Who are they kidding? It is true, the MLB should not have re-nagged on a promise; however, let’s be serious. It was ALL about money.

I love how they were saying these guys make only 80 G’s. Of course that is nothing to the players but it was insulting to average joe’s watching because that is a lot of money for any normal person. It’s not like they had to pay for their flight or hotel while in Japan.

The second thing that irked me real good was that they were going to jeopardize the game today. All I remember seeing was the faces on the children who had come down from Boston to see their players. People plan vacations to see their team. They can’t get tickets at Fenway so they plan a family vacation for spring break in hopes to see their team for a change.

These players were actually going to refuse play because of this. I think perhaps they knew MLB would give in but nevertheless the look of disappointment on the young one’s faces was something really discombobulating for me.

Anyways, I was thrilled the kids finally got to see the game as well as myself; coincidently having the afternoon off this rare day.

MW: I’m sorry to hear that you were discombobulated, but I think the Red Sox did the right thing. It was pretty low for MLB to back off its promise to give the coaches and support staff a share of the money that the series in Japan made, especially given the fact that they had always been paid before on previous trips. It’s not about how much money the players make, relative to the coaches, it’s about fairness and, yes, principle.

Now, I don’t think the players should be breaking their arms patting themselves on the back for this, like Kevin Youkilis seemed to be in the news conference during the game, and I also wonder what would have happened if the players had pooled all their money and separated it into full shares for themselves and the training staff, but that’s not the point. The point is that MLB tried to save a little cash by backing out of a verbal agreement and trying to take advantage of the group that makes the least money and has the least leverage, and that’s shameful.

MW: How on Earth are MLB and its owners sympathetic figures??????

Thanks for the prospective.

MW: I think your prospective, as you put it, is a bit skewed – some of these guys make boatloads of money, but many of them only make one boatload or two. As an employee, would you be willing to give 5% of your pre-tax earnings to your support staff?

MW: Right.

Blair said Cecil was supposed to start and I was excited to see him. Any idea what happened?

MW: Cecil is pitching tomorrow, though Kane Davis will probably start.

I know I’m just a small town guy from Southern Manitoba but I don’t see how atheletes who make millions of dollars a year can quibble about money that any one of them could easily pay out of their own pockets.

Any thoughts Mike?

MW: My thoughts are that it’s wonderful that these athletes, many of whom make millions of dollars a year, are willing to take a firm stand to support the people who work with them. Would you be willing to pay the equivalent percentage out of your own pocket to people you work with if you felt they were being taken advantage of?

MW: One would think that the decision has to be made before Opening Day, but I don’t know of any provision that there’s a specific date by which the Jays have to inform Stewart of whether or not he makes the team. Johnson becomes a free agent if the Blue Jays release him, which may well happen, but not until the end of camp.

MW: I wouldn’t bet on it.