A Sit-Down Standoff

We all know the Red Sox and A's are going to Japan, right? And we all know that the games played in the Land of the Rising Sun are going to bring in buckets of money and publicity for Major League Baseball, right? What about the fact that the players get an impressive $40K purse just for making the trip? Sounds decent, doesn't it? Then I guess that with all these dollar signs floating around that team employees should be compensated at least for any expenses the may incur during this MLB-imposed outing, right?

Wrong. As usual, Bud Selig and his minions have managed to step knee-deep in the smelly stuff. This time they're reneging on a prior agreement to pay all Boston and Oakland coaches, trainers and other personnel a stipend similar to the ones the players are receiving. Fortunately, the sense of decency so lacking in the league's New York (fitting) office has managed to hang on inside the hearts of our very own. The team voted unanimously this morning to boycott their final Spring Training game against Toronto this afternoon unless the league agreed to pay the coaches as previously settled.

Rest assured, the matter has apparently been resolved and the final game of the spring is now underway. With all the negative press and fallout that has arisen in the wake of the steroids scandal and Sox issues like the release of Doug Mirabelli and the center field sniping, such unity in the face of blatant usurpation of league power over the faceless cogs of the major league machine is both refreshing and inspiring.

Here's to Japan, and smooth sailing back to Boston.