A Realistic View at 2016

[a700hitter]

Do you think JD Drew, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle would have signed up? There would be a long "f*** this" list too.

They would if their only other option to feed their family was a 9-5 job.

[SoxHop]

He was the target of every sportswriter in Boston, and the print press had a monopoly over the news back then. They went after him all the time. And he got booed a lot. If anything, it was harder for players in the 60's and 70's, because there were no long term guaranteed contracts, and when your career was over you had to get another job unless you were a superstar. Today, Nick Punto is set for life.

 

Interesting read 700.....

[a700hitter]

THey already made their millions..... much easier to walk away....

I walked away from a good paying job, but I didn't have to worry about feeding my family or paying my bills. Without that luxury, I am still working that job.

[SoxHop]

I wonder if batting is ever boring. Many jobs the issue is that you are bored to tears doing your job. I could see a person being next at bat thinking..... this is totally boring and I wish I was programming an app.

[a700hitter]

I wonder if batting is ever boring. Many jobs the issue is that you are bored to tears doing your job. I could see a person being next at bat thinking..... this is totally boring and I wish I was programming an app.

There is an acute awareness that the ball is coming at you at a very high and deadly velocity. There isn't too much daydreaming at home plate. Like Yogi Berra used to say, you cant think and hit at the same time.

[User Name]

Actually, you're right. Funny enough that was kind of a decision I had to make recently. The money wasn't there though for the time not being home with people I want to spend time with.

 

But, ask me again making one million a year and I have to preform in a batting cage to the best ability a can every city a travel to for 20 pitches every day for 162....... easy money...... no question.......

 

Again, money. (Some guys do it for the love of the game, some for the spotlight) Show me the dough.

[SoxHop]

There is an acute awareness that the ball is coming at you at a very high and deadly velocity. There isn't too much daydreaming at home plate. Like Yogi Berra used to say, you cant think and hit at the same time.

 

I have to think that batting is never boring........... it's nothing like your boss asking you if you have that report ready......

[User Name]

He was the target of every sportswriter in Boston, and the print press had a monopoly over the news back then. They went after him all the time. And he got booed a lot. If anything, it was harder for players in the 60's and 70's, because there were no long term guaranteed contracts, and when your career was over you had to get another job unless you were a superstar. Today, Nick Punto is set for life.

 

But when the season was over, it was over. If you got caught cheating on your wife "meh", if you used performance enhancers "meh", if you said something stupid "meh". Sure, the media could go after you, but now all it does is go after you. That's why they make the money. You trade your privacy and personal life for money. It's a fair trade-off, but you still give something to get something.

[User Name]

I have to think that batting is never boring........... it's nothing like your boss asking you if you have that report ready......

 

What's boring is the preparation, traveling and promotional obligations.

[SoxHop]

Again, money. (Some guys do it for the love of the game, some for the spotlight) Show me the dough.

 

They make the dough though. Would you rather bag groceries for 365 for the same money?

[SoxHop]

What's boring is the preparation, traveling and promotional obligations.

 

yea, the gym can suck, the travelling isn't working on some mindless project. Promotions..... oh the horror.

 

These guys are paid super well because they put in the time to hit a ball with a stick well every day and all day when they were young........ the rest is gravy. Ask a nurse....

[User Name]

They make the dough though. Would you rather bag groceries for 365 for the same money?

 

My problem is that I hate dealing with people for the most part unless I am in a position of professional advantage (if you can call it that). If you offered me one million to take on the entire ballplayer package, and one million for a 9-5 position package, I would take the 9-5 position package. For me, playing baseball should be a game, not a job.

[a700hitter]

But when the season was over, it was over. If you got caught cheating on your wife "meh", if you used performance enhancers "meh", if you said something stupid "meh". Sure, the media could go after you, but now all it does is go after you. That's why they make the money. You trade your privacy and personal life for money. It's a fair trade-off, but you still give something to get something.

That isn't true at all. In Boston, the star players had no private lives. Ted Williams was criticized about his marriages and parenting. And on and on. To the extent that there is more intrusion on player's private lives today, it is more than compensated for by the lucrative money.

[User Name]

yea, the gym can suck, the travelling isn't working on some mindless project. Promotions..... oh the horror.

 

These guys are paid super well because they put in the time to hit a ball with a stick well every day and all day when they were young........ the rest is gravy. Ask a nurse....

 

The rest is s*** actually. Which is the point.

[a700hitter]

My problem is that I hate dealing with people for the most part unless I am in a position of professional advantage (if you can call it that). If you offered me one million to take on the entire ballplayer package, and one million for a 9-5 position package, I would take the 9-5 position package. For me, playing baseball should be a game, not a job.

Fair enough, but that is probably not representative of others.

[User Name]

That isn't true at all. In Boston, the star players had no private lives. Ted Williams was criticized about his marriages and parenting. And on and on. To the extent that there is more intrusion on player's private lives today, it is more than compensated for by the lucrative money.

 

But isn't that exactly what I'm saying? Let's say you're right, let's say they still had no private lives way back when. But notice that salaries have increased as their private lives, free time, ability to get away from the crowds and overall scrutiny have increased as well.

 

I remember hearing a neighbor ask Hanley once (I think I told this story here once) back when I lived around the place where he lived as a kid, and he'd go around December with his entourage, close down the streets and buy booze for people on a grand scale: "Man, doesn't it bother you that people are always making s*** up about you?" (the story was he f***ed dudes as a kid to make ends meet) He answered: "I've got fourteen milion reasons to not give a f***".

[User Name]

Fair enough, but that is probably not representative of others.

 

I've been saying that too. It depends a lot on the guy. And a lot of these guys would probably choose playing baseball just to be away from their wives for half a year.

[SoxHop]

The rest is s*** actually. Which is the point.

 

My guess is that %99 of people in the world would think that it is easy and would swap their jobs with that job.

[SoxHop]

I've been saying that too. It depends a lot on the guy. And a lot of these guys would probably choose playing baseball just to be away from their wives for half a year.

 

Away from their wives for a few years, with the ability to after buy a private island for themselves for the rest of their lives.....

[User Name]

My guess is that %99 of people in the world would think that it is easy and would swap their jobs with that job.

 

I would very much contend otherwise. A lot of people go for certain types of jobs (like customer service) because of a lack of desire/inability to deal with people in general. All things being equal, that and having to be away from your family/friends/home plus the lack of stability (trades, dealing with FA) etc. A lot of people would not play baseball for that money, but we can agree to disagree.

[SoxHop]

I wonder if batting is ever boring. Many jobs the issue is that you are bored to tears doing your job. I could see a person being next at bat thinking..... this is totally boring and I wish I was programming an app.

 

Funny enough...... the only person I could see doing this was JD Drew.......

[a700hitter]

But isn't that exactly what I'm saying? Let's say you're right, let's say they still had no private lives way back when. But notice that salaries have increased as their private lives, free time, ability to get away from the crowds and overall scrutiny have increased as well.

 

I remember hearing a neighbor ask Hanley once (I think I told this story here once) back when I lived around the place where he lived as a kid, and he'd go around December with his entourage, close down the streets and buy booze for people on a grand scale: "Man, doesn't it bother you that people are always making s*** up about you?" (the story was he f***ed dudes as a kid to make ends meet) He answered: "I've got fourteen milion reasons to not give a f***".

Imagine if he didn't have $14 million and people were still saying that about him and he had to live with them.

[SoxHop]

I would very much contend otherwise. A lot of people go for certain types of jobs (like customer service) because of a lack of desire/inability to deal with people in general. All things being equal, that and having to be away from your family/friends/home plus the lack of stability (trades, dealing with FA) etc. A lot of people would not play baseball for that money, but we can agree to disagree.

 

I hear you. There is a price tag on it.

[a700hitter]

Everything has a price tag. That price gets lower if you need an income to eat.

[User Name]

Imagine if he didn't have $14 million and people were still saying that about him and he had to live with them.

 

It's doubtful people would give enough of a s*** to say stuff about him if he wasn't a superstar baseball player.

[User Name]

Everything has a price tag. That price gets lower if you need an income to eat.

 

Or for blow, amirite?

[SoxHop]

Everything has a price tag. That price gets lower if you need an income to eat.

 

Agreed...... so does the definition of a workplace grind.

[User Name]

The problem is that the grind is usually mental or physical. In the current professional sports landscape, it's both.

[SoxHop]

Change subject......

 

A high school friend of mine where I grew up in Portland Maine had his sister come up and tell him that she had sex with Hanley while he was with the Sea Dogs....she though that he'd be all happy about it being a Sox fan and all

[SoxHop]

The problem is that the grind is usually mental or physical. In the current professional sports landscape, it's both.

 

I'm agreeing to disagree with this. My mind it's NO WAY IS THAT TRUE.