Spring Training Info

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1. A rose is a rose is a TWC. Looks like another year for streaming as ‘Spectrum’ piles every shopping channel and knitting infomercial into the package that carries both SportsnetLA and MLBN to charge you more on the bill than what was agreed. I believe they actually try to make me (particularly) hate them. I really tried changing my mind and cleaned the slate and they only got worse.

2. Different topic; Do all major league players belong to the players union? Is it a requirement in right -to-work states? Why is it collusion if the owners agree to do something together, but not collusion if the players do?

   1. Do you know what collusion is SCDodgerFan?

      1. Actually, he isn’t really wrong. Early efforts to unionize were thwarted by application of anti-trust laws. (see the Danbury Hatters case.) It was only after the adoption of the NLRA in 1935 that workers were allowed to organize “in restraint of trade”. Unions were considered a form of collusion until Congress excepted them from the application of the Sherman Act.

         1. Yup, he’s not wrong if you ignore the current reality.

            1. Of course, you already knew about the Supreme Court’s decision in Danbury Hatters? Or the application of the Sherman Act to unions?

   2. In right to work states workers don’t have to be part of the union yet they get union benefits and the union must represent them in a grievance.

      1. Hawkeye

         Do they pay union dues?

         1. I collected Union wages in Ontario Oregon, as a non union worker from Idaho. It was awesome, every cent went into my pocket.

            1. No dues…no anything.

            2. I even got the retirement money up front since their was no Union to represent me. It was an addition onto a community college. I got triple time one Sunday. I made $29 an hour for 7 months. After that I had to come back to my normal $14. That benefit package was like 8 bucks an hour…into my pocket, all day and week long.

         2. Each MLB player pays $70 a day in union dues during the season. Clayton Kershaw pays the same as Corey Seager, even though Clayton makes $34 million more (someting wrong with that).
            –
            MLB Collects $84,000 a day dureimg the season, which is approxiamately $14.2 Million a year.

         3. Nope!

            1. MJ, we tried passing a fair share bill in Iowa which basically said if they want the union benefits and grievance protection that they have to kick in something. Not the full union dues if they didn’t want to be a union member but unless they were kicking in some small amount the union shouldn’t have to represent them in a grievance.

3. Idaho used to have union jobs a while back…but there wasn’t enough work to go around and folks still had to thier dues to be active. In order to spur growth again, they became a right to work state. I have the right to negotiate on my own terms. I was supposed to be in the Painters or Carpenters Union. I like right to work.

   1. Were you ever in the union?

      1. During the Bush years when work was everywhere, The Carpenters Union started back up…I joined, I payed my dues for a year. I was sent out on one job, it was a Taco Bell or something. I completed the work in 6 hours. That was not only my first Union job, but my last Union job. I ran about 50 guys for a non union shop. A few of our guys made above and beyond Union scale…by about $10 an hour. Everyone would start at about the same rate…which was the going rate for tradesman. It was around $14 an hour…If you stayed a year, you recieved vacation pay and insurance, plus if you were a pace setter, your wages went up as well…

         1. I asked you that, because most people in a union, have full medical, and dentistry.

            And I think most people in a union, are hard workers.

            There are always a few people, that do take advantage, of a union.

            But you find people like that, in every job, or profession, as you know.

            1. Yes. I worked as hard as I would have if it was my jobsite and my company. The tradesman in front of me would sabatoge thier work. They began hanging drywall like it was a 1000 pice jigsaw puzzle. It worked, they slowed me down. The other reason I only managed one job, during my year of paying dues was that he union was employing mostly apprentices. They would then pair them with a limited amount of journeyman. I was already a full fledged journeyman, and wasn’t a part of the company before it went union. I payed my dues in the event that it took off and their was an abundance of Union work available…By the time that happened, they had graduated enough apprentices to complet the amount of work available. My neighbor is retired from the pipe fitters union…he has fared very well in his retirement years. I have heard stories of jobs requiring the use of seperate entrances for union and non union workers on the same site.

   2. Hawkeye

      That sounds the fair thing to do!

      I guess the union people were probably only doing that, to try to get these people, to join the union.

      But that is why I asked if they paid union dues, because I paid my fair share, too.

      1. The Republican’s don’t want the unions with any more money so they killed the bill.

4. During the Bush years when work was everywhere, The Carpenters Union started back up…I joined, I payed my dues for a year. I was sent out on one job, it was a Taco Bell or something. I completed the work in 6 hours. That was not only my first Union job, but my last Union job. I ran about 50 guys for a non union shop. A few of our guys made above and beyond Union scale…by about $10 an hour. Everyone would start at about the same rate…which was the going rate for tradesman. It was around $14 an hour…If you stayed a year, you recieved vacation pay and insurance, plus if you were a pace setter, your wages went up as well…

   If I was in a major city…a union job might of been beneficial. Not so much in a rural setting, though. Just my opinion.

   1. Every place I’ve ever worked…some contractor has payed me with a bad check. 20 plus years in working Idaho and no one ever tried to cheat me out of my money. It’s also the only place where a contractor gave me a Christmas bonus and a turkey for the holidays.

5. By Ken Gurnick
   Buehler’s Cactus League debut last spring provided one of the more remarkable scenes of camp. Buehler entered a late-March game against the Reds in the seventh inning, walked the first batter he faced, then served up a mammoth home run to Adam Duvall. Veteran second baseman Chase Utley — who had never met Buehler — came to the mound, shook Buehler’s hand and introduced himself.

   “I’m Chase,” he said. “That was a long fly ball. Try to get some outs.”

   Buehler retired the next three batters.

   I don’t have any favorite Dodger, if FAZ thinks they can make the team better by trading any Dodger then I’m in but there has never been a Dodger player since I’ve been a Dodger fan that I have more respect for than Chase Utley.

6. I’m concerned with the pitching a bit, this season. Maeda, Hill and Ryu have struggled in the past. They are relying heavily on Wood repeating, which I believe he can do, if he spots the ball in the lower portion of the zone effectively. Stripling, Stewart and whomever don’t exite me much and counting on help from a prospect would be foolish.

7. Since Mark owns Lakerstalk as well, what did the Lakers fans on here think of the trade yesterday? I have some mixed feelings. I get why they did the deal and I guess with the NBA’s goofy salary cap system it’s the smart thing to do. However, I’ve enjoyed watching this young team play this year and if it wasn’t for the 9 game losing streak they had when Ball (and Ingram) got hurt the first time they would be in playoff contention at least. They’re a fun team. They get up and down the court faster than anyone in the NBA. It’s a shame they had to move parts once again to make up for Jim Buss’ poor job of running the team. Clarkson is a good player and Larry Nance was a great piece off the bench too. Nance’s game really matched up well with Ball when they were on the court together. So, they moved two good pieces with the HOPE of signing two max players. I hope they don’t move Randle too in the offseason. He’s playing well. I hope IT doesn’t become a big problem for them the rest of the season. He could be a terrible example for a young team. They had a great draft last year and if they can snag another good young player with the draft pick they picked up it will offset losing one of those two they traded away. I still can’t believe the previous knuckleheads gave Deng that contract.

   1. The Lakers’ and Magic’s goal seems to be to get old as much as is to sign “Names”. I like the young core of Ball, Kuzma, Ingram, and Randle. Geroge’s and James’ contracts could look like Crawford’s contract before they end.
      .
      I was hoping the Lakers could make the playoffs this year and do well. Thomas could be a ball hog if healthty and a disgruntled bench player if not healthy enough to play all the minutes he will want. Which point guard will play with the first unit, Ball or Thomas?

      1. Sounds like Ball will start and they’re going to use Thomas as a gunner off the bench. They’re telling Thomas this is your opportunity to re-establish your value going into a Free-agent season. Everyone is giving the Lakers a great grade for the deal. I’m in the minority, but I don’t really want James. He’s going to be nearly 40 or 40 when the next contract would be over. A true shooting guard and a center. That’s George and Boogie to me. It’s okay of George isn’t a closer or a true #1 guy. Ingram, Kuzma, and Randle aren’t afraid to take shots either. Hart seems to be getting better every game too.

         Joc and Puig sitting together in the front row last night.

         1. Puig with lots of jewelry and a jacket and Joc in a T-shirt. Quite the contrast.
            .
            We agree on James. Too late in his career to get too attached to. Other than Utley or Chamberlain, few players coming to the Dodgers or Lakers have late in their careers have been fully accepted by me. Utley was a UCLA guy so he was easy to accept though.

8. Chase is a special kinda ballplayer… I hope he sticks with the organization for the long-term.

9. New Update Above: 2018 Spring Training Update

   1. Matt Kemp was given Willie Crawford’s number back and Austin Barnes got Pedro Guerrero’s number. Koehler with Hershiser’s number(insert eyes rolling), and TT got Greinke’s number back.

10. Per Dodger Blue:
    .
    The starting pitching market has largely been at a standstill this entire offseason, as many teams are waiting to see where the top arm, Yu Darvish, will land before turning to Plans B or C.
    .
    Despite pitchers and catchers set to report to Spring Training in less than a week, Darvish doesn’t seem to be in a rush to make his decision. He recently was said to have several five-year contract offers on the table.
    .
    Part of the reason Darvish has yet to sign with a team could be because of a desire to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who may be searching for ways to shed salary in order to re-sign Darvish while staying below the luxury tax threshold.
    .
    The price to sign Darvish will not be cheap, though, as according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knucklebball, Darvish recently turned down a five-year, $110 million offer:
    .
    Darvish, who playfully hinted at interest with clever tweets only a couple weeks ago, has been thought to be getting closer to a deal in each of the preceding couple weeks, with none to be had. One team source suggested they offered $110 million over five years, and was surprised to be told “thanks, but no thanks.”
    .
    Darvish is believed to be looking for a contract in the neighborhood of the seven-year, $175 million contract that Stephen Strasburg recently signed with the Washington Nationals.

    1. Darvish isn’t going to get anywhere near Strasburg money. There was an article that edited it down to Cueto money which is closer. Milwaukee and Minnesota want him bad, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to go there and I don’t blame him. Those teams will have to decide to push their chips in and offer him 6 years or 5 with an option that is likely obtainable. They can decide to be real players or be the Pittsburgh Pirates and not truly go for it. They will have to overpay in my opinion. There was an NY writer who suggested a uniquely structured deal that is front loaded but came to 6/120, but has opt-outs after years two and four. It is all about AAV right.

       1. My interest in Darvish has a steep drop off after 4 years.

11. In 2014, 14.6% of the 189 million people working in the United States were members of a union. 7.2 million employees in the public sector belonged to a union, compared with 7.4 million workers in the private sector. The union membership rate for public-sector workers (35.7 percent) was substantially higher than the rate for private-sector workers (6.6 percent).
    .
    Within the public sector, the union membership rate was highest for local government (41.9 percent), which includes employees in heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters. In the private sector, industries with high unionization rates included utilities (22.3 percent), transportation and warehousing (19.6 percent), telecommunications (14.8 percent), and construction (13.9 percent).

    1. I think unions started losing power, after the airport controllers were ordered back to work.

       1. Yep. Every union member in the country should have walked out. Oh well, I’m sure we’re walking down a political path not intended for this site.

          1. Hawkeye

             That is why I didn’t name the person, that did that.

             1. Does it rhyme with Donald Fagen?

             2. That’s funny.

          2. Hawkeye

             And I agree with you about JD.

             I don’t any team in our division to get him, and especially, the Dbacks!

             1. I forgot the word want there!

12. Rudy

    Exactly.

13. Let me tell you a couple of Union stories:
    –
    In 1978, I moved from Ohio to Anderson, Indiana. Anderson was a GM town with about 15 Delco Remy and Guide Lamp plants. They employed about 35,000 workers. Many workers were barely literate and made $60K back then. I had a friend who was millwright and made over $100K a year. He worked third shift and had a mattress there. He slept from midnight until 6 AM every night (he usually worked 7 days) and had another full time job during the day where he made about 70K. That was in the late 1970’s!
    –
    There was a small liquor store between two plants where workers streamed in and out all day and carried the liquor back to the plant. The union got so many concessions that you almost had to murder someone to be fired. Drunk? No problem! The union would save your job.
    –
    Long story short – GM totally left Anderson. There are no more GM plants there. The union lost everything for those people.
    –
    2nd story: Another friend had a plumbing company with about 60 employees who tried to unionize and he just closed the doors and went into real estate. They tried legal action and he just said “You can’t make me be a plumber.” He now has a successful real estate company.

    1. I’ve heard the mattress story before. Actually, from a friend in Indy. I’ve negotiated union contracts for our local Machinist union and I’ve sat on the other side of the table when I was promoted to management. It worked out nice because I was one of them and I knew where they were coming from and at the same time they didn’t see budget numbers and organizational expenses that I saw for the organization. . So, we were usually on the same page and working for the same goal. I realize that isn’t always the case and I can think of a union out of Des Moines that I can’t stand because of the how the head of that local treated my organization. He thought we had to kiss his ass for affiliation but had no problem asking us for favors. So, I know not all unions are perfect. However, you can put down a graph of the shrinking of the middle class and a graph of the shrinking of unions and they’re frighteningly similar.

       1. Hawkeye

          Anyone who knows the history of this country, knows there is a reason why we have unions today.

          Not all companies will treat their employees well.

          And when one side of this issue, has to much power, it is never good.

          That is why we need balance between both.

          And because alcoholism is considered a disease, that is probably why the union took that case.

          I was in a union, and I was in a car accident the night before, and I was in critical condition and in critical care, and I had my nurse call into my work, and tell them, I wouldn’t make it into work that day.

          So not everyone in a union take advantage of the fact, they are in a union.

          Because like I already said, you will find people like that, in every job, and every profession.

       2. I wish Unions would support the best interest of the team and less of the individual. Sometimes Unions need to help a member move on and prepare them to move on because that person makes everybody else’s job harder.

          1. Bum

             Teams have the power to do that, with trades.

             And I don’t think anyone in this situation in Baseball, are hurting much.

             And I don’t think we should compare them, to the everyday worker, in this country, that is just trying to get by.

             The reason the players have this much power, is because for a long time, the owners had all the power over the players.

             And now that the players have so much power, there will probably be an evening out, of this power, that brings more balance, between the owners, and the players.

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