Baker is back---Minor leaguers get screwed

by novaoakland on Jan 7, 2006 2:14 AM PST

Yep thats right John Baker is back
http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=304&p=9&c=2&cid=486335&nid=1822234&fhn=1&refid= 4742

Appears the marlins designated him to make room for Olivo and he was claimed by the A's.

I guess this is not the biggest news as Baker looked less than impressive last season but more curious what everyones thoughts are on way minor leaguers are treated. One thing when you are making 300,000+ a year to be asked to constantly move with basically no say, but this seems brutal. (yes I know Baker did not actually move but the thoery of it I question).

I would be interested in peoples thoughts.

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I think...

...that for a chance to play professional baseball I'd cut off my pinkie, sleep with Rosie O'Donnell, live under a bridge, wear purple Speedos on the outside of my pants, suffer noogies from the entire roster, and accept $500 a week in wages - if that was what was required to get a contract.

That's what I think.

by Ozzz on Jan 7, 2006 3:13 AM PST reply actions

No pinkie

I wonder if that would help or hamper your changeup.

Green eyes come from yellow flecks of fatty pigment on a dark background. Some men think a green-eyed woman is exotic. The truth is she's got fat eyes.

by Furious George on Jan 7, 2006 6:19 AM PST up reply actions

"live under a bridge"

Troll !

by green star oakland on Jan 7, 2006 8:24 AM PST up reply actions

Anything except Rosie O'Donnell...

Hollywood Oz, show some class in doing anything to be a professional ball player. Not Rosie.

Wait it is Roseanne Barr that I cannot stand. Rosie may be okay after all.

Cheers, Hollywood Oz. Looking for some new writeups on your site.

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Jan 7, 2006 9:51 AM PST up reply actions

as long as they get payed that much

I dont see a problem.

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Jan 7, 2006 3:57 AM PST reply actions

Point being most minor leaguers

make nothing.

Why don't they just lick their fingers? -- http://oaklandprospects.blogspot.com/

by novaoakland on Jan 7, 2006 9:36 AM PST up reply actions

Most minor leaguers

make nothing, while aspiring to be one of the 0.1% who will rise to stardom to make so much that they will need to develop a drug habit as a hobby just to find a way to spend the money.

Not a system I agree with, but a system consisent with the one found outside of baseball. I'd like to see Manny and A-Rod's last couple million go to subsidizing a true living wage for a plethora of starving hopefuls in the minors, but Cindi's analysis will be insightful before that happens.

by Nico on Jan 7, 2006 9:57 AM PST up reply actions

Omigod, thanks Nico!

My first compliment on Athlete's Nation!

-Cindi

by Nico on Jan 7, 2006 9:58 AM PST up reply actions

Not exactly part of the system

The minor leaguers aren't part of the union or covered by the CBA -- they get treated however the owners want to treat them. I fault the MLBPA for not making organizing the minor league players a priority, and to the extent that they haven't, they are tacitly endorsing the system. But your description is kind of the bosses' (or narrow-minded union-member's) view of labor expenses: "Here's the pie, it isn't getting any bigger. You guys divide it up how you want." In virtually every case, however, the pie can get a lot bigger than what the bosses say, and the only way to really find out the limits is to organize and put pressure on them.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jan 7, 2006 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

What's tricky, though,

is that there isn't a lot of money in minor league baseball itself. The money (in the forms of attendance, TV revenues, and licensing) is at the major league level, and the major leagues do "own" the minor leaguers to some degree, e.g. players cannot appear in uniform outside of the ballpark without major league team's permission, even if the minor league team's owners say OK, minor league players are "property" of one major league team and can't peddle their talents elsewhere, etc.

So because the pie (money, which equals power) is essentially composed of major league money, and because being affiliated with a major league team carries many restrictions, it is up to major league players (union) and major league owners to improve the system, i.e., I'm not sure a minor league union would be strong enough. But certainly the MLBPA could incorporate the minor leaguers (just as the MLB owners essentially have by way of imposing many restrictions)--but they don't.

by Nico on Jan 7, 2006 10:50 AM PST up reply actions

The major league clubs...

...pay the bulk of the operating expenses for their minor league affiliates (esp. player and coach salaries, etc.) The minor league ownership is responsible for providing facilities that meet the demands of their major league team. Since the early '90s minor league franchises have also been required to kick back a share of the gate to the major league clubs. Minor league club expenses include ballpark rental/building/maintenance, a share of equipment/uniform costs, and non-baseball payroll. Ultimately, the major league club takes care of baseball operations, and the minor league team takes care of facilities and attempts to make a profit by marketing the team. The minor league team needs to sell enough tickets/advertising/concessions to be able to afford facilities that meet the requirements of the major league club, while still making a profit.

I don't really think that this agrees or disagrees with what anyone else is writing, but many of the other posts seem to assume things about how minor league clubs operate that are not true, at least based on the little bit that I've read.

"I'm a lexicon devil with a battered brain."--Darby Crash

by lexdevil on Jan 7, 2006 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

still

getting payed... to play... baseball? If you can't deal with getting moved around, don't play. I'm not sure of the specifics of the pay, and I'm sure it's hard, but still, I think at this point these players should be used to this kind of shit, and realize that this comes with the job.
How much is the min. pay for minors?

YABU: You're always eating cheese. ...Is cheese good for you? . FISCHER: IT'S BETTER THAN SUSHI!!!

by ConditionOakland on Jan 7, 2006 11:18 AM PST up reply actions

I know that...

...those at the short season level live on between $1200-$1800 per month. That said, their room, food, equipment and transportation are paid for, so they should be able to make that stretch.

But even at the lower levels, there are haves and have nots. For example, the bonus babies could easily afford to rent their own place in whatever city they're in, and make the living situation for the lower level draftees (which usually equates to sharing a room with two or three other guys) a little less crowded, but very often they don't, and because the early draft picks are more valuable to the organization, they'll get the better club accommodation as a matter of course.

It's got to be real frustrating to get a $1500 sign on bonus and have to share a room with a guy sitting on a check that has an extra three zeroes on the end of it, but AS IF any of us wouldn't do it in a heartbeat!

by Ozzz on Jan 7, 2006 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

Consent

The minor leaguers could always get a real job. These guys can walk away from their dream anytime they want. They have a special talent for the game of baseball and they either love the idea of playing ball or they are chasing the money. Either way, they can walk away from their contract any time they want to. Even the career minor leaguers are living a dream (my dream anyway). Hey, if I had the chance (Okay, like everyone else, I had the chance but was WAY short on the talent), trade me every year. I wouldn't care.

by conniemack on Jan 7, 2006 7:21 AM PST reply actions

Of course...

minor leaguers always get screwed. The organizations need fill ins for the stud prospects. My UPS guy pitched in the Indians organization, and the baker down the street pitched in the Mets organization.

High school and college players reading this:

Get good grades and stay in school until you have a degree. The odds of you making it to the bigs are very slim.

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Jan 7, 2006 7:53 AM PST reply actions

Why they get screwed

They get screwed because they haven't organized a union yet. Major leaguers used to get treated this way, and still would if they hadn't organized. I've never heard of the MLBPA fighting to organize the minor-leaguers, which is typical of certain kind of closed-minde craft unionism but is very short-sighted. The minor leaguers are paid as little as they possibly can be by the owners for the labor which makes the owners money. If they organized, they'd have more power and they'd get more money and better treatment.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jan 7, 2006 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

Yes, but..

...that money would come out of the MLB owner's pocket, which would mean they have less to spend on the guys presently in the MLBPA.

Which is why it'll never happen.

by Ozzz on Jan 7, 2006 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

That's probably what MLBPA thinks

but it never really works out that way. Why? Because when all the players are organized together, they have much more power to use in confronting the owners. A strike, for instance wouldn't just shut down the majors -- it would shut down all of professional baseball, and the owners couldn't count on minor-leaguers to scab a strike. The narrow-minded view is to think about all the other people who could get a somwhat bigger piece of the pie. The broader view, I think, is to see that solidarity forces the owners to make a bigger pie for everyone (so even if more people get a slice, even the major-leaguers end up with more, too).

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jan 7, 2006 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

Now Baker needs to fulfill the A's

fans dreams and show he can play better ball than he showed us last year.

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Jan 7, 2006 9:54 AM PST reply actions

Do the A's have to many Catchers?

They have Kendall and Melhuse for the majors.

Now they have John Baker, Jeremy Brown, and Raul Casanova at AAA.

At AA they have Kurt Suzuki

In Stockton they have Landon Powell.

So to me it seems they have a logjam at the AAA level and I don't think any of the 3 will be sent down to AA except maybe Baker.

Thoughts?

by Bud Light on Jan 7, 2006 10:46 AM PST reply actions

I think one will be included if BB makes another

trade. Otherwise, may the best bat win!

Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by Kotsay.

by carp on Jan 7, 2006 12:34 PM PST up reply actions

I'd think Baker goes to AA

rather than AAA if Brown and Casanova stick. Is Casey Meyers still there? He was a pretty good hitter. Is Padron going to KC?

by WaddellCanseco on Jan 7, 2006 11:40 PM PST up reply actions

Just as with art, music, fashion etc.

The road to the top is tough in any really interesting, high-paying, or exciting career. There are many ways to be successful, but the most valued tend to involve the most pain and sacrifice at the entry- or lower-levels. And so goes professional baseball.

Ballplayers, drummers, lacrosse coaches, sculptors, poets, DJs...few make as much as a typical Administrative Assistant. Still, many expect their big break or increase in notoriety to be just around the corner.

But the disproportion of those aspiring to make a living at it to those who really do is huge. In contrast, what about someone hoping to get a BA in Business and work in a cube at a big company? Obviously, it's not real hard to get there if you can take out student loans.

Nor are teams motivated to coddle and support their constantly-nourished mass of hopefuls from all over the world. For every Eric Karros or Doug Jones that hangs it up, several 18 year-olds are signing on. How many guys are with the the A's right now(about 200, I think)? How many rookies are on the 25-man roster?

The influence of tradition, the para-military style of leadership, classism, and physical attractiveness all play huge roles in what happens to Jimmy McFreckleface as well. Sure, he was the pride of Goat Flats High School, but to Billy Beane he's a set of skills.

Treating bright and motivated young kids with respect - and paying them a living wage - doesn't fit at all with the culture of professional sports. Without a union, minor league baseball will chew up and spit out plenty of nice guys.

by Mark H on Jan 7, 2006 12:41 PM PST reply actions

According to the basic agreement....

...minor league players w/ prior major league contracts are paid on the following scale.

"(2) For all Players (a) signing a SECOND Major League contract
(not covering the same season as any such Player's initial Major
League contract) or a subsequent Major League contract, or (b) having
at least one day of Major League service, the minimum salary
shall be as follows:(ii) for Minor League service--at a rate not less than the
following:
2005--at the rate per season of $50,000 plus a cost of living
adjustment
2006--at the 2005 rate per season plus a cost of living adjustment
http://mlbplayers.mlb.com/pa/pdf/cba_english.pdf

For minor leaguers with no previous contract:

First contract season: $1,100/month maximum. After that, open to negotiation

Alien Salary Rates: Different for aliens on visas--mandated by INS (Immigration).

Meal Money: $20 per day at all levels, while on the road
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/info/faq.jsp

Here are some old rates I found:

Triple-A--First year: $2,150/month, after first year no less than $2,150/month

Class AA-First year: $1,500/month, after first year no less than $1,500/month

Class A (full season)--First year: $1,050/month, after first year no
less than $1,050/month

Class A (short-season)--First year: $850/month, after first year no
less than $850/month

Dominican & Venezuelan Summer Leagues--no lower than $300/month
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=515176

Not sure how close to current they are.

Mark Gustafson of the Rockies told me, a couple of years ago, that there are minor league lifers who do make substantially more than minimum, and they're not just spare parts being stored at AAA. A lot of these guys are kept on because the team thinks they're good influences on the younger players who will actually get called up. These guys are generally covered by the basic agreement I excerpted above.

"I'm a lexicon devil with a battered brain."--Darby Crash

by lexdevil on Jan 7, 2006 12:54 PM PST reply actions