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How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Shoveit4Ks ·
Interesting read for all those who have kids who are there, been there, going there and dreaming about going there: http://deadspin.com/how-to-get...0-a-month-1784998121
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/...em-than-the-players/ Maybe in the off season some of these MiLB kids could start umping LL games and work their way up into the MiLB Ump's union one day and start making some real money.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

cabbagedad ·
Interesting article, thanks for sharing. Yes, Milb player pay is still really stupid. However, the ump pay isn't exactly a financial motivator either... so, with the new improved agreement, the guy who reaches the highest level of the minors after 15 years of service will still be earning less than 48K per year. Yikes. Lots of travel. Does this equate to a full time job for most of these guys?
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

roothog66 ·
I'd also say that the chances of advancing from the minors to the majors is just as bad for the umps as the players. Perhaps even harder for the more talented. If your talent is major league level in the minors, you'll make the jump. I'm not sure if it is the same with every umpire - probably more politics there than with players.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Rob T ·
Really umpiring isn't a bad gig if you have the temperament for it. My kid regularly pulls in $200-300 a week umpiring youth baseball games. When baseball is out of season he does soccer and makes about the same. I'm surprised that there aren't more college age kids around here doing it. For me it sure beats waiting tables or cooking Big Macs.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
Also saw an article on Bleacher Report about MMA fighting - the headline read along the lines of getting punched in the head for $40k a year. I'm thinking about writing a sister piece about having a 90 mph fastballs throw at you for $12k a year. Started reading and saw where these guys have maybe 2 bouts a year and some can get something like $50k extra if they drop the other fighter - now their making $90k. for maybe 15 minutes in the ring and maybe 1,500 hours of training. My kid thought...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CollegeParentNoMore ·
If you got rid of the team's ability to tie up "employees" via the draft etc. you would see how much they are really worth. I suspect we would find on average they are worth more then 1,500 per month....for 6 months. We pay our interns more then milb players.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

SultanofSwat ·
Poor things. We pay about $1500 per month for my kid to play in college.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

TPM ·
Very insightful. If anyone plans any career in baseball, the bottom is where everyone will begin. Its how you embrace your opportunity. Most of all you have to love what you are doing.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

nxt lvl ·
NOT a simple issue for sure. But it is totally the choice of the player. That is why I am an avid supporter of kids going to college and not signing right out of high school unless they get a nice sized signing bonus. Yes , they are kids but after a few years they become men. Men who must earna living and support themselves and eventually a family. "Chasing the dream" makes some people do things they otherwise would never do. No parent would suggest to his adult son that he settle for making...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
Full tuition & board PLUS $1,500 each month? WOW! I thought most college players played for free and many of them actually got discounted room & board to boot. Never got a 50% raise, but I imagine I could do some big things if I did. For you typical young MiLB player, a 50% raise (say from $1,200/mo to $1,800/mo), they too could do big things - like get their own bedroom in that 3BR apartment they share instead of having to double up (use the blow up mattress for guests going...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2020dad ·
I am of course not privy to how things operate everywhere. But I can tell you around here minor leaguers can make good money giving lessons. They could also officiate basketball during the winter. These are two things that are easily accomplished. They are begging for officials. These are also two part time jobs that would dovetail incredibly easily with their minor league baseball career. So let's stop pretending that they 'have to' survive on their minor league salary alone. My son would...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
If it's such a hardship don't do it! Leave it to some kid who would kill for the opportunity and won't complain!!! If my kid were ever to be given the opportunity, believe me I would be helping out in an effort to ensure that he has the best chance of making it up the ladder. That said, our personal take on the matter is somewhat beside the point. Simply put, the time commitment and length of contract a profession baseball player has put upon them should require some higher level of...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Dominik85 ·
Aren't basically all expenses paid (travel, hotel, food)? Still not great of course but you can probably survive if you don't have a family or wife has a job.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

roothog66 ·
Nope. When you're on the road, yeah, you get a per diem. Some clubs do better than others at providing food in the clubhouse. While your travel is taken care of, it isn't like you can get a place to live that only requires you to pay rent on the days you're in town.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
Food is not paid for (dues pays for game food and can vary greatly according to folks on here). Hotel is paid for, but that does not relieve the player of having to have a permanent residence, so no real benefit. MiLB umpires new contract says hotels must have interior entrances - guessing MiLB has no such restrictions and not much fun bunking with someone at the cozy Motel 6 (or worse, the Acme Motel). Travel is free and they give you lots of it, although I don't think the buses have free...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2020dad ·
As any lawyer knows we ALL have a right to express ourselves. And doctors don't need to be an open heart surgery patient to understand how to be an open heart surgeon. I don't have to have 'been there done that' to have an informed and educated opinion. It's a free country for they don't want the opportunity they can pass it to someone who does.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
To all those who somehow think that because it's baseball (the "dream"), an employee should be thankful for earning $4/hr, would you think the same way if your kid who got his dream job on Wall Street, Apple, Amazon or whatever, should be thankful about earning the same $4/hr? What is it about baseball that makes this job different? Is it the fact that teams collectively agree to pay these wages, prohibit the players from marketing their talent in a free market, control their lives 24/7/365...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
I guess I got a little sidetracked when you used the term "whining" - kind of dismisses the "informed and educated" opinions of those apparently living the dream. I guess they should suck it up so they can keep living that dream. I think a lot of the guys "whining" aren't really looking to make a killing and probably don't expect much benefit themselves, but would prefer players going forward be able to have decent accommodations and decent nutrition. Kind of sad when you have a competitive...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Buckeye 2015 ·
Excellent Point....I'll add to it. Every kid my son knows graduated from HS....so there's everyone is equal to that point. Most of his friends (including him) are attending a four year college....so still even right?? He's a sophomore....he and a lot of kids haven't decided on a major yet...so yes, all square to this point. Next year, his friends will declare a major and take classes for their major for 2 years....for the sake of this argument we'll say accounting. At the end of their senior...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Go44dad ·
It's a game.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

RJM ·
Here's the ripoff right here ... Since the 70's the dollar has inflated 300%. MiLB minimum pay has increased 75%. If MiLB salaries had kept up with inflation the players would have reasonable pay and eat better. Nutrition is an important part of physical development. On the road the players get a $20 per diem for thee meals and clubhouse tips. I'm guessing minor leaguers aren't sending clothes to the dry cleaners on road trips.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
BTW people, if you ask minor league players how they like "living the dream" almost all most all of them will tell you they're NOT "living the dream" . . . . yet. I've asked a few of them the question about how they liked "living the dream" and I'd get this puzzled look on their face as they reply: "this isn't the dream. the dream is when we're called up to the majors." Yes, they enjoy the work that they do . . . but it's "the dream" they're working towards and hoping for. It's the carrot...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
It's entertainment business. It's a game only if it's for fun and no profit motives involved.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Go44dad ·
OK, it's an unfair, low paying entertainment business. Don't play.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
Turning away from a problem or having a problem go to someone else doesn't solve the problem.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2020dad ·
Go leave it to you to sum things up so well in so few words! Last time I checked nobody is forcing these guys. And only a couple people have begrudgingly admitted that it opens doors for a lifetime. If my son was miserable doing something I would definitely advise him. It to do it. This is what it is. It's the progression of things. In travel ball we pay more than we would like for our kids to play ball. In college with the help of excellent grades and a little baseball money maybe it's...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2020dad ·
Just to be clear I am all for the minor leaguers getting more money. I wish we could all get more money. But that doesn't mean what's happening now is somehow egregiously wrong and if all of us don't see that we are horrible people! Everything is a value judgement. That comes down to each and every individuals choice. Personally I hope you guys convince thousands, maybe 10,000+ kids from the class of 2020 that they shouldn't tolerate this...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
Sorry people, but, it's simply survival of the fittest. Those better adapted to living on $1500 a month will flourish. Those ill adapted will attempt the get their parents to help them adapt. And those that still can't adapt will perish. its also supply and demand. There is an endless supply of young, and not so young, men willing to try for the chance at the dream of MLB. There is not an endless supply of programmers that are capable of making 6 figures.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

9and7dad ·
It's not supply and demand. S/D suggests an open and free market where the rate (in this case the pay) is set freely by the market at an equilibrium where the two balance, and the supply (ballplayers) has the opportunity to move freely until that equilibrium is established. MiLB is anything but that. The fact that programmers make 6 figures IS supply and demand. It's exactly that. If there were a higher number (availability) of competent programmers, the corresponding pay would be less. If...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Dominik85 ·
I would not say it opens doors for a lifetime. Yeah you can give lessons but the number of high paying jobs in pro and college baseball is really not high, even in lower level pro ball many jobs don't pay all that well. Washing out in the minors is not really a dream, you basically have to start your career again. You could say playing the minors is like a lottery but I still don't think it is a good practice to have talent do an unpaid internship (the really good companies like silicon...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
"Sorry people, but, it's simply survival of the fittest. Those better adapted to living on $1500 a month will flourish. Those ill adapted will attempt the get their parents to help them adapt. And those that still can't adapt will perish." Not only isn't it supply and demand, as 9and7 points out - since baseball stands alone in sports in a judicially created fiction of an anti-trust exemption - it is not survival of the fittest either. Making it to MLB has nothing whatsoever to do with...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
$1,500/month for 12 months starting out would actually be a pretty good start. Now try making it on $1,100 for 5, maybe six months, not having any real control over which city you play ball in, having to work through changes in living arrangements (still love to know how they manage deposits and utilities) and then presumably pack up and head "home" where maybe you can start maybe making some real money working weekends as a ref. Egregious might be a little strong, but I'd much rather hear...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

2017LHPscrewball ·
GOOSEGG - What's a shekel? Regardless, good point!
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
If you can adapt you thrive. If there are 400,000 people qualified and ready to do your job it's a form or supply and demand. You take their demands or they find a different supply.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
I look at it like this. If you went fairly high in the draft then you have some savings. If you went fairly low in the draft you are there for the love of the game and would do it for no salary.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

RedFishFool ·
It is the GOLD-en RULE!!!
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
Hmmm??? Like baseball players, indentured laborers have/had a choice as to whether or not to sign a contract. Does having such a choice negate problem(s) with such contracts?
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
There seems to be a misconception about who makes it to proball and who doesn't. There is not a line - like at a grocery store - whereby if a patron leaves the line, the next person moves forward. That is not how the proball system works. Every player signed or drafted (courtesy picks aside) has been identified by his organization (and probably others, though it only takes one) as having a potential MLB tool. While some players may be missed, no team signs and devotes time and coaching to a...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
Just because one can swing a bat and throw a ball doesn't make anyone qualified to play at the MiLB level. If that were so you wouldn't have the draft and you wouldn't have the different levels within MiLB. MLB wants the very best ball players to provide competitive training for their top prospects. The statistical numbers the MLB collects bears that out. So, there really aren't that many qualified players waiting in the wings. The principle of supply and demand isn't at work at the MiLB levels.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
If what you are saying is true then why do we hear about guys stuck at the same low level for years? It appears from the outside looking in that they keep a ready supply of low level never going to make it people for a LONG time. Why is that? EDIT: according to Wikipedia there are 244 minor league teams. If we say 25 to a team that makes over 6000 players to maintain the supply.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Truman ·
They're only kept until someone better if found. Some play well enough long enough, yet can't quite get over the hump into MLB. Sometimes there are those around for a long time as they are MLB material, but there's a log jam in their path keeping them down at the lower levels (often, this is where you see trading going on). If the law of supply and demand were at work, these lower level players would have a lot more control over who they play for, where and when. . . which would certainly...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
Do not conflate advancing IN the minors, with making it TO the minors.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
Very true, 400K hoping to get to minors. 6K actually in the minors. Truman I think you missed my definition of supply and demand. There is a large supply, so they better yield to the demands. In truth I know you have to be born with something special to have a shot at MLB and not everyone can do it, even if they try their hardest. But I also know there are not just a handful a generation, the number is large, and people will put up with a lot for a shot at their dream. As the lottery...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

TPM ·
I agree that there are very few who actually are good enough play on a ML field in milb. Every once in a while you find a gem. Keep in mind, very important, that most players drafted because they are needed to provide a team for those that will someday be a ML player. My personal opinion is that they really don't care much about most players. My son became a free agent before his 6th year. The team that signed him as a free agent really only cared for their draft guys. If a player has played...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
The real reason the salary is what it is has NOTHING to do with the players willing to take zero or a million (well, I guess, theoretically if EVERY player identified with a potential MLB tool decided not to play for the present salary, things would change. I guess that would be called a strike). The reason the wages are what they are has to do with a system which is not subject to the laws of a free market. Yes, you need to play baseball to even have a shot; but, unless you have that...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
But you would agree there are over 6000 people in the minor leagues right now? Would you agree there are over 750 people in MLB right now? Would you agree there are about 7000 people with that "critical potential tool"? Or are there really like 1000 people with the tool and 6000 people chasing the dream that won't ever happen because they are just there to play against the 1000 that are truly special?
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

Goosegg ·
There is much truth to TPM's observations. There are huge differences (apparent even to me) in the potential of players in MILB. For example, some have multiple potential tools, while another may have only one - and that one will probably not even develop to MLB level. And no matter what, the odds are still long that even if a player with multiple potential tools gets to play proball, he will make it all the way (and there are lots of reasons apart from potential for that result - the most...
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

TPM ·
I am going to take a shot, maybe a few hundred will actually stick. Each team has 40 men on their roster. That means 15 are in AA or AAA. There are rules in place for call up and send back down. So if you are not on the roster, keep in mind that you have players in front of you. If you wannamake it to the big city you have to pray for everyone to get injured, or DFA. Statistics given to me by sons agent, 4 years is the average time a player spends in ML. I am not sure of your point but I tried.
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Re: How To Get By In The Minors On $1,500 A Month

CaCO3Girl ·
My point was there are thousands of people on the MiLB praying for their shot. There are thousands outside of MiLB praying for their shot. Most are not actually going to make it and a fair many are there as bodies who can assist in the training of the people who will make it, and there is more behind them just hopping to be one of those bodies because "if they could just REALLY show what they could do" they would make it to MLB. As far as MLB is concerned the supply is endless, so they don't...
 
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