Author Topic: Baseball strike, what do you think? (Read 720 times)

Nifty · « **Reply #15 on:** August 19, 2002, 02:08:45 PM »

Both sides are asinine in this.

Players. Fek 'em. If they as a union want the minimum salary to be $300,000, then have the top paid players donate some of their salary to bump up the players at current minimum. Pay-Rod himself can probably support 100 of them.

Owners. go out and spend $400 mil on a stadium and complain about being financially in debt. Well, duh!

MLB is the only major sport in the US that does not have a salary cap. In fact, the luxury tax that exists now is hardly anything, and the only thing stopping the Yankees from spending more is Steinbrenner's pocket. The Yanks have a payroll that's about 2/3 more than the NFL salary cap for a team. This is coming from a 25 man roster while NFL teams have a 54 man roster (of course, you can skirt the salary cap with signing bonuses and incentive clauses, but that can land you in salary cap hell. See Dallas and the Niners for examples, tho the Niners are starting to come out of it now.) Half as many players, nearly 70% larger payroll.

There's really two people to blame in all of this. Scott Boras and Donald Fehr. Boras and his "market value" for star players is directly responsible for the ballooning player salaries. Fehr is just about greed. He doesn't care about the game at all. None of the vocal players do either. There might be some players that do care about the game and would play even with a firm salary cap in place.

Baseball needs several things. First, a bullet through the head of Boras and Fehr. Preferably line them up and just use one shot, they aren't worth expending a round a piece on. Second, revenue sharing based off of actual revenue, not off of perceived market size. Third, a hard team salary cap (phased in so as not to void most current contracts.) Fourth, a league set "market value" cap on individual players based on years in the league and performance (the NBA has something similar.) This one would take place immediately. Pay-Rod's contract is immediately voided by the league. $25,000,000/yr. Ted Williams in his prime mixed with the power of Barry Bonds, mixed with the fielding of Willie Mays, mixed with Lou Brock's baserunning isn't worth that much!

I've always loved baseball, and it's always been my favorite sport. Not anymore. I'll watch a MLS game over a MLB game anyday now. Something about making more than some of the guys out on the pitch sits better with me than guys making 100 times more than me squeaking about "slowing down the increase of player salaries."

Eagler · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2002, 02:56:33 PM »

I side with the players

3 - 10,000sq ft homes just isn't enough for someone who puts in a hard day at the "office" running bases, pitching and catching

Reschke · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2002, 04:59:33 PM »

All hopes of me continuing to like Major League Baseball died sometime in elementary school. The strike of a few years ago solidified my reasoning. These guys are overpayed and underplayed. If you are someone like "Pay-rod" then you damn well hit .400 and be the "Golden Glove" with no less than 50 homers in a year for the length of your contract. I watched highlights with interest when McGwire and Sosa went after the record and the same with Bonds last year. But when you have a guy taking 5 minutes to get to bat like the guy from Boston... I think his name is Nomar Garciapara or something. It gets stupid to keep watching them whine and squeak about not getting more money when they are making more than most people will see in a lifetime.

funkedup · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:07:22 PM »

I really enjoy going to baseball games, but if these morons (players + owners) can't work it out, screw 'em. I'm booked for the USGP (F1), I just got my Raiders tickets, and my Sharks season tickets should be coming in the mail shortly. I won't miss MLB one bit.

Raubvogel · « **Reply #19 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:16:58 PM »

Baseball

I'll be glad when it's gone so I don't have to watch all that crap on Sportscenter waiting on the real sports news. I just don't believe that it's worth even 300,000 a year to stand in a field all day waiting for 1 or 2 balls to be hit to you an hour. And don't get me started on the 20 minute at-bats while the guy re-adjusts his gloves, helmet, cup, spits 2 or 3 times, kicks some dirt, steps into box, then calls time again.

I'm with Fatty, start the NBA early, give me something worthwhile to watch over the summer.

Maverick · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:41:00 PM »

There are quite a few people who are away from home and out of the country risking their LIVES for a hell of a lot less than $300,000.00 a year. Paying these "players" to play a kids game more than the average SGT. in the military is a freaking waste of money IMO.

Personally I don't care wether it's football, baseball, basketball or any other sport. These people are not really contributing to society as far as I am concerned. They are paid WAY more than they are worth.

Actors, singers are no differant either.

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Originally posted by AKDejaVu
Its definately a skill related job. These guys are great at what they do. Personally, I don't believe that $300,000 per year is that high of a minimum salary given that they will be away from home 81 days a year guaranteed (More like 100 after spring training) and given that there aren't many that can do the job at the same level. I also seriously doubt this affects a very large percentage of the players.

What I don't like is their refusal to instute drug tests (esp. steroids testing) and the ridiculous salaries at the top end of the spectrum. I just can't muster up much sympathy for multi-millionairs complaining about unfair labor practices.

I just went to a game on the 13th. I went with a friend who's a Boston fan (Game was in Seattle). To go... I had to promise to take the wife to a different game since we could not find 3 seats together at the Boston game. Now it looks like that game won't happen.

Oh well... as long as the Yankees keep paying the big bucks for the players, the smaller markets are going to suffer. I say we simply blame New York and have them pay all of baseball's salaries.

AKDejaVu

john9001 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:48:36 PM »

that $300,000 is for a season , not a year, and it's the starting salary, avg salary in MLB is $2,400,000, then you add in indorsements $$$

Charon · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:49:24 PM »

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The sooner they strike the sooner we can try to get a better sport to fill the summer void that has me falling asleep in front of the tv watching perhaps the most boring sport ever.

Fatty

This opens the door for soccer in the US. Our ability to sit through boring sports is currently consumed by baseball. Soccer, the most boring international sport, is just waiting in the wings to fill that void should it arrive. Ole, ole ole!

Charon

Me, well I'm waiting in giddy anticipation for the Bear's march to the superbowl this year.

Braz · « **Reply #23 on:** August 19, 2002, 05:58:07 PM »

I hate watching baseball,

But it's cracking me up to hear supposed conservatives sound off like commies.

It's based in the free market guys. Hurts sometimes, but it's the way you want business to work, right? If owners and player's agents drive the price too high, there will be an adjustment. Period. Or do you now recommend government set market value for businesses?

But worst of all is listening to nerds who couldn't make the cut, advising pros on how much they should make for their families.

If any single one of you were lucky and dedicated enough to be a pro, you would let your agent draw blood for you too, and you know it! These careers are short, and if you don't make that cash, someone else will.

Do plumbers worry about their customers feelings when they raise prices? The very best can charge a premium for service, skill and other abilities run of the mill plumbers don't have. They feel they're worth it. If folks agree and are willing to pay, who are you to tell them not to do the best for their rug-rats and spooner? I agree baseball's got troubles, but it ain't dead, just about to get a facelift. Loss of revenue will be the surgeon, imo.

My favorite chumps are the guys who say stuff like, "I could prolly go three rounds with Tyson, he's finished!"

john9001 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:08:28 PM »

i would go 3 rounds with tyson for $20 million, he would win , but i would have $20 million

Braz · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:21:36 PM »

Er... no,

Your widow would have 20 mil.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:40:18 PM »

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Originally posted by Maverick
There are quite a few people who are away from home and out of the country risking their LIVES for a hell of a lot less than $300,000.00 a year. Paying these "players" to play a kids game more than the average SGT. in the military is a freaking waste of money IMO.

LOL! Now THAT is funny!

You know... I was one of those people some time ago. I make a hell of a lot more now for doing a hell of a lot less.

Is the military underpaid? Yep. But then that is not even remotely what this thread was about.

LOL!

Quote

Personally I don't care wether it's football, baseball, basketball or any other sport. These people are not really contributing to society as far as I am concerned. They are paid WAY more than they are worth.

Society determines their worth. Obviously society cares more about them than about what you think.

AKDejaVu

Kieran · « **Reply #27 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:43:00 PM »

The reality is baseball is priced beyond the reach of an average family to enjoy in person anyway, so I say fill in the parks and turn it into low-rent housing. Heck, give the acreage to Farrakhan, maybe he'll shut up for a little while.

midnight Target · « **Reply #28 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:44:39 PM »

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But it's cracking me up to hear supposed conservatives sound off like commies. It's based in the free market guys.

Amen brother Braz.

Thrawn · « **Reply #29 on:** August 19, 2002, 06:50:19 PM »

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Originally posted by Kieran
The reality is baseball is priced beyond the reach of an average family to enjoy in person anyway.

Same with hockey. You're looking at about $200 for all expenses, for a family of four. That's just rediculous.