Off-season Player Habits

by Central*Scrutinizer on Sep 5, 2011 7:56 PM EDT

Per Horace Clarke, NH said this with respect to Pedro Alvarez... "it never works to force players into winter ball." And today's Trib article about Chris Snyder indicates "he plans to leave Wednesday for his hometown of Houston to spend time with family before resuming rehab Feb. 12 in Phoenix". Snyder is walking, throwing, and swinging, btw. I don't expect or want either to play the rest of the year, but there are many ways they could contribute to the team for the rest of this contracted year. Snyder could be coaching the other catchers (Lord knows, they need it). Maybe he could scout for 4 months. I don't care if he is restringing their gloves, he needs to earn his pay. Maybe NH already told Snyder they aren't going to pick up his option? Maybe his wife just wants to get out of Pittsburgh for fear of the crazy moped guy? Why don't player contracts give management complete control over their assigned duties year-round, whether it be team participation, winter ball, conditioning, community service, marketing, etc.? Does this type of attitude infuriate anyone else, or is it just me?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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Why don't player contracts give management complete control over their assigned duties year-round...?

Happy Labor Day (from the people who brought you the weekend). The union wouldn’t sign off on a contract that gave management complete control over what the players do when they aren’t at work. I wouldn’t sign such a contract, myself. It doesn’t bug me one bit.

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by WHYG Zane Smith on Sep 5, 2011 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

So what contractually is a player's work year?

Sorry, “complete” control was a poor way of putting it and does sound draconian. How does the MLB union contract define a work year anyway? Is it from day of elimination until start of spring training the following year? In terms of control, aren’t there typically rules and agreements that prohibit certain off-season activities (e.g., motorcycling, skiing)? Some agreements specify marketing participation. I know some NFL agreements do specify weight limits and players are held accountable for them (i.e., financial penalties).

by Central*Scrutinizer on Sep 5, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, those are good questions

and I don’t know the exact answers. I’d bet the overall collective bargaining agreement probably places some limits on what individual contracts can and can’t tell the player to do — I’m guessing that it’s not OK for a contract to force a player into winter ball (it’d be like mandatory overtime), and I’d also guess that it’s not OK to say that players on the DL have to do other non-playing related duties. But it probably is OK to do some of those other things you mention.

Sorry if I was snippy before — the phrase “complete control” did set me off a little.

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by WHYG Zane Smith on Sep 6, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

if they treat it

as a regular 9-5 job then yes I would expect to do what my employer wanted within reason (especially at their salary). Outside of normal working hours though, no.

by BlindSquirrel on Sep 6, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

also, I think Biertempfel messed up the schedule

This article from George Von Benko quotes Snyder as saying:

“The plan for me is to head out on Wednesday and go back to Houston and be with some family for a little bit. [Then I’ll] head home to Phoenix on the 11th and continue my rehab at API. [I’ll] … meet up with the team when they come to Phoenix on the 19th and continue my rehab throughout the [offseason] and see where I’m at in February.”

Sounds like he’s leaving the team for a little, continuing his rehab in Phoenix on September 12th, meeting up with the team when they come into town to play the D-Backs on the 19th, and continuing rehab until February (is that when pitchers and catchers report?) It would’ve been kind of odd for him to say he was blowing off rehab for five months.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Sep 5, 2011 8:18 PM EDT reply actions

OK, makes more sense

by Central*Scrutinizer on Sep 5, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

"I don't care if he is restringing their gloves, he needs to earn his pay."

Sheee-it, these guys don’t do anything like that any more (stringing their own gloves, carrying their own bags), I’d be surprised to find out that they cut their own food or tie their own shoes*.

*The latter considering that some players have injured their backs attempting to tie their shoes (Hello, Doug DeCinces!)

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Sep 5, 2011 9:24 PM EDT reply actions

I can sympathize with the back thing I’ve hurt mine without doin anything that should have hurt it

by timmyjr78 on Sep 6, 2011 10:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

whether it be team participation, winter ball, conditioning, community service, marketing, etc.? Does this type of attitude infuriate anyone else, or is it just me?

How marketable is a catcher that has played 34 games this season and none since early June?

by ATribeCalledGreg on Sep 5, 2011 11:31 PM EDT reply actions