Comments on: Gil Meche’s Retirement: Why It Matters

By: METS62FAN

METS62FAN — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:14:36 +0000

Joe, u’d be well served by Satish’ evaluation that I’ll paraphrase as just because this one player has done what appears to be the right thing doesn’t necessarily take anything away from any other players playing out their strings legitimately, contractually.
While I by no means wish to denigrate the aparent honesty of Miche’s decision to credit his decision as purely altruistic honesty and not consider that there most certainly must be a personal agenda more valued by him & his family than the 12M gross income he would be due. Apparently, I would say that the Royals are the convenient benefactors of the coincidental merging of their priorities with the player’s personal agenda. To hold any other player, including the ineffectual Perez to the apparent Miche standard is unfair as Ollie is merely doing whatever he possibly can to uphold his end of a legally binding contract. Had he not gotten injured in the WBC and had vastly outperformed his 36M deal, I doubt anyone would be calling for an unscheduled bonus being paid making the remuneration fall in line with the performance, why should the player give back when injury causes performance to fall grossly short; but the club not be required to kick more in when a player works harder, sacrifices more & out performs?
BTW. A CONTRACT IS A CONTRACT, in the case of pro sports it’s vitually a gamble either way for example RA Dickey was paid > 1M last year & performed at a superior level most accurately represented by a minimum of $12M while Perez performed at a >$1M level & rec’vd 12M from a club point of view it basicly washes as u hope it does; however Perez is no more morally expected to return the unearned money than the Mets are to have upped Dickey’s remuneration. No?

By: Satish Ram

Satish Ram — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:04:02 +0000

Just looked into that… Poor guy was shot and it ended his career early. Shame…

I had never heard of him. That’s a pretty good example to follow.

By: Satish Ram

Satish Ram — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:02:55 +0000

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’m not trying to portray him as a hero but it really is something noteworthy because it’s different from what we’re used to.

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:59:49 +0000

Agreed

By: The Coop

The Coop — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:54:15 +0000

See, I don’t think it’s that much of a hero thing, I think it’s something refreshing. Normally, we’d see someone try to milk it for what it’s worth. You don’t see a lot of this in baseball. I think it’s commendable, but not Superman-worthy either.

By: Bayonne Mets Fan

Bayonne Mets Fan — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:50:41 +0000

This reminds me of when a former outfielder for the Twins and Angels – Lyman Bostock, had just signed a new contract with The Angels and hitting horribly for the first month or so refused his paycheck because he felt that he did not deserve the money due to his terrible performance. When the owner said he could not do that then Bostock then donated his salary to charity until he felt he deserved he money. Then he started to hit.

By: James K.

James K. — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:25:14 +0000

I’m not remotely in favor of money being given to fans by players or owners, that’s ludicrous. My comment doesn’t say that either. I’m just saying Meche is being hailed as a hero or something for giving up the money. Meanwhile, all he’s doing is giving millions back to an already rich owner who may or may not re-invest the money in the team.

By: Des

Des — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:57:51 +0000

I’m a fan, a good fan. I don’t see why the money should go to the fans. We buy tickets and merchandise because we want to, not because anybody holds a sledge hammer over our heads. If we feel we’re not getting our money’s worth, we don’t buy the stuff. Despite its obvious impracticalities, returning money to fans implies we’ve been bilked. We haven’t been.

By: James K.

James K. — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:47:19 +0000

I’d say this was a lot more commendable if the money went straight to the fan’s pockets and not to some already rich owner. Good for him for making a tough personal decision but he doesn’t owe this to fans, owners, or anybody.

By: Metstheory22

Metstheory22 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:25:51 +0000

If someone can, maybe he deserves Ollies money.

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:21:22 +0000

I agree Joe. And, I dare say these guys have much bigger bank accounts than you or I do, to begin with. When you have made $35 to $65 million or so, in your career, it’s a little easier to walk away from that kind of dough. Why do something desperate and stupid that leaves you reviled by the fans and management, just to suck up a few more $$ that you really don’t need?

By: The Coop

The Coop — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:08:59 +0000

I thought the same thing. That I hoped that OP would take a page from the Gil Meche handbook. It takes a lot of guts and courage to do what he did – and we all think very highly of him. I wonder if we can hypnotize OP to do the same.

By: Joe Spector

Joe Spector — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:41:02 +0000

Harry whether you’re pitching in pain or pitching like a fool – it takes a brass set to walk away from 12 million. If you’re giving OP a pass beacause you or me or anyone else wouldn’t walk away and spare their pride – take a look at Meche, take a look at Griffey, they’re plenty others who have walked away.

Would I go out there and make an absolute fool of myself on a daily basis just to pull a check, no I wouldn’t. I have more self worth.

By: Harry C

Harry C — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:21:50 +0000

Before you so easily stomp on the easy target, would you leave 12 million on the table Joe ????? I wouldn’t, would you? Will you tell me its not the same? Secondly Meche and OP are not the same either. Meche, by his statement, is in a lot of pain and would need surgery to pitch again. OP is pitching lousy but is he in enough pain to walk away?

By: Joe Spector

Joe Spector — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:15:04 +0000

I know where you’re going with this – O.P. wouldn’t leave 12 million jumping beans on the table – we aren’t that lucky.