Boycott another example of why the Sox are baseball's most formidable "team"

From the highest paid superstars to the clubhouse attendant, every person in the Red Sox clubhouse is part of the team. Saying this is one thing, demonstrating it is another. Today, actions spoke louder than words throughout the Red Sox organization.

This afternoon's game against Toronto at City of Palms Park was delayed for an hour when Sox players unanimously voted to not play, and also forego the trip to Japan because coaches and staff members would not receive the stipend of $40,000 each for the visit to Japan. After learning about this yesterday, Sox players said they would not take the field this afternoon nor board the plane. They stuck to their word about the game against Toronto, which was originally scheduled for 12:05 p.m. Before they had a chance to proceed with their threat about not traveling to Japan, the matter was apparently resolved by Major League Baseball.

Multiple media reports indicate that the players thought that everyone - including coaches and staff members - would get $40,000 each.  When Terry Francona was told that was not the case by Oakland manager Bob Geren yesterday, he and his players felt that Major League Baseball had reneged on their agreement.

'When we voted to go to Japan, that was not a unanimous vote, but we did what our team wanted us to do for Major League Baseball," Mike Lowell told the media. "They promised us the moon and the stars, and then when we committed, they started pulling back. It's not just the coaches, it's the staff, the trainers, a lot of people are affected by this.

"I'm so super proud of this team. When we put it to a vote it was unanimous, we're all in agreement that we're not going to put up with this.''

He should be proud, as should every member of Red Sox Nation. This is a team that stands for integrity - on and off the field. And this is a team that, from the ownership group down to the clubhouse, conducts business the right way.

To most players on the Red Sox roster, an additional $40,000 is not monumental. However, to coaches and staff members who earn a fraction of what players - and Francona - receive, that figure is significant.

It was not disclosed how the situation was resolved, but it can be assumed that the coaches and staffers will now receive their originally promised stipend. That they will get their additional income is one matter. The support shown by the players is even more impressive. It is the point that a professional baseball team is not just composed of players, but coaches and support staff, too, and the contributions of everyone are important to the organization.

"It means as much as the money itself," Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan said in an interview with ESPN.

I have written many times why I believe the Sox are baseball's most formidable team. It's not solely because of the talent and depth. It is directly related to the chemistry of the team, and the makeup of the type of people who represent the Red Sox as a whole. That was demonstrated once again today.

Comments

[LMT]

I cannot understand why MLB would recind their offers once the agreements were in place for this trip. Don't they understand they will receive so much negative press for this? And really, how much money are they talking about anyway???? In the big picture, I am sure the amount of money we are talking about is nothing...pretty sad.
I am glad the Red Sox stuck it out and threatened not to play today or go to Japan. What a great bunch of guys! Go Red Sox!

[Moonlight Graham]

OK, a lot more has to come to light before you start throwing bouquets at the Sox for their big-hearted team spirit... this should be a none-issue and somehow it was screwed up, and in dealing with it, the Sox only did what the Yankees, among others, did far more quietly on their trip to Japan.

Mike Mussina reported today that when the Yankees went (2003? 2004? One of the two...), they were simply allocated a pool of money for expenses and were allowed to choose how to divide it, and the players quickly, quietly and unanimously voted to share it evenly among everyone attending, again including coaches, attendants, etc. This sounds like pretty much the same method as determining playoff shares, where it is again pretty standard for players to vote anyone with a pulse who had even a moderate team role a full share.

I have no idea why it turned into this drama with the Sox, but before you go applauding the team for finally addressing what clearly should have been better organized up front, as it was on the Yankees trip, know that all they did was inconvenience thousands of paying fans expecting to see baseball on time today... as for standing up for the coaches, that is no heroic gesture of team unity, it's merely standard practice for this type of trip.

[Jeff]

The bottom line is the team unity. That is one of the reasons this Sox team is so much different than several years ago. By the way, nice screen name. Field of Dreams is one of my top five favorite movies.

[Moonlight Graham]

Hey, I hear you, team unity, I'm sure they have plenty, but by focusing it on like this, you assume they have it more than other teams in similar spots. They don't, or at least this does nothing to prove otherwise. This only proves Schilling, or the other player reps, were asleep at the wheel when they negotiated the terms up front.

Though I obviously come down on the "Pinstripe" portion of your Sox/Pinstripes site, will give you benefit of doubt since we're all a little bored and punchy waiting for the real games to start...

And right there with you on F of D, a classic, and Burt Lancaster was pure class as ol' Doc Graham...

[Megan]

It makes no difference whether the stipends are "standard" or not, the bottom line is that when the team realized something got screwed up along the way, they decided to take a stand on it.
From the article:
"Until Tuesday, Francona and the coaches were under the assumption that they were getting the same stipends as the players."
They made a big deal about the problem because it cropped up at the last minute. They could have just as easily decided it was too late to do anything and just play the Spring Training game and get on the plane.
"If the game had wound up being canceled, the Boston players said that they were prepared to sign autographs for all of the fans on both foul lines. It never came to that."
Again, they knew they would have to do something for the fans if the game didn't go on. Again, they're doing the right thing.
"Even the Blue Jays were touched by the lengths the Red Sox went to fight for their staff.

"You don't expect to see that, but I was kind of glad it happened and I was kind of impressed with those guys," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "Not only are they a very talented team, they've got something special over there. That's a team. They stuck their necks out for the coaching staff -- those guys they admire and stand by --- and that helps us all. There's only two teams that can get away with that: Boston and New York. That's good to see."

Youkilis spent time during the pregame hours discussing the situation with Vernon Wells, who is the player rep for Toronto. The Jays' players were understanding of the situation and didn't balk at the game starting later than scheduled."

The players didn't run out to the field with a microphone and "turn it into drama". They found out the stipends weren't being paid as expected and they did something about it.

[Moonlight Graham]

Yes, they stood up for their coaches, and good for them. Point is, every other team in baseball would have done the exact same thing, which is why the players on all other teams were so understanding. It's not like, say, the Brewers, being less of a united team than those classy Sox, would have shrugged and thrown the poor coaches under the bus in the same situation.

Hey, if it makes you all feel better to think the Sox showed some shining, unique nobility here, knock yourselves out, but let's be honest, its much ado about not a damn thing...

[Jeff]

By the way, not every team would do that. Bob Geren, the A's manager, is reportedly the one who told Francona about the situation, and you didn't see the A's boycotting. The Sox players initiated the boycott - and whether you are impressed by it or not - the bottom line is that is it another example of how unified this team is. Some people think team unity is overrated. After all, the Yankees won it all in 1978 and certain players didn't get along. Yet I am a proponent of the value of team chemistry and unity - or perhaps synergy is a better word. Many teams don't have it. The Sox do.

[Ace]

Wow Moonlight, you seem real upset over the fact the Sox did a noble thing. It's ok man, relax.

For some reason I'm not surprised. As soon as I heard the news, I thought "Wow, not even someone on Sox and Pinstripes will try and turn this into something negative and bash the Sox for this." But alas, I guess I was wrong.

It is ok to give another team props for doing the right thing. Like when the Yanks visited VT. That was a great thing. Yes I can admit that. Why not, what's the harm?But if the Sox visited those kids, you would probably bash them as trying to be 'fake nice guys' or something. Or just say that its much ado about not a damn thing...

Pretty Sad.