Red Sox threaten Japan Boycott
 

This would definitely be an interesting start to the season. The Sox say they're not getting on the plane this afternoon unless the coaches are paid what was originally part of the deal for this trip.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...ona_irked.html

A 40k stipend for going on this trip is ridiculous in of itself. Having said that, if it was promised to them it should be paid. But 40k is still crazy.

1. I think it's a good sign that the team is sticking together on this.

2. I wish someone would pay me $40k to go to Japan.

3. Hell, I wish someone would pay me $40k to go to Hoboken.

40k may be a lot for the coaches, but I think the major problem is how much money the MLB stands to make off this. Think of it sort of like profit sharing I guess.

COACHES NEED A UNION!

If that is what they were promised to make this trip that frankly screws with a shortened spring training and nasty start to the regular seson, then they should get what they were told.

Bravo!

Yup. MLB seems to have majorly shot themselves in the foot by promising that the terms covered coaches and support personell, and then deciding it would be cheaper to take it away.

Fire Selig

+1

It's just one of the things that goes along with it. People always look at sports pay or salaries or perks and get outraged. But someone is willing to pay it and the people who do what they do, do it better than anyone else in the world. I don't see what the problem here is.

The players probably don't feel like wasting their time over in Japan anyway, so this is probably a combination of "we don't feel like going anyway" and "MLB is gonna pony up..."

It'll get resolved and the coaches will get their money.

anyone who is interested the Red Sox game is supposed to be on ESPN right now and they are refusing to take the field but there is alot of coverage of whats going on

It's hard to see MLB bending on this, it'd be a horrible precedent to give into a threat like this. But they also stand to lose a ton of money.

And at the moment, they're actually sitting on the bench, refusing to take the field in their last Florida game.

Jason Varitek: "We're not playing until this is resolved."

Agreed, but to find two teams willing to disadvantage themselves with this kind of crazy roadtrip, you're going to need to really make it worth it to them. Schilling and Lowe say there's been other promises taken back since they committed to the trip, so this seems like more of a "last straw" kind of thing.

It seems like a much worse precedent is set by getting Oakland and Boston to agree to this crazy travel and schedule and then take away part of the compensation that is part of that agreement and still expect the teams to hold up their end of the bargain without incident.

exactly.

If there was an agreement in writting I don't see how the Sox are setting a precenent.

I doubt it's as simple as a signed contract that MLB is just suddenly deciding not to comply with. I'm sure there was a provision that allowed this kind of change under some kind of circumstances, or that this "promise" was somehow otherwise not legally binding. It doesn't make it right.

Did MLB actually agree to give 40k to the coaches too? The article says that the Red Sox had assumed that it would be the case, but doesn't say that it was ever agreed.

I think it was cool of Varitek to say that if the game was cancelled they would sit and sign autographs for the fans

Apparently the agreement is not in writing, but was verbal. I assume that's where all of this confusion is coming from.

These players should stop whining, give the coaches their stipends, if it means so much to them, and move. Who needs a $40,000 stipend for a week's trip to Japan?

Boo hoo, we have to go to Japan. Boo hoo, our lives are soooo hard because we have to travel to Japan and play baseball.

I've travelled to Japan from DC for work, had to check into the hotel, drop my bags off, take a 5 minute shower, and head out to interview clients for 12 hours. I didn't get to sleep and got 0$ in a stipend.

Suck it up, bitches.

Why isn't the team stepping in and agreeing to pay the coaches, if the league is balking? Is that not the easiest solution?

HONOLULU_BLUE NEEDS A UNION!

No, they shouldn't suck it up. If MLB promised them a $40,000 stipend for all coaches and players, it should be honored. If they reneged on the deal like the Boston players claim, then they have a right to be angry and boycott. I am a Yankees fan, but I think what they're doing here sticking up for their coahces is awesome. If a deal was agreed to, it should be honored as such.

Fuck that, H_B. They were told the coaches would get the 40K (which is a 40% bonus to these folks), plain and simple. The players did not approve this until it was made clear the coaches would be paid.

Why the fuck should the players make up for MLB's reneging on their deal. I'm listening to the WEEI feed right now, and the coaches on the previous trip got the exact same stipend the players did. MLB thought because it was not in writing, they could save some money and be cheap.

The Fort Myers police are apparently going to line folks up for autographs.. I don't think they're going to play a game today.

Because why do the PLAYERS have to pay for something MLB won't pay? If players didn't vote clubhouse workers a share of playoff money or something like that, should MLB step in and make it right?

This is always my most favorite fan reaction - "my life is so much worse than a professional athlete, so they shouldn't complain about anything".

Your life is better than most in the world HB, I hope you're consistent and never complain about anything yourself.

Throw me in the anti HB camp.

If they were promised the money they should get it. MLB wants this trip, not the players and coaches.

By all accounts the average coach doesn't make alot of money. 40K is life changing for some of them.

looks like they may play the game

why didn't Oakland get this same promise? I would be more pissed if I were them because apparently no deal was made with them. Are they bitching?

If they're doing that, they're definitely going to Japan no matter what.

1:10 start.

thank god, I was afraid I would have to watch Judge Judy instead

Apparently the Sox found out about this through the A's coaches, who had known for a while they weren't getting paid. The implication there is that they had the same deal, but nobody can be sure.

I got HBs back. Oakland County rides together and dies together.

So the Sox made everyone wait around for an hour and now it's over.

Maybe this was all just a big scheme to cover up Manny Ramirez getting lost on the way to the park.

so so Oakland knows they got screwed too and decide to sack up? Keep in mind that is a much more notoriously cheap organization then any team in the MLB and could use it more and they are being pros about. Shit happens. Cowboy Up Boston.

If Boston doesn't take the field make them forfeit. It's a chance to promote the game in another country on an all expense paid trip. It's to freaking Japan, not Cambodia for crying out loud.

JD Drew should just pay for their salaries. He's taking 14.4 million a season to be average, he should suck it up.

It's funny to see the Red Sox suddenly counting pennies :)

I'm referring to the "team" - the Boston Red Sox - not the players on the team. The team is a part of MLB, and if MLB promised something, the team should step up and pay, and then have a quiet conversation with Selig about getting reimbursed. Instead, they've turned this into yet another ugly PR gaffe for MLB.

do you seriously think this should be considered an all expenses paid trip to Japan?

By the time they get over their jet lag they have to play 2 games, then fly right back to California to play some more and end up being on the road for 19 straight days to start their season.

Anyone who considers this a "trip" is sorely mistaken

Well that $40,000 covers the extra costs for bringing all those camera on the trip to film Oakland's signs.

Man, I always find it money to see other idiots tell ppl they don't deserve the funds they have agreed to. I demand you work for free - its a "privilege".

MLB - aka Bud Selig - always classy.

so should each team have to pony up the money since they are all part of MLB?

Ya, those Jet Lagged Coaches are really going to make the Red Sox lose some games. I hope Gary Tuck won't cost them some late inning bullpen strategy...

Idiots?

Crapshoot, Giants fan - always classy...:rolleyes:

the coaches will have to work harder then the players.

Have you ever been to Asia?

It isn't the kind of trip you want to do in a short time span.

Oh ya? Enlighten me...

Gary Bettman has got to be loving this. The race for "biggest PR gaffe by a major league in the last twenty years" has just been reopened.

What the hell are you talking about? Why are you debating jet lag? Do you have a comprehension of the issues here?

even this thread is all about Boston. Like I said someone show me where Oakland is acting like children and Ill show the Sox some sympathy but until then guess what you got screwed. Happens to everyone every day.

It can take a while to recover, like I said, it isn't a vacation for these guys

Nope, the A's were quite happy to bend over and take it. Their coaches are probably annoyed that their players didn't give a damn (as long as they themselves were taken care of).

The Sox players are yelling about other people not getting paid. How is that not sympathetic?

The thread is about coaches pay right? I'm not following about how it will affect on field performance

Right, that was my fault. I did consider putting "A's threaten Japan Boycott" as the thread title, just to not be so Boston-centric, but I figured that might be misleading.