Red Sox Refusing to Take Field and may not Travel to Japan Season Opener

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:27 AM

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7930472?MSNHPHMA

Game is delayed and being talked about live on ESPN right now.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-19-2008, 10:28 AM

Wow. Interesting move.

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:29 AM

The Boston Red Sox have threatened to boycott their season-opening games in Japan unless their coaches and other staff are paid for making the trip.

Third baseman Mike Lowell told The Boston Globe the team voted unanimously not to play its final spring training game or to board the plane to Japan later Wednesday.

Manager Terry Francona and his players were upset after learning staff members are not going to get a $40,000 stipend. The Boston Herald reported players insisted part of their agreement to make the trip included the fee — for them and the coaches.

"I did not have an off day yesterday. I had the phone glued to my ear because I was promised some answers and I haven't even received a phone call," Francona said Wednesday. "So I'm a little bit stuck. What I want to do this morning is get excited to play a baseball game and what I ended up doing is apologizing to the coaches and being humiliated."

The Red Sox clubhouse was closed to reporters because of the dispute and the team had not taken the field for batting practice before its last scheduled spring training game in Florida.

Pitcher Curt Schilling told The Associated Press he was not sure the game against Toronto would be played, but refused to comment on the team meeting or the boycott vote.

The World Series champions are scheduled to begin their season against Oakland with two games in Tokyo.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 03-19-2008, 10:30 AM

Basically, all the players from both teams are being paid $40,000 in appearance fees for going to Japan. Now MLB is saying the coaches won't get it. Originally, apparently they said coaches would be paid. Now the Red Sox players are saying, "We're not playing today, and we're not going to Japan unless the coaches are paid the appearance fee."

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:31 AM

40k is a lot of money, but I applaud the players for sticking up for others besides for themselves.

The player's believe the agreement included the support staff being paid a stipend for their 20 days overseas, MLB is saying this was not part of the agreement. I can't believe MLB is messing around with this, pay the money and avoid this slap in the face of ruining your overseas opener.

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Flopnuts

Basically, all the players from both teams are being paid $40,000 in appearance fees for going to Japan. Now MLB is saying the coaches won't get it. Originally, apparently they said coaches would be paid. Now the Red Sox players are saying, "We're not playing today, and we're not going to Japan unless the coaches are paid the appearance fee."

Coaches and support staff as I understand it.

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:38 AM

Some fans at the game were chanting "let's play ball".

Now staff members are throwing out Red Sox t-shirts to the crowd trying to keep them content and quiet.

lightsout04 · 03-19-2008, 10:39 AM

Good for the players. I am glad they are sticking up for the other staff members.

**RockChalk** · 03-19-2008, 10:40 AM

you know what though, what's being overlooked is that these frickin players are making what, at worst $200k per year? and they are getting paid an extra $40,000 to travel to Tokyo for a week.

don't get me wrong, I like that they are sticking up for their coaches, but do any of them really need this money?

chiefqueen · 03-19-2008, 10:41 AM

Of course $40,000 one day could be $20,000 the next the way is dollar is falling.

BigChiefFan · 03-19-2008, 10:42 AM

$40,000 for EACH coach and staff member? They can boycott-I'd tell them they forfeit the game if they don't play. Red Sox start off season 0-2.

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk

you know what though, what's being overlooked is that these frickin players are making what, at worst $200k per year? and they are getting paid an extra $40,000 to travel to Tokyo for a week.

don't get me wrong, I like that they are sticking up for their coaches, but do any of them really need this money?

I think we could all agree that all professional athletes are overpaid, but the major issue is that the player's feel this was a term of their agreement in going to Japan and that MLB is now not holding up to its side of the deal. The players are sticking to what they feel the terms were.

The announcers on ESPN did say that assistant coaches and support staff make around $80k a year in MLB.

stlchiefs · 03-19-2008, 10:50 AM

Red Sox just took the field and are warming up. No word on any agreement yet.

BigChiefFan · 03-19-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

I think we could all agree that all professional athletes are overpaid, but the major issue is that the player's feel this was a term of their agreement in going to Japan and that MLB is now not holding up to its side of the deal. The players are sticking to what they feel the terms were.

The announcers on ESPN did say that assistant coaches and support staff make around $80k a year in MLB.

So they'll get HALF of a YEAR'S SALARY for going to two games? They really should boycott.

**RockChalk** · 03-19-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

I think we could all agree that all professional athletes are overpaid, but the major issue is that the player's feel this was a term of their agreement in going to Japan and that MLB is now not holding up to its side of the deal. The players are sticking to what they feel the terms were.

The announcers on ESPN did say that assistant coaches and support staff make around $80k a year in MLB.

I'm just trying to figure out how they came up with $40k as the number in the first place...seems a bit excessive

03-19-2008, 10:27 AM
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Red Sox Refusing to Take Field and may not Travel to Japan Season Opener http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7930472?MSNHPHMA Game is delayed and being talked about live on ESPN right now.
Posts: 4,160

03-19-2008, 10:29 AM	#3
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	The Boston Red Sox have threatened to boycott their season-opening games in Japan unless their coaches and other staff are paid for making the trip. Third baseman Mike Lowell told The Boston Globe the team voted unanimously not to play its final spring training game or to board the plane to Japan later Wednesday. Manager Terry Francona and his players were upset after learning staff members are not going to get a $40,000 stipend. The Boston Herald reported players insisted part of their agreement to make the trip included the fee — for them and the coaches. "I did not have an off day yesterday. I had the phone glued to my ear because I was promised some answers and I haven't even received a phone call," Francona said Wednesday. "So I'm a little bit stuck. What I want to do this morning is get excited to play a baseball game and what I ended up doing is apologizing to the coaches and being humiliated." The Red Sox clubhouse was closed to reporters because of the dispute and the team had not taken the field for batting practice before its last scheduled spring training game in Florida. Pitcher Curt Schilling told The Associated Press he was not sure the game against Toronto would be played, but refused to comment on the team meeting or the boycott vote. The World Series champions are scheduled to begin their season against Oakland with two games in Tokyo.
Posts: 4,160

03-19-2008, 10:31 AM	#5
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	40k is a lot of money, but I applaud the players for sticking up for others besides for themselves. The player's believe the agreement included the support staff being paid a stipend for their 20 days overseas, MLB is saying this was not part of the agreement. I can't believe MLB is messing around with this, pay the money and avoid this slap in the face of ruining your overseas opener.
Posts: 4,160

03-19-2008, 10:38 AM	#7
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Some fans at the game were chanting "let's play ball". Now staff members are throwing out Red Sox t-shirts to the crowd trying to keep them content and quiet.
Posts: 4,160

03-19-2008, 10:39 AM	#8
lightsout04 Bench Warmer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Victoria, Kansas Casino cash: $10006525	Good for the players. I am glad they are sticking up for the other staff members.
Posts: 183

03-19-2008, 10:40 AM	#9
RockChalk Dirty Bit Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake of the Woods Casino cash: $1226002	you know what though, what's being overlooked is that these frickin players are making what, at worst $200k per year? and they are getting paid an extra $40,000 to travel to Tokyo for a week. don't get me wrong, I like that they are sticking up for their coaches, but do any of them really need this money?
Posts: 7,034

03-19-2008, 10:41 AM	#10
chiefqueen On my throne Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $7892060	Of course $40,000 one day could be $20,000 the next the way is dollar is falling.
Posts: 4,204

03-19-2008, 10:42 AM	#11
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	$40,000 for EACH coach and staff member? They can boycott-I'd tell them they forfeit the game if they don't play. Red Sox start off season 0-2. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777

03-19-2008, 10:50 AM	#13
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Red Sox just took the field and are warming up. No word on any agreement yet.
Posts: 4,160