LA Angels Tuesday News Crash: Still Negotiating

Photo credit: Rex Fregosi

Angels Related Links

The Angels are taking a very drastic approach to the furlough of their non-playing personnel.  Most of you already have heard about it, but just in case somebody didn’t hear I provide a couple of free links discussing the matter.  Joe Maddon is taking steps to keep himself in the best possible condition.  This article is about managers and players who are at risk for COVID-19.  Joe Maddon is healthy but is in the 65 plus age range.  Ty Buttrey is pitching live batting practice to his father.  The recipe for Buttrey’s Buttery Steak Topping is now available, by the way. 

Former Angels Related Links

Happy belated birthday, Bartolo Colon.  Howie Kendrick gets in a dig at the cheatin’ Astros.  On that note, here is another chance to get an Astros trash can bobblehead.  These ones are being sold online by the St. Paul Saints. 

General Baseball News

The owners are apparently willing to budge away from the 50/50 revenue sharing idea they had, although they still want the players to take some kind of a haircut.  Japanese baseball is on the way with an ETA of June 19, 2020. 

Rally Monkey has a bat and ball in today’s coloring page. 

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matthiasstephan
Super Member
3 years ago

The proposed sliding scale seems designed to provide pressure on the players to debate among themselves. It will allow any of the top earners (many of those who command attention in the media) to be silenced or face accusations of being in it only for themselves (Media: Think of those earning league minimum!).

Makes it hard for Trout, Snell, and others who have been vocally critical to continue to speak out, or to be taken seriously. A really devious and manipulative move by the owners – especially as it has been leaked to the press.

(All that and it still presupposes that labor (players, staff, coaches) need to absorb some of the risk of baseball, without offering to allow them to benefit from the gains).

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Totally. Pitting members against each other is a classic union-busting move.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

They all just need something to focus on.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
3 years ago

It takes a pretty short sighted person to cut scouts and baseball operations people a week before the draft.

My biggest gripe with Arte has been his steadfast refusal to spend money on scouting and developing talent. He’ll gladly drop hundreds of millions on free agents, but skimps everywhere else.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

They don’t make him money.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Correction: They don’t make him money now. Some say to measure twice, cut once. Arte cuts twice, measures never. Lesigh.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

Cut twice, measure nunce. Looks good to me.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago

Shame on the Angels, and shame on Arte Moreno. Treatment of lower-level employees like that is inexcusable for a business in excellent long-term health, when the need for them isn’t going away or even decreasing.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

another example of why we love the game and not the business

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Just a shitty situation. I was thinking of finally caving and buying a legit Trout jersey this year, I’d rather defer it to the future due to ownership.

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

Worst ownership ever.

I’m not directly putting in another dollar to support this man endeavors. He has ruined my team. ATM, I am ashamed to say I support the Angels.

Where are Arte’s supporters now?

Fucking billionaire, can’t support his employees.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

Arte, sell the team!

Designerguy
Super Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Rahul Setty

I would be hesitant to crucify Arte. He’s not the only owner furloughing employees. The A’ss sent this out today. Emphasis is mine.

To our friends, family, and colleagues,

I hope each of you and your families are safe and sound during this challenging period.

I am writing to you personally today because you are our fans, employees, and members of our A’s family. This has been a tremendously difficult day and I wanted to share some important updates with you. While I normally stay behind the scenes, mostly because I believe in the leaders who run the team day-to-day, I felt that you should hear this news directly from me given the extraordinary nature of these times.

I am very saddened to let you know that we have implemented a significant temporary furlough of staff positions, and reduced compensation for staff members who are not furloughed. We are also suspending compensation for the A’s minor league players.

Our first priority is to those who are being impacted by these decisions, and we will do everything possible to support them during this time. Many of those affected by these decisions have been loyal to the A’s for years – some even decades. I want to apologize to every person impacted.

Baseball is more than a job – it is a way of life. People who work for our team are our family – our very foundation — and they work tirelessly to help the A’s compete in this most precious game. COVID-19 has brought a tragic loss of life and sickness to so many in our community, and it has impacted us all in ways we could have never imagined. Our organization, like so many others across the country, has had to make tough and painful decisions. We all miss baseball, and we want it back as soon as possible. We want the season to get underway soon, and we believe that the healing power of the game will help bring our community here at home – and across the nation — together again.

I know that many of you will wonder why the A’s are cutting costs now. Nobody knows how this pandemic will evolve over the long term. What is clear is that our revenues will be dramatically reduced this year. None of this diminishes the pain of today’s actions, but it is an honest acknowledgement of the circumstances of the moment.

I became involved with the A’s because I love the game of baseball. I love the drama that can unfold in a few innings, or even a single pitch. I love rooting for our team. I want our employees and fans to know that we remain deeply committed to the long-term future of the Oakland A’s, including our new ballpark, which we know can be a positive force for the City of Oakland and the East Bay. With this said, above all else, my concerns today are with every single person in our organization who is being personally affected. Through no fault of any of our staff, today’s actions are hard.

We look forward to welcoming employees and fans back to the game as soon as possible.

Rahul Setty
Admin
Trusted Member
3 years ago
Reply to  Designerguy

Just because he isn’t the only one furloughing low-level employees doesn’t mean he is shielded from blame!

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago

if the owners want some sort of split based on income from all sources then they must allow the union complete access to the financial information.

Consider this: You and I agree to split the take on t-shirts we make…you know, those special Trout and Ohtani t-shirts…the money comes in and I tell you your share is $200. Would you want to see how many we sold? Or would you take my word for it? If I had a history of lowballing you would that make a difference? And if we conclude our meeting, go out to the parking lot and you get to your Accord while you see me getting into my Tesla would you still be comfortable that we’d split the profits evenly?

eyespy
Super Member
3 years ago

You are hilarious old man.
This is the team that just fired amain part of his staff, and you are asking for financials. Trump will show his first.

Eric_in_Portland
Legend
3 years ago
Reply to  eyespy

you’re absolutely right.