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sebaseball
101 Posts |
 Posted - 02/01/2016 : 22:28:08
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Interesting. By that logic, you'd decline a multi-million dollar contract to play softball because the average American makes $53K/year and it's just a game that you love to play anyway? To each their own I guess. I agree that you should love your work and when you do, it doesn't feel like work, but that doesn't mean that you should do it for free or shouldn't try to get paid what the market is willing to pay you. Try practicing and playing softball for 8-10 hrs a day for 190+ days out of about 210 days and I promise, it'll become work no matter how much you love it.
I know it's hard to understand and appreciate what it takes to get to the big leagues without having been in the game, but I can assure you it's no cake walk and yes, they have it good in the bigs, but they earned it & have proven themselves to be the very best of the best. So I respect them for that and don't hold any contempt for them or have any envy about their earnings. |
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bama21
278 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 07:04:36
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I don't begrudge anyone for getting all they can get, but that doesn't mean what they are getting is totally insane. NO ONE should make that much money playing a game. The 53,000 reference was only to show how out of touch their salaries are with the rest of America. Yes, we (the fans) are the stupid ones for allowing this to happen, and we do allow this to happen because we continue to support an out of control system.
As far as the softball, you pay the players what they are currently making in their jobs and I assure you they would be glad to practice 8-10hrs a day. Maybe you should go check out a tournament one weekend, then you would see players giving all they have for free. I guarantee every catch or play they show on Sports Center will be made at some point during that tournament.
Lastly, I played ball at a very high level, but life is not always fair and things happen that you cannot control. The few that make it to the pros are very good, but are also very blessed and lucky. Blessed to have the ability and lucky that the stars lined up perfectly for them to get the shot over someone else that may have been equally talented. |
Edited by - bama21 on 02/02/2016 09:30:54 |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 07:45:22
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Gee people, don't go all serious. In my naive little brain I thought the comment was meant as a youth baseball "majors", some of those kids really do have a trainer for everything!
I think back to that movie Clueless when the teenage girl handed her gym teacher a note saying she couldn't play tennis today because her trainer didn't want his teachings derailed by the gym coach! |
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bama21
278 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 12:11:34
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It was, imagine that, it got off topic. Check these numbers out and still say the system isn't broken. These are from a Phillies player I won't name, from 2014, and remember these are per game, per at bat, ect.
2014
Cost Per:
Games 153 $163,398
At Bats 648 $38,580
Hits 127 $196,850
Runs 65 $384,615
Home Runs 23 $1,086,956
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ofs13
48 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 13:20:54
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That's funny. I haven't seen the movie, but my kids come home from school saying that their PE teacher says to throw a ball this way, or kick a ball that way... and it's (often) completely wrong, and my kids know it. We have focused on mechanics so much (regardless of the sport), and for so long, that they know what he's teaching the class is poor form mechanically. They worry that they're going to get in trouble for not doing it his way in class, and I tell them to do it the way they've been trained (by me, their coaches or trainers... whichever) and "take the zero" if it comes to that.
quote:
Originally posted by CaCO3Girl
Gee people, don't go all serious. In my naive little brain I thought the comment was meant as a youth baseball "majors", some of those kids really do have a trainer for everything!
I think back to that movie Clueless when the teenage girl handed her gym teacher a note saying she couldn't play tennis today because her trainer didn't want his teachings derailed by the gym coach!
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 14:09:04
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quote:
Originally posted by bama21
It was, imagine that, it got off topic. Check these numbers out and still say the system isn't broken. These are from a Phillies player I won't name, from 2014, and remember these are per game, per at bat, ect.
2014
Cost Per:
Games 153 $163,398
At Bats 648 $38,580
Hits 127 $196,850
Runs 65 $384,615
Home Runs 23 $1,086,956
Whoever this is you came up with is making $26.5 million per year. That makes him the highest paid player in MLB, or close to it. That is one guy in the world making that kind of money to play baseball. I'm sure he pays for his salary for the team by the crowds he draws, the TV revenue the team generates and the sale of merchandise. He is NOT the kind of guy that sebaseball is talking about.
Yes, MLB players make a lot of money. But, there are only around of 750 of them in the world. They are at the top of the food chain. Sebaseball is talking about the thousands of guys who make WAY less than the poverty level to try to make it to that point. And the VAST majority of them will never get there. Those that do work their butts off to do it and don't stop working if they want to stay. Most guys who make it to the MLB don't stay very long. They have to work many years to make above the league minimum. We hear about the superstars who are making $8, $10, $20 million. But they are a very small part of the 750 players playing in the MLB. And don't forget, if you are drafted beyond the 5th round or so, your bonus is likely less than $200,000. Take taxes and agent fees out of that and it is not life changing money. Enough to buy a car and supplement your MiLB income for a year or two. Go beyond the 10th round and you're talking $0 to maybe $50,000 less taxes and agent fees.
There was a discussion on another board that went on for a while and talked about a law suit that was being filed against MLB because when you look at what the MiLB players make and factor in how many hours they put in between practice, games, working out, travel, etc... they are making far below minimum wage. And that is only for a few months out of the year. The rest of the year, they have to find a way to live. And they can't get a real job, because at some point, they have to go back and play during the season. They have to find some kind of temporary work and probably live at home with mom and dad. And continue to train and throw so they are ready when the season rolls around again.
Like it or not, baseball is a business and not an easy one to become one of the best paid people in the world. |
Edited by - bballman on 02/02/2016 15:27:51 |
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Enine
66 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 14:18:24
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quote:
Originally posted by bama21
It was, imagine that, it got off topic. Check these numbers out and still say the system isn't broken. These are from a Phillies player I won't name, from 2014, and remember these are per game, per at bat, ect.
2014
Cost Per:
Games 153 $163,398
At Bats 648 $38,580
Hits 127 $196,850
Runs 65 $384,615
Home Runs 23 $1,086,956
Sheesh Bama, are you complaining about a free market system? Are you crying for ownership having to pay players multi-million dollar contracts?
Pure and simple pro sports is a multi billion dollar enterprise. Ownership is banking plenty, it is only fair that the players get what they can for as long as they can. If the Phillies can't pay the going rate for a free agent, maybe the Yanks, Sox or Dodgers will.
Let's not compare salaries of pro players to the average American. No one is paying money to watch a programmer write a line of code, or a contractor build a house.
The system is not broken. The system is doing exactly what is should be doing and will continue as long as fans continue to show up.
Let's not judge theses millionaire players either. Plenty of these guys give back to their communities, you just may not read about it on Bleacher report.
Have a great season!! |
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Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 14:38:35
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| Call me naive but what's wrong with making the big bucks?? Why not keep the dream alive??? Who cares what they make? Actors and musicians make a fortune too. This is still the land of opportunity. Will everyone make it? No. Will everyone be treated fairly? No! But that's life...and that applies to everything from school to work to all youth activities...it starts early the lessons of "unfairness"...for those who make it I say good for them! If my kid was the one who got the huge signing bonus I surely would not ask him to insist on less! Nor would most people I venture to guess! Why shouldn't baseball be on par with football and basketball?? |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 15:02:28
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quote:
Originally posted by bama21
It was, imagine that, it got off topic. Check these numbers out and still say the system isn't broken. These are from a Phillies player I won't name, from 2014, and remember these are per game, per at bat, ect.
2014
Cost Per:
Games 153 $163,398
At Bats 648 $38,580
Hits 127 $196,850
Runs 65 $384,615
Home Runs 23 $1,086,956
I remember the year my father told my son he would pay him $5 for every home run. I think he hit 11 that season :-) $55 was a lot of money for a 10 year old. |
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bama21
278 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 20:27:26
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Yeah you are correct, they deserve to make that much money. What a joke!! Mean while you just keep paying $200 to take your kid to see a ball game. And oh by the way, we're going to have raise your taxes to pay for a new stadium. Also, if you think anyone other than yourselves are paying these ridiculous salaries your living in a dream world because all the sponsors are just going to charge more for the products/services they provide. But hey, that's ok because they deserve it.
Also, if you want to feel sorry for someone, how about the military, they also make well below poverty. If this was the case, then your sentiment may be taken more seriously. |
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bfriendly
376 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 22:45:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Enine
quote:
Originally posted by bama21
It was, imagine that, it got off topic. Check these numbers out and still say the system isn't broken. These are from a Phillies player I won't name, from 2014, and remember these are per game, per at bat, ect.
2014
Cost Per:
Games 153 $163,398
At Bats 648 $38,580
Hits 127 $196,850
Runs 65 $384,615
Home Runs 23 $1,086,956
Sheesh Bama, are you complaining about a free market system? Are you crying for ownership having to pay players multi-million dollar contracts?
Pure and simple pro sports is a multi billion dollar enterprise. Ownership is banking plenty, it is only fair that the players get what they can for as long as they can. If the Phillies can't pay the going rate for a free agent, maybe the Yanks, Sox or Dodgers will.
Let's not compare salaries of pro players to the average American. No one is paying money to watch a programmer write a line of code, or a contractor build a house.
The system is not broken. The system is doing exactly what is should be doing and will continue as long as fans continue to show up.
Let's not judge theses millionaire players either. Plenty of these guys give back to their communities, you just may not read about it on Bleacher report.
Have a great season!!
Well said........
I dont go to many Braves games, but if I had the funds I'd have Hank Aaron seat Season tickets and go to every game including road trips to away games.
No reason to get sore about any of this stuff and it may be worst to keep sour grapes about anything in the past. Especially when things happen that are out of our own control.........Let it go folks, let it go.
BTW, I love to get off topic so who does pay the military and Who keeps their salaries so low? I wonder how much in taxes the player making 5 million year pays |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2016 : 23:32:45
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1st of all, I don't feel sorry for anyone. 2nd, it would be GREAT if the military grunts made more money. 3rd, I rarely go to MLB games or purchase MLB merchandise, because it costs too much for me. But there are plenty of people willing to pay it. As long as they are willing, the superstars will make a lot of money. It's called capitalism - a free market economy. As soon as enough people aren't willing to pay, salaries will go down. Make your own personal stand and don't go to games, maybe eventually, enough people will join you.
To expand on the military, they are government employees and are paid by our tax dollars. We should pressure our legislators to cut frivolous spending on entitlement programs (IMO), and increase the military budget - specifically for the salaries to those who put their lives on the line. I agree with you there. However, we are talking about a private industry. There are minimum wage laws in this country. MiLB, in the opinion of some, is violating those laws by paying far less than minimum wage.
We have 3 issues going on here now, none of which really relate to the original topic. Government employment, highly paid MLB superstars and extremely underpaid MiLB players, most of whom will never see the big money. Each should be dealt with and looked at individually. They ARE mutually exclusive situations. |
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bama21
278 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 07:05:08
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I don't go to games and I don't watch it on TV either, unless it is college. That doesn't mean I don't love the game, I just don't like what it's become. You call it capitalism, I call it greed. The argument is always, if the player doesn't get the money,then the owner will. Do you really think that owner is going to lose money, he will just raise the price of everything and he will still get his. The only person losing in this scenario is the consumer.
There have been a lot of comments made about how little the minor league players make, hence the reference to the military and their pay.
Everything in America is going to sh**, including the government. That is a political system also ran by special interests and greed.
There will be a correction, it's coming.
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Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 09:10:32
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| Still cheaper too to get dugout level seats to a braves game than to get similar tickets to a pro football game..heck it's outrageous to get tickets to college football games! Or ncaa final 4 basketball?! How about the masters? Try getting cheap tickets on sunday for that. At least you can always get cheap seats to see baseball..you just might need to bring binoculars and eat before you get there. But no matter your seat you can still get there early and get up close during batting practice. We have caught many a ball then and had many tossed up to us by the players, and gotten many signed then too! No sense being bitter! Still the greatest sport with some of the classiest athletes out there. Just my .02 cents! Can't wait to see dansby!!! |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 09:36:39
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So I'll get it back on topic AND keep the current discussion going.
As parents of 9th graders, teach your kid about free market economies. Also teach them where money for certain things (their salary) originates. I harbor no resentment whatsoever for anyone who is able to command a high salary for having some unique skill and performing that skill at the highest level (legally). Whether it's athletes, actors, musicians, chefs, etc., etc. However, I believe that each has an obligation to understand where their compensation comes from (i.e., be educated to enough of a degree to understand this).
The only time I had any resentment toward an athlete was when a certain Braves Union Player Rep, during the strike in '94 that cancelled the World Series, stated on radio that the fan's shouldn't care or blame players for their salaries because they didn't pay it, the TV contract paid the players salaries. Here's a young man that simply didn't understand that TV's don't just print money and that the advertising revenue was passed on to consumers in higher product costs. He had no clue. And to make the public statement that he did made him look silly and drew a great deal of resentment toward himself and the players.
So, as you're teaching your 9th grader what pants to wear at tryouts, or to leave the airbrushed helmet at home, take a moment to also educate them on some basic principles of economics (as well as other subjects), using baseball as an example.
There, back on topic! |
Edited by - in_the_know on 02/03/2016 09:38:33 |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 09:40:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Crazyforbball
Still cheaper too to get dugout level seats to a braves game than to get similar tickets to a pro football game..heck it's outrageous to get tickets to college football games! Or ncaa final 4 basketball?! How about the masters? Try getting cheap tickets on sunday for that. At least you can always get cheap seats to see baseball..you just might need to bring binoculars and eat before you get there. But no matter your seat you can still get there early and get up close during batting practice. We have caught many a ball then and had many tossed up to us by the players, and gotten many signed then too! No sense being bitter! Still the greatest sport with some of the classiest athletes out there. Just my .02 cents! Can't wait to see dansby!!!
Agreed... |
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bama21
278 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 09:44:06
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This will be my last post concerning this.....sigh of relief. The average pay in MLB last year was 4.25 million. That is $2083 per hour, compare that to what you make.
And yes, all pro sports and some college games are also out of control. |
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Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2016 : 11:13:48
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| Thanks in the know for my best laugh out loud moment of the day with the air brush helmet comment! The visual image .. hilarious. |
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Parents of 9th graders
