In the wake of Kris Bryant's trip back to the bush leagues, one powerful union's response:
Today is a bad day for baseball. We all know that if @KrisBryant_23 were a combination of the greatest Players to play our great game, and perhaps he will be before it's all said and done, the @Cubs still would have made the decision they made today. This decision, and other similar decisions made by clubs will be addressed in litigation, bargaining or both.
I gotta admit, I'm having a tough time figuring this one out.
I mean, what's in this for the union? Kris Bryant's not even in the union. If the union's going to argue for union non-member Kris Bryant's right to make as much money as possible right now, then what about the thousands of minor leaguers who aren't even making minimum wage? Kris Bryant's already a millionaire and will almost certainly be an incredibly wealthy young man within a few years.
Is the union really so interested in the greatest players playing? Nah. The union's obvious and legal interest is singular: protecting the interests of its members, which often means finding work for veteran players who should have already made way for younger players.
Does a public statement like this, let alone theoretical litigation, strengthen the union's position prior to serious work on the next collective bargaining agreement? Not that I can see. Threatening litigation with little leverage is a sign of weakness; so is actual litigation with little chance of winning.
I just can't figure this th-- Oh. Wait a minute. Of course. Scott Boras.
Boras's complaints, long and loud and so wonderfully educational, seem designed to do one thing: impress his favorite young Cub. Since he must have known his many public comments would not change the Cubs' behavior.
Well, I think the union's public position is essentially the same thing. While it's true that Bryant is not a union member yet ... it's also true that he's going to be one soon and might well become one of the union's highest-paid, most famous members. And you want a guy like that on your side.
Friends, it's all theater. And not even great theater, since we know how the story ends and Boras is the only actor who's actually any good at this stuff.
So let's just take a deep breath and enjoy Bryant's debut in a few weeks. Hell, Opening Day's plenty exciting without him. Anybody ever think maybe they should do this every year? Parcel out a hot rookie every few days in the second half of April?
