Minor Leaguers as the Working Poor

[Hallas]

Which kind of sets a floor below which nobody will employ someone. There are activities that need to be done that don't generate enough revenue to pay a decent wage. How do those things get done without mandating businesses operate at a loss?

If they "must be done" then can't they be subsidized via taxes?

[OFFNY]

Do lower-paid minor leaguers qualify for food stamps? I know a lot of active duty, lower-grade enlisted types do. That might embarrass an organization if the Post wrote an article about their players being on public assistance.

That reminds me of the great Steve Prefontaine, who lived largely on food stamps in spite of the fact that he was the fastest long-distance runner in the country, and one of the fastest in the world.

This was back in the early 70's, when there was no prize money and appearances money for road races and track racing as there is today.

It's not the same exact situation as we're talking about now, but it is similar in the fact that we're talking about the possibility of food stamps for talented athletes, so I wanted to give Pre a plug.

http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086994/index.htm

[SilentJames]

Which kind of sets a floor below which nobody will employ someone. There are activities that need to be done that don't generate enough revenue to pay a decent wage. How do those things get done without mandating businesses operate at a loss?

That is the $34 million question ain't it?

I mean the problem is wages in general have not kept up with inflation over the last 50 years, and especially in the last 20. The minimum wage to equal the buying power of the minimum wage in the late 70's you need to make roughly $10 an hour today.

We have to make a choice on this stuff, either we as a society deal with the fact that there is a perpetual class of low-skilled, low-wage earners that will never have jobs that will be able to allow them to be independent of government assistance (is the situation you stated above) or we need to massively reconsider the role of the free market on wages and income.

I mean, let's face it -these minor leaguers are skilled employees. The worst rookie-league ballplayer is still a million times better than your average dude. These aren't kids that are chasing some passing fancy, this is their career this is their life. They don't get the opportunity to just try out for the big league team and either make it or not. They are forced to go through this system and are not allowed to deviate from it.

Baseball is already bucking the market through their anti-trust exemption and their monopoly on the pros. This allows them to artificially deflate low-earner wages. The actor metaphor is wrong because there are literally tons of acting jobs that can be had. Commercials, extras, plays on/off/near/adjacent to Broadway, porn, stand-up, street theater, ren-fests, amusement parks, etc etc. But there is only ONE MLB. One can be a successful enough actor and never be on TV or in a movie.

I don't think it is out of the questions for a multi-billion dollar international organization to pay their low-level employees a higher wage.

[Can_of_corn]

Do lower-paid minor leaguers qualify for food stamps? I know a lot of active duty, lower-grade enlisted types do. That might embarrass an organization if the Post wrote an article about their players being on public assistance.

If they are trying to support a family sure. I don't see why it would be necessary otherwise. I was an E-1 making the minimum in Monterrey California and managed as a single male.

I don't think minor league baseball is a good choice at all if someone is going to be the primary breadwinner for a family.

[SilentJames]

If they are trying to support a family sure. I don't see why it would be necessary otherwise. I was an E-1 making the minimum in Monterrey California and managed as a single male.

I don't think minor league baseball is a good choice at all if someone is going to be the primary breadwinner for a family.

This is, of course, assuming that people make good choices and mistakes never get made.

But this is the real world and humans tend to be remarkably stupid from time to time, especially when one is 19, and aspiring athlete, and sex is involved. It is easy for us to sit here and say "he made crappy choices deal with it." And I get that and don't disagree with it - but it doesn't make it go away. We can't make everyone who makes bad decisions go off and live on bad decision island - they are here and so are the consequences of their decision.

Either the multi-billion dollar company pays them more or I pay for them through government subsidies. I'd rather the multi-billion dollar company do it.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I will also say that I don't really have a problem with 18-23 year old males existing as working poor. I will say it is, in my view, a poor choice if they wish to start a family but other then that there are plenty of worse things in the world.

When I used to go to the Lake Elsinore Storm games regularly i talked to many failed minor leaguers that had become scouts. Some were also involved in coaching at the High school/college level. I'ts experience and an introduction to other aspects of the business if used properly.

Heck a lot of major league coaches are failed minor leaguers. Like anything else you have to be smart and make smart choices. Banking on making the majors without any fallback options, probably isn't one of them.

[scOtt]

My cat's breath smells funny.

[SilentJames]

When I used to go to the Lake Elsinore Storm games regularly i talked to many failed minor leaguers that had become scouts. Some were also involved in coaching at the High school/college level. I'ts experience and an introduction to other aspects of the business if used properly.

Heck a lot of major league coaches are failed minor leaguers. Like anything else you have to be smart and make smart choices. Banking on making the majors without any fallback options, probably isn't one of them.

Well of course, I mean no one is saying that these kids should be set for life. I'm just saying there really isn't a compelling argument why they shouldn't be paid a wage that would allow them to live a life that didn't require an outside charitable organization to provide them with room and board.

[SerenityNow]

I mean, let's face it -these minor leaguers are skilled employees. The worst rookie-league ballplayer is still a million times better than your average dude.

Yes they are a million times better than the average dude...at playing baseball. My wife didn't get paid when she was in medical school, we actually got the pleasure to pay the institution. Maybe the players should start to pony up for their minor league training and honing their "skills" to help fund the Orioles. Take loans out if you need to boys!

[CA-ORIOLE]

Well of course, I mean no one is saying that these kids should be set for life. I'm just saying there really isn't a compelling argument why they shouldn't be paid a wage that would allow them to live a life that didn't require an outside charitable organization to provide them with room and board.

Yeah, I know we're flirting with politics here, but I don't buy into the "living wage" argument. Maybe you can force baseball to do this because of their unique circumstances but in general that's a failed economic policy imo. Also, don't minor leaguers receive housing/travel and meal allowances? Maybe I'm wrong about that.

[SilentJames]

Yes they are a million times better than the average dude...at playing baseball. My wife didn't get paid when she was in medical school, we actually got the pleasure to pay the institution. Maybe the players should start to pony up for their minor league training and honing their "skills" to help fund the Orioles. Take loans out if you need to boys!

I do not ignore the irony of the situation here. Yes doctors are far more skilled than ball players, but the issue is the following - a private corporation has recruited an employee to go through a massive years-long training program where there is literally a 95% they will never succeed completing. All most of us are saying is those people should be paid at a level that they could live like average people of their age.

Perhaps your wife should have been paid for her training, perhaps I should have been paid for mine as a teacher - I think everyone would agree that on the balance of things both of those professions are far more "important" to the world. Then again I think that we are both more important that an investment banker that makes 100 times my salary and helped wreck the economy, but such is the world of private business.

[Frobby]

But why should we treat ballplayers (legally) any different than any other job? If you're working the equivalent of 60+ hour weeks during the year shouldn't you be getting paid the legal minimum wage and any applicable overtime?

I'm pretty sure McDonalds couldn't require its employees to work 60 or 80 hours a week, including regular long bus rides to work at other McDonalds several states away, yet pay them the equivalent of 40 hours a week times the minimum wage.

I'm certainly no labor expert, but I would think the players would have a case that they should earn at least ($40 x 7.25) + ($25 x 7.25 x 1.5) = $561 a week during the year. Or roughly $17k a year from March-September.

Salaried "professionals" don't earn overtime. When I was an associate in my law firm I was routinely working 60 hour weeks, occasionally 90-100. My salary was what it was. Of course, I was earning more than these MiL ballplayers.

[Guest rochester]

But why should we treat ballplayers (legally) any different than any other job? If you're working the equivalent of 60+ hour weeks during the year shouldn't you be getting paid the legal minimum wage and any applicable overtime?

I'm pretty sure McDonalds couldn't require its employees to work 60 or 80 hours a week, including regular long bus rides to work at other McDonalds several states away, yet pay them the equivalent of 40 hours a week times the minimum wage.

I'm certainly no labor expert, but I would think the players would have a case that they should earn at least ($40 x 7.25) + ($25 x 7.25 x 1.5) = $561 a week during the year. Or roughly $17k a year from March-September.

Isn't a ballplayer paid a salary? In that case, hourly wages would not apply. Nor would only 2 weeks vacation, small amount of sick leave, etc. I am not arguing for or against whether they get compensated properly, but, IMO, comparing this issue with hourly McDonalds workers is apples & oranges.

[DrungoHazewood]

If they "must be done" then can't they be subsidized via taxes?

Silent James said no subsides.

[DrungoHazewood]

Salaried "professionals" don't earn overtime. When I was an associate in my law firm I was routinely working 60 hour weeks, occasionally 90-100. My salary was what it was. Of course, I was earning more than these MiL ballplayers.

So why can't McDonalds just pay everyone on salary and avoid paying minimums or overtime?