Why are baseball players so overpaid?

[gregshin]

For example....This is an interview from Edgerrian James who plays RB for the colts.

Look at these players who can barely walk when they're done playing. That's gonna be me, so I've got to squeeze everything I can out of this now. We're not guaranteed the money in our contracts like basketball and baseball players are. I ain't hating on nobody in baseball, but I know I'm speaking for every NFL player when I say it ain't right the best baseball player [Alex Rodriguez] gets $252 million and our best player, Marshall Faulk, just signed for $200 million less than that. Ain't no crazy 300-pounders trying to break no baseball player's legs. And Marshall's money ain't even guaranteed, man.

 

[pyonir]

lets all complain because we get to be PAID for playing SPORTS. living a dream that a large portion of american kids have (and international for that matter).

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: pyonir
lets all complain because we get to be PAID for playing SPORTS. living a dream that a large portion of american kids have (and international for that matter).

hear hear.

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: pyonir
lets all complain because we get to be PAID for playing SPORTS. living a dream that a large portion of american kids have (and international for that matter).

I bet 90% of them would do it for FREE...

Some would give anything to play infront of 50 thousand...

But for the pirates... its more like , 10 thousand

 

[CubicZirconia]

Football players play 16 games plus playoffs. Baseball players play 162 plus playoffs. That has something to do with it. It's true football players might take more abuse in the time they are playing, but they are still only playing 16 games a year. Plus, most football players only play offense or defense, so that really cuts into total playing time too.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: bjc112

I bet 90% of them would do it for FREE...

Some would give anything to play infront of 50 thousand...

But for the pirates... its more like , 10 thousand

i would play football for free. but of course i wouldn't have the rest of the week to lift weights and practice because i would have to work 40hrs a week at my sh!tty job.

oh and for the expos, more like 5 thousand.

 

[Jzero]

How about my father who works in a chemical plant and could be killed on any given day? If he got paid 1/4th what they got paid he'd consider himself wealthy beyond belief. Here's a pro football player grumbling that their best player gets a paltry $52M? Cry me a river.

I don't mind that the players get paid so much. It's supply and demand. If I could get paid $52M to do what I do, I'd take it in a heartbeat.

But to turn around and whine about it? I consider myself fortunate to be making $50k/year!!!!!!

 

[CubicZirconia]

Here's a pro football player grumbling that their best player gets a paltry $52M? Cry me a river.

Thats a very good point. It makes the whole strike deal in MLB seem kind of ridiculous. They're all filthy rich and still they complain about money. I think they should just get over whatever "problems" they might have.

 

[Wingznut]

It's basic economics...

The players get paid so much, because the owners have the money and choose to pay them. The owners get the money from advertising, TV packages, merchandising, and ultimately from the poor bastards (you and me) who buy the tickets, parking, concessions, hats, programs, etc...

Obviously, with 146 more games, baseball teams generate more revenue than football teams. Compound that with the fact that each baseball roster is ~1/2 the size.

 

[Pastfinder]

My butt aches for these guys as I sit in my chair. Heck, why can't I be paid millions to sit on my duff? Baseball players are severely overpaid, but so are all athletes in my opinion. The NFL and NHL seem to have the "cheaper" athletes than baseball and basketball, that's for sure...

 

[BD2003]

Its simple economics, supply and demand, why is this so hard for so many people to understand? So they play baseball for millions, so what?

Can you play as well as them? Does everyone know your name? Do you stand out in front of a crowd of 50,000 and get talked about in the paper next day?

Are the paid a lot? Yup. Overpaid? Not if people are willing to pay for them.

Come cry me a river that baseball players are overpaid when you make your company millions of dollars a year but dont see likewise compensation.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: BD2003
Its simple economics, supply and demand, why is this so hard for so many people to understand? So they play baseball for millions, so what?

Can you play as well as them? Does everyone know your name? Do you stand out in front of a crowd of 50,000 and get talked about in the paper next day?

Are the paid a lot? Yup. Overpaid? Not if people are willing to pay for them.

Come cry me a river that baseball players are overpaid when you make your company millions of dollars a year but dont see likewise compensation.

but do you think someone like Edgerrin James should bitch because A-Rod makes more than him (even though they both make millions upon millions)?

 

[StageLeft]

It's not really overpaid at all as long as there are those willing to pay them. Bd2003 is on the money.

And btw I hate baseball so I'm not biased towards those players.

Look at these players who can barely walk when they're done playing. That's gonna be me, so I've got to squeeze everything I can out of this now. We're not guaranteed the money in our contracts like basketball and baseball players are. I ain't hating on nobody in baseball, but I know I'm speaking for every NFL player when I say it ain't right the best baseball player [Alex Rodriguez] gets $252 million and our best player, Marshall Faulk, just signed for $200 million less than that. Ain't no crazy 300-pounders trying to break no baseball player's legs. And Marshall's money ain't even guaranteed, man.

Oh God what a tragedy! Boo f#@kin' hoo.

 

[BD2003]

but do you think someone like Edgerrin James should bitch because A-Rod makes more than him (even though they both make millions upon millions)?

Its all relative. I'm sure people in the ghetto are just as outraged when they hear college graduate white collar workers bitch that they make $60,000 a year but its not enough. Does that mean that they shouldnt bitch about getting paid 60 when their friends are getting 80?

The only thing baseball people dont seem to realize is that the common man doesnt want to hear that sh*t, for exactly the reasons stated above.

 

[tcsenter]

Look at these players who can barely walk when they're done playing. That's gonna be me, so I've got to squeeze everything I can out of this now. We're not guaranteed the money in our contracts like basketball and baseball players are. I ain't hating on nobody in baseball, but I know I'm speaking for every NFL player when I say it ain't right the best baseball player [Alex Rodriguez] gets $252 million and our best player, Marshall Faulk, just signed for $200 million less than that. Ain't no crazy 300-pounders trying to break no baseball player's legs. And Marshall's money ain't even guaranteed, man.

So I'm sitting here trying to find sympathy for this guy...why am I not finding any?

So he knows that this profession he has FREELY CHOSEN comes with the injuries both acute and chronic. And yet he REMAINS in this profession he has FREELY CHOSEN despite the risks.

If he didn't think the money was well worth the risks, he wouldn't be playing.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: Wingznut PEZ
It's basic economics...

The players get paid so much, because the owners have the money and choose to pay them. The owners get the money from advertising, TV packages, merchandising, and ultimately from the poor bastards (you and me) who buy the tickets, parking, concessions, hats, programs, etc...

Obviously, with 146 more games, baseball teams generate more revenue than football teams. Compound that with the fact that each baseball roster is ~1/2 the size.

Bingo.

People bitch and bitch about them being overpaid, but ever since I was 10 I could understand this.

Viper GTS

 

[IGBT]

Because you "fan" types are willing to pay the ransome to go watch a bunch of old men play a kids game. I'd take your money too if I could.

 

[SludgeFactory]

Maybe the football players are just underpaid... Besides playing a lot more games, the baseball players have the strongest union in America. Helps in fighting off a salary cap and getting guaranteed contracts and all the perks they have.

The A-Rod - Faulk comparison is misleading. When he signed, A-Rod was in his mid-20's with presumably at least 10 All-Star seasons in front of him. Faulk doesn't have that type of future. And maybe more importantly, A-Rod went to a team with a genius for an owner, a man who bid against himself for A-Rod's services.

Tom Cruise sucks, why does he get $20 million for one movie. He's playing a kids' game. I hate him. Life isn't fair.

 

[Jzero]

Tom Cruise sucks, why does he get $20 million for one movie. He's playing a kids' game. I hate him. Life isn't fair.

That may be true, but I can't remember the last time I heard him pissing and moaning that some other actor got paid more. I never really was pissed that athletes got paid too much until I first started hearing them complain about being underpaid.

 

[badluck]

People are just ignorant. You rarely hear people say that the owners make too much. Usually, people say.....the players make too much money. People act like it's the players' fault that the owners overspend on their salaries. Another issue I have about people bringing up players salaries is this. People cry about how much sports players make, but do not criticize Eddie Murphy for making $20 million for every movie that he does. Hell, Eddie Murphy's latest movie brought in 2.1 million dollars last weekend (its opening weekend). They spent $90 to make the damn movie.......Yet, you never see people complaining about that.....Why not? Oprah makes about a billion a year, who complained about that?

Baseball players play 162 games per year. The opportunity for owners to make more money exists in baseball, so owners can spend more on salaries. NFL players only play 16 games per year. If Edgerrian James had half a brain he would realize that football players do not have a players union that is as strong as baseball players. NFL players are limited by a salary cap; something baseball players do not currently have to worry about. Owners can and DO overspend on players all of the time. It's economics. If the owner can afford to do so, they will, if so desired. In the NFL, there are about 53 players on a team. Each team is limited by a salary cap. So you can see why NFL players cannot average as much money as baseball players who only have 25 or 26 players on a team. He should go "hate" on his union.

Many, many people are jealous and do not understand economics and bash players for attempting to make as much money as they can. But, I bet that if your job paid you a few million to do what you do, you'd gladly accept it.

 

[zod]

I wouldnt say they're overpaid.

I always have to take the side of the players... no one is forcing the owners to pay what they do. Besides, we know the owners are making money, because any time a baseball team goes up for sale, the sale price is usually many times what the owners originally paid for the team...even factoring in inflation.

Besides, A-Rod makes $252m, the median salary is much less... somewhere around $450,000. Chump change? No. But most guys have to pay their dues before making millions per (Zito $295k, etc).

 

[dwil]

Cry me a freaking river that these overpaid, under educated kids are getting EXACTLY what they want.

They get to play for the NFL/NBA/NHL whatever.... (it's what they want)
They get paid $100k - $200 million (more than most of us)
They get hurt (didn't they figgure this one out in High School?)

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: Jzero
That may be true, but I can't remember the last time I heard him pissing and moaning that some other actor got paid more. I never really was pissed that athletes got paid too much until I first started hearing them complain about being underpaid.

I bet Tom is quite the drama queen behind the scenes One reason you never hear Tom Cruise bitch about salary is because movie actors are the ultimate free agents. They don't have to sign long term contracts, they just sign on for a 3 month movie shoot where they'll be pampered with their own trailers, assistants, caterers, bowls of M&M's with the brown ones weeded out, etc. The actors who sign long contracts, like TV actors, do whine about salary -- just not publicly. Their image is critical to their careers, that's why they have handlers guiding them along, telling them where to appear, what to say, what not to say. What about the cast of Friends, there's mega bitching from them every time they begin to renegotiate. Rob Lowe is another one, he just stupidly walked away from the West Wing over a contract dispute.

The athletes whining about pay are usually being paid way under market value and are under contract and can't go anywhere else. Not that I have sympathy for them, but it doesn't really bother me that much either. I understand they're just trying to play a negotiating game by making comments to the media or else they're morons who need to be reeled in by their agent. In the end, they'll either renegotiate or shutup and play out the contract.

What I take from Edgerrin James' lament there, is that he's frustrated with the lack of guaranteed money in the NFL. That's his own fault because of the actions his union undertake on his behalf, as is the salary cap. Football is a rough game and NFL teams treat running backs like they're a dime a dozen, it's the union's job to protect the players from that.