Last week, the Red Sox players organized a protest during their spring training game with the Toronto Blue Jays. You see, they were upset that their coaches and staff weren’t going to get the same $40,000 stipend each of them was receiving for the hardship they were about to incur by traveling to Japan for a couple of exhibition games, followed by their regular season opening games. The media was very kind to them, what with how they stood together for the “little guy” and all that. And while that’s all well and good, pardon me if I’m having a hard time imagining the likes of Woody Guthrie or Pete Seeger leading labor-organizing rallies for such behavior.
Terry Francona was quoted as saying, “For some (of the staff), the money is equivalent to two fifths of their salary for the year. I don’t believe coaches are second-class citizens. It doesn’t sit well with me, and continues to boggle my mind.”
The manager really hit one out of the ballpark with that statement. It’s mind-boggling, for sure. According to the U.S. Census (2006), the median household income in Massachusetts is $59,963. Men working full-time, year-round jobs make an average of $51,960. Females, $40,174 for the same. Mr. Francona believes coaches aren’t second class citizens, but as for the rest of us… well, I guess one can draw his/her own conclusion.
Team captain Jason Varitek said, “There are other people that are involved who are being forgotten.” I hope for the Sox’ sake that the guys continue to be so on-target with their swings this season, because right now they’re hitting homeruns galore!
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