Red Sox boycotting trip to Japan

[onlooker]

They are talking about not boarding the team plane to Japan, unless the coaches get the $40K they were suppose to get.

I think the Athletics are going to do the same thing.

Lets see if they actually go through with this if MLB don't back down.

[onlooker]

Here is the article on it from ESPN. Seen the news on First Take.

Red Sox vote not to board plane for Japan, play final spring game

ESPN.com news services

Updated: March 19, 2008, 11:21 AM ET

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox are threatening to boycott their season-opening games in Japan unless their coaches and other staff are paid for making the trip.

Mike Lowell has told The Boston Globe the team voted unanimously not to take the field for their final spring training game or to board the plane later Wednesday for Japan.

Manager Terry Francona and his players are upset after learning the staff is not going to get a $40,000 stipend that the players are receiving. Francona had told his coaches they would be paid.

The World Series champions are to begin their season against Oakland on March 25 and 26.

"We had an agreement," Curt Schilling, one of a handful of Red Sox players who talked with Major League Baseball on ground rules for the trip, told ESPN's Claire Smith.

"Some of the promises have already been taken away, now this," Schilling said. "As far as the players are concerned, [withholding the coaches' bonuses] can't happen."

''When we voted to go to Japan, that was not a unanimous vote,'' Lowell told the Globe, "but we did what our team wanted us to do for Major League Baseball. They promised us the moon and the stars, and then when we committed, they started pulling back. It's not just the coaches, it's the staff, the trainers, a lot of people are affected by this.

"I'm so super proud of this team," Lowell said, according to the Globe. "When we put it to a vote it was unanimous, we're all in agreement that we're not going to put up with this.''

That the players would consider such action "is really appreciated, to say the least," Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan told Smith. "It means as much as the money itself.

"While we're very fortunate, a lot of people don't realize what we do. It's nice to get recognition from the players."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

SOURCE

[LT Profits]

Well, I don't say this much about millionaire ballplayers, but good for them!

[Red_Sux]

red sox players should be asked to be paid in yen...at least it'll be worth something after the game

[indy62]

it is looking like they will not play weds gamevs toronto

[onlooker]

it is looking like they will not play weds gamevs toronto

I just turned it to the game, and the Red Sox just went into the locker room. And they said Dice K is not going to pitch today.

[onlooker]

I just read on the ticker that the Players have agreed not to play todays game against the Blue Jays, and not to board the plane to Japan tonight.

[Willie Bee]

I was alright with the deal until I realized that one of the guys not getting their money was Dave Magadan. So fück 'em. Get on the plane or lose two games of pay, boys.

[onlooker]

Something must of been resolved. The Red Sox are now taking the field for warm ups, for the Blue Jays game.

[rake922]

this is 40k per coach right... so how much does it add up to

400k?

[OLGC_Slayer]

get a $40,000 stipend

Who the phuck needs a 40k stipend for a trip to Japan? Its really hard for to sympathize with these guys. The players could easily pool that much money together out of their weekly meal budget to cover it, IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO.

[SECfan23]

ESPN ticker said the Sox confirmed that everything is resolved. They will go to Japan

[rake922]

get a $40,000 stipend

Who the phuck needs a 40k stipend for a trip to Japan? Its really hard for to sympathize with these guys. The players could easily pool that much money together out of their weekly meal budget to cover it, IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO.

Coaches don't make alot

[rugbybdyb]

I think the problem was not that were not going to get the money, but they were told by MLB that they were going to get paid and MLB promised a lot of things that were not produced for the trip and the team felt like this trip was misrepresented and MLB was not holding up their end of the deal, it looks like it is resolved so who really cares.....But good to see the team is looking out for the coaches and staff....

[Willie Bee]

Next time you buy an $8 beer (or more) at a ballgame, remember how some of that money is being spent. That's a ridiculous amount of money to give some guy that spends a good portion of his day picking up baseballs and hitting fungos.

[OLGC_Slayer]

Next time you buy an $8 beer (or more) at a ballgame, remember how some of that money is being spent. That's a ridiculous amount of money to give some guy that spends a good portion of his day picking up baseballs and hitting fungos.

Agreed. Do they understand how this makes the working stiff making 15 bucks an hour feel?

[treece]

Next time you buy an $8 beer (or more) at a ballgame, remember how some of that money is being spent. That's a ridiculous amount of money to give some guy that spends a good portion of his day picking up baseballs and hitting fungos.

what kind of sucker pays $8 a beer?

[tacomax]

what kind of sucker pays $8 a beer?

An alcoholic at a baseball game.