Bosox Players Threaten Japan Boycott

[hellborn]

I don't know if this will end up being an empty threat, but it has been reported that the Red Sox players are boycotting the trip to Japan (and today's game with the Jays) if the coaches and training staff don't get the same $40,000 stipend that the players are for making the trip.

[sharrock]

The delay of this game is the first step and I think MLB will move back to the spirit of the original agreement and compensate the coaches and staff. Also at issue is whether the player's families (and staff families) will be allowed to come on the trip, which is actually 19/20 days.

Its a developing story, but it is not surprising to me that MLB would jack around with this trip. From reports, the last two Japan trips featured compensation to the coaches and staff so this one would seem to merit it as well based on precedent.

I'm assuming Oakland will take the same stand if it comes to that but I expect the Japan trip to eventually take place. But maybe MLB will do away with the stupidity of opening the regular season overseas. In which case I'll buy a beer for everyone ont he Sox or Oakland.

[hellborn]

Papi better stay away from the blowfish (fugu) sushi.
Sea Urchin (uni) would probably make him sick and miss the games, but at least not kill him.

It'll be interesting to see if Foulke pitches against the Bosox...not sure if he's making the trip, I know that he's been hurt.

[sharrock]

Sox players are taking the field and starting to warm up. It looks like something has been worked out.

Again, at least the players have taken action that puts future Japan trips in jeopardy. With all due respect to the Japanese baseball community, Opening Day belongs in the US (or Toronto).

[tmorss9]

The reasons they proteseted this are exactly why I love the Red Sox. I love when a team goes to extents to take care of their support staff.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

I already said this in the Current Event section, but the Red Sox show that they are a TEAM! :bowdown:

[ColbyPants]

Its always heartening to see the season start with a show of team solidarity. Nice work guys.

[JerseySoxFan19]

This is what being team is all about. The players feel the coaches should get as much compensation as them and I love how they stood up for the coaches. My bro' thought we were a bunch of greedy expletives and now he's gonna looks stupid, haha, but seriously it's great to see how united we are as a team.

[EdTarbusz]

A big part of me thinks that this was less a show of team solidarity and more of looking for an excuse to avoid the trip to Japan.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Was the staff told that they would get the 40K stipend then was it taken away?

[Jager]

Yes, Tito Francona had told everyone that they would get the money, and then found out yesterday that somehow MLB had backed out of that without telling anyone.


For the players it's not a big deal really, but for some coaches, and other help that's a ton of money. They gave the example on WEEI today that one of the bullpen help, only make $30,000 a year, and if you're promised an extra $40,000 for going to Japan three months ago, you probably make some plans for that money, so that was the biggest problem they had. The coaches were getting screwed, and had no means to dispute it. Luckily the Sox players put their foot down, and got this done for them. Great team solidarity. This is what a team is all about. It makes me proud to be a Sox fan.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Yes, Tito Francona had told everyone that they would get the money, and then found out yesterday that somehow MLB had backed out of that without telling anyone.

There is a difference between Francona telling someone something, and the MLB telling them something.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/projo_20080319_japan.5f3f1b9.html

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...s/extra_bases/ (Caradro's)

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...is_addres.html (Youkilis' take on this)

[Imgran]

I'll take the team, as a team, having the coaching staff's backs in a dispute with MLB over some scrub 1Bman slicing a 3 inch cut into Iwamura's thigh with his cleats as a symbol of what the team is prepared to stand for this year.

[Jager]

There is a difference between Francona telling someone something, and the MLB telling them something.

I know there's a difference, but MLB agreed to those terms, then tried to back out. Everyone was expecting that, and that's why they threatened not to play. This wasn't something that the players tried to throw in afterwards, this was agreed upon, and then for some reason MLB thought they could get away with backing out of it.

[Westlake]

A big part of me thinks that this was less a show of team solidarity and more of looking for an excuse to avoid the trip to Japan.

Part of me thinks you just try and find the bad angle in every story. I knew they knew MLB would give in, it wasn't going to stop the trip.