One of the many definitions of an “iconoclast” is someone who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditions. Some people think inside the box. Others think outside the box. I prefer to think there is no box. I am an iconoclast. I readily admit it and even embrace it. While the entire Dodger Fandom was attacking Andrew Freidman (pick a day… any day), I was embracing his tactics. I still do. No, he’s not perfect, but he’s so much better than whoever is 2nd that it’s not funny.
There… I said it! I meant it!… and I’m here to represent it!
However, now I am going to discuss a subject that is very controversial… even more so than Andrew Friedman. Many fans are aghast and wonder what good could possibly come from contracting 42 minor league teams? I mean, each team has approximately 25 players, which means that over 1,000 minor league players will be without jobs…. allegedly!
Well, it’s not quite that simple. While it is true that some of those minor league stadiums are not good venues (some are $hitholes… they are listed in the video below), the debate is not about each individual situation. The debate is about the overall health of major league baseball and it’s minor league “feeder” system.
I am going to argue that, if properly done, the minor league system of baseball could be much more healthy than it is now. Let’s face it: the odds of a minor league player making the majors is incredibly low. However, MLB could dramatically increase those odds. What if MiLB players had much higher pay and were able to have access to Driveline Baseball on a regular basis as well as year-round training, conditioning, and teaching programs?
Jeff Dominique’s son, Andy made it to the Show, but what if he had better pay (maybe $200+K a year), year-round training and access to Driveline Baseball and other analytics-driven programs. What about a 401(k) and health insurance and retirement? Maybe Andy would have had a much longer career if he had more resources.
Many fans are up in arms about minor league contraction, but we don’t know what we don’t know. Will the facilities be upgraded? Will salaries be increased? Will development be improved? If so, then it offers a lot of beneficial results. The Dodgers own the Oklahoma City and Tulsa franchises. I would like to see how that has improved minor-league development. It appears that it has to me. The Dodgers organization is stacked – maybe from good drafting and trading – maybe from good development… maybe both.
Quality is better than quantity. I would give up Ogden if there was a minimum salary that was reasonable. I would give up Ogden if there was better development at Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga. I would give up Ogden if it resulted in better player development. The people in Ogden, of course, feel differently – I’ll get to that later.
This is not an easy decision. It depends upon whether MLB wants to use this as a money grab or whether they want to use this to develop players in a much more efficient fashion. I have no clue which it is, however, I think that the Dodgers are doing it right. OKC, Tulsa, RC, and GL are developing players at an astonishing rate. However, the Dodgers are spending a lot of resources on this.
I need more information, but I would like to think that MLB is smarter than just contracting the minor leagues to save money. It would seem to me that you do something like this to improve the flow of players to the major leagues. If they are serious about this, then the salaries have to improve… dramatically!
Look… I could make this a long argument, but I have no clue what MLB wants to do. I know what I think they should do… but we simply don’t know what they are planning to achieve. I think their best interest lies in player development. If that is what they have planned… I am all in. If not, I am their greatest enemy!
What About the Contracted Teams?
42 teams… and I have no idea who they all are, however, I think an Independent League could be formed that could be profitable and pay players $100K a year. I’d be willing to invest in one. We need more information. What is the plan? Ogden has to be in that discussion.
Other Baseball News
- The Braves signed Marcell Ozuna to a 1-year deal and gave up their first-round pick. He has not been nearly as good since his surgery, but I think he is due to break out this year. He might be the biggest offseason acquisition. This seems like a small move, but he has shown he can hit in the past. Allegedly, Ozuna was offered a 3 or 4-year deal by some teams at a lower AAV, so he took a little over the QO and is betting on himself. He’s only 29 and I look for a monster year from him. The Braves just got a lot better.
- Nicholas Castellanos is still out there. Forget Puig!
- MLB.com has ranked the Dodger Infield #1 in the NL West. That’s a revelation?
- Watch Tyler White this Spring. A lot of bad worded have been uttered about him. He’s in the best shape (no longer round) of his career and working with Robert Van Scoyoc. You know what they say about Karma?
- Great piece in The Athletic about Chicken Strip who is training at Fairchild Sports Performance run by Ben Fairchild who has helped older players resuscitate their careers. Here’s a snippet:
For four years, Stripling has started and relieved and succeeded at the two tasks. It’s likely he’ll be asked to do both again in 2020. He has accepted it, and he’ll keep accepting it. Accordingly, staffers have him do a wider variety of exercises than most professionals because they know he’ll say OK.
“Not every player is that excitable about what we want to do,” Fairchild said.
Every spring and summer, the Dodgers say the same. It is normal for pitchers to begin their major-league careers as starters and, after failure, move to the bullpen. It is abnormal for pitchers to succeed as starters yet continually rotate back to the bullpen. More unusual still is that he is content with it.
“Stripling is so intent on greatness,” Fairchild said. “That’s what really separates him from the average MLB guy. He’s intent on greatness, coupled with the flexibility to do whatever the team needs to help the team win. That’s an unusual combination.”
- I can see Ross Stripling being a linchpin for Dodgers bullpen this year… maybe the rotation too!
Another good read on The Athletic – ‘What are we, interns?’: Dodgers prospects work to make ends meet” that discusses the plight of minor leaguers trying earn a living while training for professional baseball. I love the game of baseball, and the Dodgers, but a cynic of the business of the game (ditto other professional sports). I believe Manfred’s comments are nothing but public relations propaganda — this is all about putting more money into the coffers of MLB, and team owners.
Thank for your article, Mark. I feel that if the minor league players like AC’s son, Andy, had been given better pay, health insurance, a retirement plan, a facility to play in that was upgraded to where the temperatures were not so effective among other cosmetic alterations, then that would be a good thing. But, I am not sure that it benefits the small town or city from the revenue, if that is the case, or more importantly, the home town spirit and pride of teams that are supported and games well-attended. I see both sides but still question MLB’s reasons for doing this. Sorry.
As a fellow iconoclast, I find the entire minor league system needs an overhaul. It starts with player compensation and it ends with the realization that being a baseball player at this level is a year round endeavor. There’s a lot in between those 2 points that are beyond my pay grade to figure out.
I am sorry for my badly written comments. I meant to say that better pay, Heath plans, retirement and facility upgrades would be a benefit for the minor leagues. Taking away minor league teams? Not so sure for reasons I gave, right or wrong.
On the other hand, might junior college baseball thrive with the elimination of some of the minor league teams? Few players ever make big money in baseball so maybe if some of the doors close they open at JC.
Might MLB offer scholarships to JCs instead of keeping all the minor league teams open?
That could be very true Bumsrap. Never thought of it from that angle.
That would be a side benefit, JC baseball and 4 year college ball may improve. 4 year institutions are limited to 11.5 scholarships to field a full team. JC’s don’t have that restriction
The lower level minor leagues are basically trade schools. In maybe the majority of cases Top Romen is a meal staple for college kids who have to pay tuition, buy books, supplies, pay for parking, etc all the while getting paid zero for attending.
Teams sell tickets and owners make money off players but schools charge tuition and make money off students.
As players move up and stadiums fill up then some split of revenues should go to the players.
I’d sign Nicholas Castellanos under the right circumstances.
1 If I could trade Hernandez to open a spot for Castellanos on the 26 man roster.
2 If Castellanos would accept a 1 year contract worth about 18 million.
3 If Castellanos would agree to be a backup vs lefthanders at all 4 corners while Beaty would be the backup at all 4 corners vs righthanders.
Castellanos is definitely an upgrade over Hernandez.
If not under those circumstances then I will pass on Castellanos.
I’d trade CT3 before Kike!
Castellanos is an upgrade over Taylor too. But Taylor has better career stats than Hernandez. But if Castellanos had to replace Taylor on the roster instead of Hernandez, I’d still sign Castellanos in that scenario.
I am not an iconoclast in most instances and not in the instance of contracting minor league baseball. I fully agree that we do not know all the circumstances surrounding this decision and probably should “hold our horses.”
However, it is difficult not to speculate just as so many do about the work of Andrew Friedman. We tend to speculate on those things that are important to us.
We do not know all of the ins and outs although on the surface the stated reasons do not seem to be all that strong. We certainly can concede that some stadiums need some dressing up or even major renovations. Perhaps demolition. A look at Stadium Journey publication reveals that there are so many great venues to watch minor league ball. One doubts there are 42 stadiums that fall into that category. Certainly Lindquist Field in Ogden does not as other venues on the list do not.
Maybe MLB is succumbing to pressure. One suggestion is to double minor league players salaries which is still far short of a reasonable wage for their work. MLB successfully lobbied Congress to amend language in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, classifying players as seasonal workers thus they are no longer entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay, among other protections. As a result, more players have become vocal about the lack of pay and more reporting has been done on the issue, creating a bit of a P.R. problem for the league. A push for higher wages at the minor league level – either by lawsuit or demand for minimum wage – may well be the catalyst for the proposed contraction. That is, to add dollars for MLB by subtracting 42 minor league venues, reducing travel costs, accommodation cost, etc.
It seems to bear a resemblance to a political ploy to issue a statement with very bad news and then later on come back with what you really want that is not as devastating as the original announcement hoping folks jump on board. Or, when rejected by MiLB claim higher MiLB wages are not available because of the minor league stand.
Forgive me for feeling a bit skeptical regarding this as a money grab but did you know that minor league owners tithe 8 % of their ticket revenues to their big league partners—perhaps by charging affiliation fees. MLB is something like a $10 billion a year industry and it charges an 8% levy on minor league ticket sales.
I thought that maybe attendance is falling off in minor league ball so the levy on ticket sales is not as lucrative. Perhaps minor league ball just wasn’t attracting fans. I was wrong. The Athletic’s Emily Waldon notes, 2019 was the 15th consecutive season in which 40 million-plus fans attended minor league games. 2019 saw an attendance increase of 2.6 percent over the previous year. Waldon also points out that 2019 saw the ninth-highest single-season attendance total in the history of the industry.
So what are the savings by eliminating 42 teams? Stanford University economist Roger Noll estimates the true savings of cutting 42 teams at about $22.5 million, or slightly more than the combined cost of one minimum-salaried player on every major league team. It that $22.5 million going to provide all the added income and year-round development of which we speak? Is that the intention?
Another reason given for contraction is time spent on travel such as the Loons have in the Midwest Leagues. That is, realigning teams and cutting teams. It is difficult to argue that reduced travel time would not be a good thing but at the same time not so good if it means a town loses it’s professional baseball team, regardless of the level.
Again, it is difficult to argue with Mark that quality is better than quantity but quite often quality comes from quantity. With the reduction of teams the draft would also be reduced, perhaps to 25 rounds, making 450 spots lost to young college or high school players. In fact, a reduction of 42 teams would eliminate well over 1000 roster spots. Guys like Caleb Ferguson, Kyle Garlick, Brett de Geus and Zach McKinstry would not get drafted. It is unreasonable to think that their development would have been better in independent ball than in the Dodgers farm system.
MLB talks of a dream league, an independent league(s) on which undrafted players could play hoping to get a second look by MLB teams.
“What they ought to call it is the Pipe Dream League,” Heller said. “We’re going to put them all together in one league, really? A league that stretches from Utah to Vermont? From Montana to Florida?”
“The independent league model as you’ve seen in a lot of cities that have shut down ballparks, whether it’s Camden, Nashua or some of these bigger markets,” Jeff Lantz ofMiLB said. “If the independent model doesn’t work there, it’s hard to imagine the independent model working in markets the size of the Appalachian League towns or the New York-Penn League towns. It works in Sugarland, Texas, and it works in St. Paul, Minnesota, but it’s really, really hard to have a sustainable business model with an independent team.”
In all of this the forgotten ones are the fans and the workers who work at these minor league parks. It can be argued that it isn’t the job of MLB to look after minor league fans and support workers. However, a stronger argument might be that it is the job of MLB to promote the game and attract as many fans to the game as possible, especially young fans. Cutting 42 teams seems to be the antitheses of that premise.
My mind tells me I have to wait and see how this plays out and what the intended use of the saved dollars might be although my heart is steeped in skepticism lining up with the people in Ogden and other locations. MLB is performing in this regard with a fear factor when perhaps it could and should have had a more complete plan in place to allay fears and explain to those affected what the true intentions are.
Very well said.
I’m totally against the elimination of 42 minor league teams while I am in favor of increasing player salaries and benefits. The town where I grew up is crazy about their A- team and just spent 2 million plus to upgrade an already excellent family friendly facility. They don’t deserve to lose their team. MLB can try to run these teams into independent leagues but the owners and towns have no way to take on all the costs without MLB help.
Don’t tell me that MLB teams can’t afford to keep these small town franchises. Funny how the teams can afford to pay Strasburg a million dollars a start or Manny Machado $51,000 every time he walks to the plate, regardless of the outcome. I also notice that no mention is being made of eliminating teams in Latin America, just little towns the good ole USA.
You make a lot of reasonable sense, DC. So, I will try to put my reins on my horses.
MLB controls the minor league system for the benefit of “poor” or small market teams.
When Branch Rickey started the vertically integrated farms system with the Cardinals, he had over 30 teams and over 700 players under team control. There’s a reason that the Cards were so good in the 30s and 40s. When Rickey said that luck was the residue of design, he might have been describing Stan Musial, who started his minor league career as a pitcher who injured his arm. The Cards had so many minor league teams that they let Musial go to a Class B league team to work on his hitting. Within a year, he was in the majors.
Before the 1963 reorganization of MILB, there were quite a few more players and teams in the minors. As it wants to do now, MLB re-organized the minors, reclassified leagues and teams and reduced the number of players, leagues and teams. In 1949, there were 438 minor league teams in 29 leagues. After the reorganization, there were only 15 minor leagues left.
You can bet the minor leaguers were paid far less in real dollars in 1949 or 1963 then they are now, and in ’49, with 438 teams there was a lot more competition (more players) for fewer jobs (only 16 MLB teams in ’49, compared to 30 now).
As is true now, the wealthiest teams often had the resources to put into their farm systems. Some had lots of teams and players – the Dodgers had 27 farm teams in 1949 – and some put more money into their systems for player development. As is also true now, smaller teams resented the resources that the larger teams put into the farms and wanted to reduce the discrepancy.
I imagine that there are several reasons that MLB wants to reduce the number of minor leaguers and farm teams> One is undoubtedly to make the playing field more even (between small and large market teams). Another is to put more money into player development. We have been reading recently about the improvement that technology has allowed in developing players. Nutrition is another thing – Gabe Kapler, when he was with the Dodgers, was in the forefront of making sure young developing players got the fuel their bodies needed to be full-time athletes. Maybe salary is another – paying players more is something that everyone on this blog seems interested in.
But a couple of points here:
1 – Does anyone here think that there is some set number of minor league teams that MLB teams are legally obliged to support? If so, does anyone advocate going back to 1949 and requiring the Dodgers to have 27 teams and for MLB to have 438 teams? 438 teams probably meant over 10,500 minor league players. Is anyone ready to mandate that MLB employ over 10,000 minor league players?
2 – If you are unwilling to mandate a certain number of teams, to back to 1949 or pick some other year, then why does anyone here think that MLB is mandated to keep its current number of teams and players?
Who says that any business, whether MLB or anyone else, is obligated to have a certain number of employees?
3 – Does anyone here think that the NFL or NBA should be required to have several farm teams too? Why is it OK for football to rely on colleges to coach and prepare players for the pros, but to require MLB to keep a set number of teams and players?
4 – It’s not about what MLB teams can “afford” or what they have some moral obligation to do. Honestly, they have no moral obligation to keep a minor league team anywhere.
Did the Dodgers have a moral obligation to stay in Brooklyn, just because they had fans there? There are some in NY who certainly think so, but everyone who follows baseball would agree that the game is better off with teams west of St. Louis, and there were many teams who relocated before the Dodgers did.
I just find it fascinating that there are so many who would tell any business who it should hire, how many it should hire, where they should be employed, how much they should spend, etc. I know that baseball isn’t “just” a business but a pastime, and that the Supreme Court gave MLB an exemption from the FLSA on that basis, but really – I would be in favor of each MLB team deciding on its own how many MILB teams and players to employ and to let them spend as much as they wanted to on player development.
I like it!
I don’t think anybody has any expectations or desire to require MLB, legally, to do anything. However, consumers, contractors, affiliates and partners, like any other business, can express their displeasure. They can even litigate if they believe they are damaged.
There is a big difference between passing a law to force a business to do something and placing pressure on that business. It happens everyday. In all industries. But unlike the vast majority of industries, MLB’s employees are the only reason they have customers. We don’t pay to watch the Player’s association and the Commissioner debate a topic at issue. I don’t go to McDonald’s to watch the fry cook salt the tatters. Teams and players are the ONLY thing their customers care about. They are THE product. On all levels. So “telling MLB” how many employees they should have is fundamentally different than doing so with another industry. The employees are the product.
If Krispy Kreme decided cut costs, automate and reduce the number of employees, most customers wouldn’t care, so long as they got their fresh hot donuts. But if Krispy Kreme decided to stop making donuts and only sell Lutefisk on a stick, I’m sure their loyal customers would be in an uproar. Because it’s about the product. And, unlike hot fresh glazed donuts, Lutefisk is disgusting. Customer have every right to complain when a business changes their product.
Thank you for your input Rick. Your last sentence says it all for me, “I would be in favor of each MLB team etc…….”
Tyler White and Pollock for Arenado then. What do you think Bum?
Someone is drunk! 😉
And it isn’t me.
Just thought I would get you rolling
😉
Fine. I’ll toss you a bone.
Colorado wants a top prospect catcher and MLB players that will make the team better than they are with Arenado. Obviously the Dodgers seem acceptable to include Ruiz in a trade but where would they find space in their infield for Arenado? If Seager and Ruiz were traded for Arenado the Dodgers would have that righty bat and one less lefty bat but a good defensive infield gets rearranged.
1B Turner instead of Muncy
2B Muncy instead of Lux
3B Arenado instead of Turner
SS Lux instead of Seager
Who would do that trade?
Who would play 3B for CO? Seager or Story?
Seager only has two years of control but with Arenado’s opt out clause, so does he.
That’s a tough one Bum. Not knowing JT’s future makes it a tough question. Would they keep him around after next year to play 1st base? I believe in Lux but I’m not ready to anoint him a superstar yet.
~
I will say the Dodgers shouldn’t need to hoard all of their prospects because they are good at development. I’ve seen nothing that makes me believe they won’t develop more if they deal a couple away. Ideally, I’m trying to keep Seager. I’m not crazy about taking all that money and dealing him away but I don’t know what the Dodgers think of Lux as a SS. Seager would have to play 3rd for Colorado.
DODGERS ANNOUNCE NON-ROSTER INVITES TO SPRING TRAINING
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 2020 non-roster invitees to Major League Spring Training, including nine pitchers, three catchers, five infielders and four outfielders for a total of 21 players.
The group of 21 non-roster invitees to Major League camp will be right-handed pitchers Brett de Geus, Josiah Gray, Marshall Kasowski, Zach McAllister, Edubray Ramos, Jordan Sheffield and Edwin Uceta, left-handed pitchers Reymin Guduan, and Kyle Lobstein, catchers Rocky Gale, Jose Lobaton and Connor Wong, infielders Jacob Amaya, Jeter Downs, Omar Estevez, Connor Joe and Cristian Santana, and outfielders Anthony Garcia, Jeren Kendall, Zach Reks and Cody Thomas.
With the 21 non-roster invitees scheduled to attend Major League camp, the Spring Training total is at 61 players (30 pitchers, 31 position players), including all 40 players on the Dodgers 40-man roster. The first official Spring Training workout for pitchers and catchers is February 14, while the first full squad workout is February 18.
Position Players 2019 Club
IF Jacob Amaya Great Lakes/Rancho Cucamonga
RHP Brett de Geus Great Lakes/Rancho Cucamonga
IF Jeter Downs Rancho Cucamonga/Tulsa
IF Omar Estevez AZL/Tulsa
C Rocky Gale Tulsa/Oklahoma City/LOS ANGELES/Durham (Tampa Bay)
OF Anthony Garcia Sacramento (San Francisco)
RHP Josiah Gray Great Lakes/Rancho Cucamonga/Tulsa
LHP Reymin Guduan Round Rock/HOUSTON
OF Connor Joe Oklahoma City/SAN FRANCISCO
RHP Marshall Kasowski Tulsa
OF Jeren Kendall Rancho Cucamonga
C Jose Lobaton Tacoma (Seattle)/Oklahoma City
LHP Kyle Lobstein Las Vegas (Oakland)
RHP Zach McAllister Oklahoma City
RHP Edubray Ramos Clearwater/Reading/Lehigh Valley/ PHILADELPHIA
OF Zach Reks Tulsa/Oklahoma City
IF Cristian Santana Tulsa
RHP Jordan Sheffield Rancho Cucamonga/Tulsa
OF Cody Thomas Tulsa
RHP Edwin Uceta Rancho Cucamonga/Tulsa
C Connor Wong Rancho Cucamonga/Tulsa
I have to disagree with Mark regarding the proposed changes to minor league baseball. This my take. I know I’m repeating some facts and arguments others have already mentioned.
We completely agree regarding the need to modify the minor league system with player development as the top priority. However, I don’t believe that is the primary motive behind these changes. It is fundamentally MLB’s own actions in recent years that have convinced me of this. And when I say MLB, I am talking both owners and the Player’s Union. I believe that the MiLB contraction plan was designed to solve several problems while spending zero additional money. A balanced approach to the issues would likely result, rightfully, in some teams being eliminated as affiliates. But the MLB proposal is taking sledgehammer to a problem that would be appropriately addressed with a scalpel. And I don’t believe effective player development is the primary goal.
1: MLB knows they have a major public relations issue with regard to pay for minor league players. There have been widely publicized lawsuits, including one that just this month was upheld as a class action encompassing all minor league players from 2014 to 2019. That lawsuit seeks back pay and overtime pay for those years on the basis of Federal minimum wage law. MLB heavily lobbied Congress to slide in the “Save America’s Pastime Act” into an Omnibus Spending Resolution. That effectively exempted MiLB from Federal minimum wage and overtime laws. However, it does not exempt past years from those Federal laws. Which is why the lawsuit filed by some MiLB players back in 2014 is still active, despite MLB’s vigorous defense. Which is why it took 5 years just to get to the point where the lawsuit will proceed as a class action.
2: The CBA is expiring soon and, as always, there will be a fight over ownership/players share of the pie. MLB wants the criticism about paying MiLB players slave wages to go away. But neither side wants to pay for it. Shuttering 40 MiLB franchises will allow for MiLB players to get a pay raise, without MLB or the Players Union giving up a dime. They are worried about the slippery slope. Small pay raise now, much more later on. I believe both sides want to shut the door on this issue once and for all.
A player in Low A receives about $1,300 per month. High A is about $1,500 per month. Both are during the season only. Outside of the few players on each team that receive a large singing bonus, most players either live 3 or more deep in an apartment or live with host families. Many have to work regular jobs in the off season. Even a 50% pay increase would make a substantial difference in their living situation.
I’ve seen several good analysis on what the cost would be to increase minor league pay by 50%. Depending on which analysis you read, the consensus seems to be that this would cost MLB somewhere between an additional $10m to $15m per year. Lets just use the larger number of $15M. That’s $500K per MLB team. The amount of change that falls behind the cash registers at the beer stands in each stadium is more than $500k per year (well, probably not. But you get my point).
In contrast, the AHL, NHL’s primary developmental league, has a minimum annual salary of $45,000 per year. With a $70 per diem for expenses. The average per diem for MiLB players is around $20. That is for a professional athlete who likely needs to consume over 5,000 calories per day. I know Gabe Kapler did a lot of work to correct that issue in the Dodger system. Players were eating tacos and burgers everyday, and not because they really wanted to. It was simply all they could afford. Many other teams have recognized that as an issue and have made changes. But it should be mandated for all organizations. And players should be given sufficient per diem to actually live off something else other than the .99 cent menu.
With regard to facilities and player development.
First, and mostly as a side note, the first team mentioned in the video is not a MiLB team. The Bakersfield Blaze (along with the High Desert Mavericks) were removed from the CA League after the 2016 season. Largely because their facilities were poor and the teams could’t secure funds for upgrades. The Bakersfield Train Robbers are an unaffiliated independent league team (PICOS league). The CA League addressed that issue already, internally, and removed two teams. Which should be the appropriate decision making level. Let each league choose which teams need to go. It’s no coincidence that the two teams the CA League removed had the lowest attendance. It’s likely why they facilities were in such poor condition.
Poor facilities is a legitimate concern. And there are some terrible facilities out there. And some need to be shuttered. But many teams on the list have modern, nice facilities. I have no issue with MLB raising standards. Give leagues and franchises a certain amount of time to comply. If they don’t, shut them down.
I will use the Pioneer league as an example. Ogden is a very popular. They consistently draw 150,000 visors per year in the Pioneer league. As do the Rocky Mountain Vibe. There are several teams in the Pioneer league who don’t draw 50,000. Let the league decide who goes. If a franchise is not viable to a level where they can meet facility requirements, shut them down.
An appropriate reorganization plan would probably take 3 to 5 years to complete. There would be a lot of moving parts (and affiliations). But it should be fair and cities and towns with long histories of baseball and fan support should be given the opportunity to maintain MLB affiliation. Independent leagues are precarious, especially on the West Coast. And players on many independent leagues (especially short season) are paid little to nothing at all. Some have team salary caps of $25,000 per year. For the whole team! Those players purged from closing the lower levels will find their circumstances devolve even further.
The player pay issue and reforms in the minor leagues are distinct issues, in my mind. Increasing MiLB player pay is a simple matter of billionaires and multi millionaires being reluctant to send some crumbs down the food chain. If the goal is to pay MiLB players more, the proposal by MLB is akin to amputating a leg to address an ingrown toenail. Just pay them more. Even if it cost MLB/Players Union $50M per year. That is .05% of league’s revenue!
Reorganizing the minor leagues, with an emphasis on improving player development, wouldn’t be easy . It will require a lot of negotiation and some tough decisions. And not everybody will be happy. But the process should be fair.
What is being proposed by MLB is simply the a solution that represents the least amount of expense and work for MLB and the Players Union. And it’s not fair. Not to fans. Not to the communities where they play. Not to players.
That’s just my opinion.
So – let’s mandate that the league go back to 1949 – over 400 MILB teams and over 10,000 players, since those communities obviously had a connection with those teams.
While we’re at it, let’s force the Dodgers back to Brooklyn, the Giants to NY, the Braves to Boston, the Orioles to St. Louis, the Brewers to Seattle, the A’s to Philly, the Twins to DC, the Rangers to DC too, the Nats to Montreal, the Yankees to Baltimore (they were the Orioles too, you know). All of those fans had connections with their teams too.
And to make all of the sports fair, the NFL, NBA and NHL all have to have the same number of minor league teams as MLB.
Who is advocating “forcing” them to do anything? I’m not even aware of any method to force them to do anything. We are the consumer. Teams are affiliates and partners. As fans, we can vocally express our displeasure. Franchises and communities can do the same. Some affiliates may even litigate, if they believe they were unlawfully damaged.
I don’t buy into leveling the playing field as a reason to reduce minor league teams. My pay grade is below figuring out how reducing 42 teams for 30 MLB teams does that, unless they are directed at specific teams. The minor league teams aren’t MLB team designated. They are designated by other standards. One seems to be to kill short season rookie ball teams. If the reason is to level the field then the wealthiest teams should be more limited with its number of MiLB teams especially at the upper levels. If MLB really wants to continue to level that field after the drafting system and international bonus amounts, then impose a salary cap. We all know that can’t happen.
Nobody wants to go back to 1949 and the system they had then. I fully agree that minor league ball must change to properly pay the young players a respectable salary. MLB teams can do that now. The Blue Jays raised the pay for its minor league affiliates by 50% this year. That is still way too low but who else has done it? Teams can pay a MLB player $30 million a year but can’t properly pay its future a reasonable salary. Who would believe that?
You are right. No one can mandate who and how many a business should employ. Who is mandating anything here? MLB does not have a moral obligation to have a certain number of teams or a certain number of players. The Dodgers in the recent past added another AZL team. MLB teams do have a moral obligation to pay their young players a decent salary. As previously written: ” MLB successfully lobbied Congress to amend language in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, classifying players as seasonal workers thus they are no longer entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay, among other protections. ” MLB has itself mandated that players be paid poorly by seeking such an amendment. With regard to minor league player salaries MLB had been amoral in my opinion. Which MLB teams spoke out when that amendment was proposed by MLB? I am not a lawyer but it seems they might have colluded to come to that agreement.
I am all for player development but I don’t buy that MLB teams don’t presently have the resources to continue to improve player development. I would almost be prepared to bet that if MLB teams are cut affiliate teams they will look for other venues to establish an affiliate.
If a raise in pay comes only after teams shut down that is telling and would explain why they were shut down. Stay tuned.
I agree with your sentiment on this issue. I’m not sure if I agree that the players union wants this but I certainly agree that there is plenty of money in MLB these day for this to be totally unnecessary and they can certainly raise wages and invest more in player development. It doesn’t need to be one or another.
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As far as each team having as many minor league affiliates as they want, I don’t see that happening. MLB has worked hard at creating more parity by tilting the free-agent system and international signing system back toward the small market teams.
I think the Players Union position is largely that higher minor league pay should come from the owners cut, not theirs. But I doubt they would stand in the way of this plan, aside from lip service, as it doesn’t effect their members.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=28502585
There is no pride in something you stole or cheated someone else out of. No pride in showing it off. No pride in admiring it.
To regain any sort of pride, you admit it and return it.
If I were an Astro, I personally would turn in my ring and apologize. For me.. as a competitor, it’s the only option I would have to save face and restore my own self dignity, screw everyone else
I find it kind of sad that Ogden looks to be on the chopping block. In 2012 I visited the Ogden venue just before the season started. It is probably One the most picturesque minor league ballpark in the game with the snow capped Wasatch mountains as a backdrop. I have pictures, perhaps will post them in a future post. Dodger history from the 60s there with Lasorda and the guys from so many of those great drafts: Valentine, Buckner and Garvey all on the same club.
Here is a link that has a picture of the stadium and a bit of a history and what baseball means to the town.
https://www.thinkbluela.com/2013/12/the-ogden-raptors-small-town-baseball-big-town-heart/
I took that same photo, but the mountains had snow. That’s for sharing DC.
I would like to share with all of you the birth of the newest Dodger fan, Eli Knox Love, my wife’s and my first grandchild. He is a 20 inch, 7lb., 9 oz. male born early this morning at 3:40 a.m. in Carmel, IN. He is a beautiful child and both he and his mother are doing great.
I think that reducing sites for MiLB baseball could definitely have some unintended consequences:
1) If opportunities are reduced, I wouldn’t be surprised to see youth participation in baseball decline once again and the initiatives that have occurred to increase baseball participation in the inter-city will decline as well.
2) Decreased participation will also decrease the attendance at baseball at all levels which reduces public interest in the sport at all levels which could easily decrease attendance at MiLB and MLB games over time.
3) If the outcry against the reduction is strong enough that the Mayors Association seeks and receives Congressional hearings, might this effect MLB’s antitrust exception.
4)When are the owners in baseball going to recognize the long term good of the sport requires that all teams strive to do all that they can to succeed every season to maintain competitive balance. If a team can’t do this and chooses to tank year after year just to get the small market dollars based on attendance, then those dollars show be targeted to player development, analytics, MiLB year-around salary and benefits, etc.
Congrats Dennis.
Sounds like he is being raised right.
Congrats! Hopefully raised to root for the Dodgers and Colts like a couple of us on here.
What a blessing Eli already is Dennis as he has brought instant joy to your family.
Someone hacked Bumsrap account.
The trade he purposed for Aronado is pretty dang intelligent.
I could buy into that. It makes a lot of sense…. if Lux is over the “yips.”
Hmm, my reply disappeared
I found it in spam and fixed it. Is it back now?
Welcome to the world……Eli Knox. Grandchildren are special and so are grandparents. Congrats Dennis.
I have something that I need to put out there. A few years ago, there was a person on this site, whom I ultimately banned who argued with me every day about Andrew Friedman. We had many arguments about AF… and I mean it got to the point where he attacked me personally and I had to threaten legal action.
Recently, he posted this on another blog:
Sounds to me like most of us believe we would have won at least one of those series’ if not for the cheating. If that’s true, then it would also be true that Friedman successfully put together a championship team. And that being the case, maybe the constant complaining will stop around here.
Well, it IS my opinion that had those teams not cheated we would have beat them.
Bear is correct, I have challenged Friedman from the beginning. His pickups of McCarthy, Anderson and Kazmir were jaw dropping to me. I criticized many of his moves then watched as the team won. I was wrong. And unlike many in this world I am willing to admit when I am wrong.
The Dodgers are damn good. I thought both Houston and Boston were better, Boston clearly and Houston only marginally but now that I know how they did it, I was wrong about that too. Had the Dodgers hitters known what was coming we win those series’.
I believe we will win the West again and I think we could do it by double digits. Of course there are no guarantees in the post season and with Kershaw fading I’m less confident about our rotation in the cool of October after a long 162 game season, but even without a big name pickup this off season I like our chances. We are deep and we are talented. I’m grateful to be a Dodger fan.
I was shocked, but his brains overcame his prejudice… Now, if he could just take a second to understand why he was dead wrong about me….
Probably won’t happen, but I am amazed he could admit his error and be a voice of reason on another blog.
hey, I’ve consistently blamed Kersh’s October failures as the #1 reason we don’t have a single ring these past 7 years. But after finding out about what Houston did in 2017, I will not criticize Kersh ever again. Apparently he brought it big time in 2017 and was screwed hard in game 5.
Whoever that person is, he admitted he was wrong. Good for him/her. Better than being stupidly stubborn and sticking with an opinion when it’s been proven wrong
LA Dodgers FO looking for Elite talent. This FO is unable to make a good trade and get the players needed. Dodgers do not want to give prospects and cant get elite talent. Is almost Spring Training and cant trade anyone. Instead front Office overpaid for a mediocre player like KIKE that should had been non tendered and is really totally over payed for kind of player that he is. Bad OBP and low average and cant hold to a regular role on this lineup. You have Taylor and Kike on same roster does not make any sense. Bad signings from last offseason in Kelly and Pollock. This past 2 offseasons have been bad. I agree with signing Wood instead of Mr Blister Rich Hill and also like Treinen signing better than Kelly and Signing of Jimmy Nelson. But i would like to see Seager , Verdugo, kike Traded and get a good RH Bat and/or SP.
High comedy!