2-0 to LaRoche, breaking ball away 3-0, BB on four pitches. Jeez, Hughes has had two bad outings in a row. Ball 1 to Doumit, more first-pitch balls and he’s taking a long time between pitches. Ground out to Big G ends the 4th, 6-4.
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Morris K’d Gardner looking on a curve, outside corner. Jeter smoked a double down third. Abreu singles up the middle, 7-4 Yankees. He’s another slacker–.483 this Spring, 8 RBIs. Trade him. A-Rod ripped a double off the left-field wall, second and third. They’ve just arrested several Yankees for second-degree assault of Morris, who just fanned Giambi on a breaking pitch up–looked like a mistake. Jorge’s bloop single over third makes it 8-4, A-Rod back to third safely. The Pirates announcers keep saying “another soft hit ball.” There have been a few, but there have been far more blasts off Morris. We’re not watching the same game, apparently.
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1-1 breaking pitch (slider?) to Nady looked very good, but 3-2 curve missed low to walk him. Hughes let him go, but Nady worked the count well. Nice bender fans Gomez. Rivas doubles to right center, Hughes missed the target away again, with the pitch tailing back toward the inner half of the plate belt high.
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Actually he singled, but then just stole second easily. Hughes loads the bases with an HBP. A-Rod gets the force at second, but Ransom threw it away to allow a second run to score, 8-6, Ugly game.Wild pitch, runner on third. 5-3 ends the fourth, 8-6 Yankees. I’d imagine Hughes is done, certainly near whatever pitch count they’ve set for him. He’s not been sharp.
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Lefty Phil Dumatrait is in for Morris, who’s been sent to Triag, Betemit fly ball, one out. Ransom 6-3, two outs. Gardner 3-1, F7, three outs. Easy inning for Dumatrait.
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Hughes in for the 5th, hard hit ball from Bay to A-Rod. Tough play, but I didn’t see a good replay to see if it was an error. Hughes is out. Jeter is clowning with A-Rod near the mound, both smiling and laughing. I love hearing how Jeter can’t stand A-Rod. Billy Traber is in against lefty LaRoche. Yakker has LaRoche bending back, 0-1, curve misses 1-1, fastball outside corner 1-2, single to left. Not a bad pitch from Traber, the ball was down but caught a little of the plate, still nice hitting more than a bad pitch. DP ball is an E5, A-Rod threw it into right, 8-7 Yankees, 1st and 3rd no outs. Traber just walked Nady to load the bases, no outs. 5-4-3 DP ties the game 2 outs, runner at third. Wild pitch scores Doumit, 9-8 Pirates. Ugly. The Pirates have nine runs, five RBIs. Three down.
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well i see you're working hard tonight...
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As that great 20th century philosopher, Billy Idol said, I was Dancing With Myself.
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i'm telling you, you're missing out on what could be a great career in comedy...
so, i know there were quite a few things we didn't like tonight, but i have to say that i have become quite concerned about bobby meacham, i've now counted 4 times that he has messed up trying to bring in a run. 3 times with a-rod. i dont want to see a-rod getting hurt this year trying to scramble back to 3rd.
where is Bowa when you NEED him?
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Mike, you're too kind.
You're totally on the ball with that comment about Meacham. I saw one of those, when he waved A-Rod home who would have been dead to rights, but he got back to third because no one was covering the bag. Meacham has been horrible, and losing Bowa might end up being as big a loss as any in a generally successful off-season.
I think you should coach third, Mike. You'd be an immediate improvement, and would probably have gotten your money's worth in that scrum against Tampa.
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no doubt i would have been thrown out for slugging maddon...
but i just can't get used to wearing that helmet, otherwise, i'd take the job.
apparently meacham was girardi's coach in FL,
and maybe that aggressive style worked for him, or maybe he was just lucky...or maybe he's got some blackmail material on girardi. i just am very uncomfortable with him. maybe he'll get the axe
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I would have paid to see you give Maddon a UFC tackle with fists flying, Mike.
On Meacham, I'm going with b.) luck, and c.) blackmail material, in lieu of another explanation. At this rate, Meacham will be lucky to make it to the All-Star break. Bowa is the best in the business, and the Yankees can't afford to give away scoring opportunities.
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well re can rest assured that if we're concerned, then girardi must be steaming.
i doubt he would value loyalty to an old comrade over competence. we'll have to see how it plays out. i'd like to know what geoff BPS would have to say. you know how he was occasionally on Bowa for not being aggressive enough. i don't think he'd like what he's seeing now. maybe i'll e mail him.
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can't find his email...he may not even be watching yet...i'll let it ride.
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Yeah, I agree about Bobby Meacham...
The A-Rod play at the plate the other day...the play in which he rounded third, slowed up, then when it was clear that he was going to be out by about 10 feet, he basically "stopped" before reaching Home, and was tagged out - standing up !!! That was a very weird play !!!
In the papers the next day, it was reported that there was some confusion as A-Rod approached third. Meacham first held A-Rod up, then waved him to keep running, then [again] put up the stop sign...At that point, A-Rod just ran through the stop sign, and was easily out...
A-Rod did say it was his fault, though!
There was just way too much uncertainty by Meacham on the play!
The Yankees will definitely miss Larry Bowa this year!
Where is Frank Crocetti when we need him?
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i believe a-rod stopped and let himself be tagged out gently by their catcher was a not so subtle dig at joe maddon. he may, in fact, have run through the sign. i read that article as well.
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