Opting into MILB class action good/bad idea

Goosegg, what did the pitchers think about it?

They would like the money but are worried about retaliation - expressed by receiving a release.

Each individual should do what they feel is right and not be afraid of retaliation.

Not sure how this class action is being handled, but in my experience you usually need to opt out, not in.  Since most people are lazy, busy, or forgetful, they usually stay in the class and eventually get a worthless gift certificate. 

Golfman25 posted:

Not sure how this class action is being handled, but in my experience you usually need to opt out, not in.  Since most people are lazy, busy, or forgetful, they usually stay in the class and eventually get a worthless gift certificate. 

This was not originally a class action suit, but ruled in the fall that others can join the suit.  So my understanding is that one has to opt in, not out. 

Goosegg posted:

They would like the money but are worried about retaliation - expressed by receiving a release.

Which is why the MLB has a union as do other pro sports, fear of retaliation.   This is also true for those who work in a "right to work" state.   If I had to do it all over again out of college I would have either worked for the federal gov't or worked in a union. 

I would imagine the vast majority of folks eligible to opt in are NOT dues paying members of the MLB Players Association, and therefore are not afforded any protections.  Assuming one does sneak into the MLBPA on the fringes, there is little protection from getting jettisoned from the 40 man roster when the team "wants to make a change".  Would be interested to know precisely when Chris Bryant becaome a member of the MLBPA and whether he was a member, with any and all protections, on opening day.  The MLB union is kind of like the executive floor - the peons, MiLBer's who have little to nothing, are afforded no protection while the biggie wigs, MLBer's who largely have signed actual MLB contracts but even without still get paid $500k+/season, get all the protection.  Not saying unions are great in this day and age, just wanting to point out that the MLB union as an institution probably hopes the lawsuit fails as few members really care since they've made it already.

Regarding current MiLB players, I don't see how this won't come back and bite them if they opt in.  There is an amazing amount of talent to choose from when it comes to making it to MLB.  Yes, every player has to have skill, but there are still hundreds coming up every year that have skills equal to or greater than people currently on MLB rosters.  With that level of talent why wouldn't it be used against them if they opt into the lawsuit?

I once talked with a human resources employee about how she picks people for a job where there are thousands of qualified applicants, it was entry level.  Her answer shocked me.  She said if everyone is equal I have to rule them out due to other criteria that may have nothing to do with their skills and everything to do with luck.  First, I eliminate everyone that had a typo in their cover letter or resume, then I eliminate everyone that lives more than 10 miles from the job, then I eliminate anyone that has the same name of someone else in that department (it gets too complicated having 5 Jennifer's in one department), then I get down to even less relevant factors such as did they send their resume at 2am, or during normal hours, did they have an odd font...etc, and eventually I get down to a pool of about 20 applicants that we call in for interviews.

With thousands of qualified applicants why wouldn't MLB hold it against them?

CaCO3Girl posted:

Regarding current MiLB players, I don't see how this won't come back and bite them if they opt in.  There is an amazing amount of talent to choose from when it comes to making it to MLB.  Yes, every player has to have skill, but there are still hundreds coming up every year that have skills equal to or greater than people currently on MLB rosters.  With that level of talent why wouldn't it be used against them if they opt into the lawsuit?

I once talked with a human resources employee about how she picks people for a job where there are thousands of qualified applicants, it was entry level.  Her answer shocked me.  She said if everyone is equal I have to rule them out due to other criteria that may have nothing to do with their skills and everything to do with luck.  First, I eliminate everyone that had a typo in their cover letter or resume, then I eliminate everyone that lives more than 10 miles from the job, then I eliminate anyone that has the same name of someone else in that department (it gets too complicated having 5 Jennifer's in one department), then I get down to even less relevant factors such as did they send their resume at 2am, or during normal hours, did they have an odd font...etc, and eventually I get down to a pool of about 20 applicants that we call in for interviews.

With thousands of qualified applicants why wouldn't MLB hold it against them?

I feel completely opposite.  No one in player personnel, from GM to Scout, is going to consider whether a MiLB player opted into a class action lawsuit.  Their job is to get and develop the best players.  Period.

Just imagine if the percentage of active players comes in below 20%.  The truly gifted players will be excused for this "indiscretion", but the marginal player (of which the vast majority of MiLB players are when compared to the small pool of talent that gets promoted), who now sticks out amongst the crowd, may not get the benefit of the doubt - and that is sometimes what makes or breaks an MLB career (remember the post about the player that missed the bus - his backup finally got to play and shine).  If 100% sign up, no problem.  If 10% sign up, there could be an issue.  Now run your personal risk/reward for an individual player currently getting paid $10k/year.  Sign up and get a few thousand dollars while potentially putting your multi-million dollar career at stake.  I hope 100% opt in so as no individuals potentially get tainted, however small that risk might be.

Most MiLB players making $10,000 a year will be out of baseball in the next few.  So if there moral compass is set to I stand really close to where I sit, they should jump in.

Go44dad posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

Regarding current MiLB players, I don't see how this won't come back and bite them if they opt in.  There is an amazing amount of talent to choose from when it comes to making it to MLB.  Yes, every player has to have skill, but there are still hundreds coming up every year that have skills equal to or greater than people currently on MLB rosters.  With that level of talent why wouldn't it be used against them if they opt into the lawsuit?

I once talked with a human resources employee about how she picks people for a job where there are thousands of qualified applicants, it was entry level.  Her answer shocked me.  She said if everyone is equal I have to rule them out due to other criteria that may have nothing to do with their skills and everything to do with luck.  First, I eliminate everyone that had a typo in their cover letter or resume, then I eliminate everyone that lives more than 10 miles from the job, then I eliminate anyone that has the same name of someone else in that department (it gets too complicated having 5 Jennifer's in one department), then I get down to even less relevant factors such as did they send their resume at 2am, or during normal hours, did they have an odd font...etc, and eventually I get down to a pool of about 20 applicants that we call in for interviews.

With thousands of qualified applicants why wouldn't MLB hold it against them?

I feel completely opposite.  No one in player personnel, from GM to Scout, is going to consider whether a MiLB player opted into a class action lawsuit.  There job is to get and develop the best players.  Period.

Go44dad you are 100% correct.

No one will hold it against them, just as they don't hold using PEDs, drugs of abuse, etc., etc against them. 

Also keep in mind the class action suit does not just cover current players.

Comparing this to the above is absolutely ridiculous.

JMO

While I agree that "Most MiLB players making $10,000 a year will be out of baseball in the next few". I highly doubt most of these guys would be of the opinion that they will be out of baseball in the next few.  Therein lies the rub. 

For the vast majority of them it will essentially be the end of the line for professional baseball, IMO. The very best will get by because they are to good to ignore but that is a small %.

As a business owner I promise you if I was running the organization I would absolutely go in a different direction from any player possible who opted in...and yes I have some experience in Union negotiations, organizing campaigns and owners thought processes.

Nothing is 100% but in general terms but good luck staying with the organization and even worse good luck landing an interview to coach, be part of professional baseball via support or training and development. There will be exceptions for sure but it would be a very select group.

old_school posted:

For the vast majority of them it will essentially be the end of the line for professional baseball, IMO. The very best will get by because they are to good to ignore but that is a small %.

As a business owner I promise you if I was running the organization I would absolutely go in a different direction from any player possible who opted in...and yes I have some experience in Union negotiations, organizing campaigns and owners thought processes.

Nothing is 100% but in general terms but good luck staying with the organization and even worse good luck landing an interview to coach, be part of professional baseball via support or training and development. There will be exceptions for sure but it would be a very select group.

The hypocritical part is that the MLB has a union and the MiLB wants fair representation.  

One important thing to keep in mind is that ML teams are very rich but not all spend their money  in the same way.

I always felt the system was designed for most players to fail in staying in the game because of the pay. A lot of players drop out because they just cant afford to stay in.  The career guys keep playing but not always here in the US.  They get paid a lot of money in a short period of time so that supplements their seasonal pay.

 One thing to keep in mind, a milb roster may be at 25, but sometimes they keep guys on the DL for reasons other than they are injured.  In other words, I think that you will see less opportunities if the pay increases.

For most, I don't feel more money will keep them in longer, because teams will release players sooner because they are not going to pay someone more if they don't see a future for them or they are now paying for one what they used to pay for 2.

As I always have told my kids, to be careful what they wish for.