Baseball and Economics

A couple weeks ago I was watching the Atlanta Braves and heard a very interesting statement that the Braves Organization had made that.. well struck the economics nerve in my body (running throughout my entire body). Post season is around the corner and the rosters can expand for post-season purposes. The Braves usually call up a couple pitchers and catcher from Triple A and then maybe a utility infielder and possible outfielder. But at this point in the season they had only brought up the first three. The announcers then explained that during these economic times (where the Braves revenue is not what it use to be) that they can not afford to bring up the amount of players they would like. That was not the end of the statement. He said that due to the increase in the minimum major league baseball salary that they could not afford to bring those players up.

That is really sad to me a former baseball player that at one point going into college had aspirations of playing minor league baseball and if all goes well maybe having that rare some say 10% shot at playing major league baseball. 10% because that is the percentage of minor leaguers that ever get to suit up in the "Big Show" or major league team. A couple players missed out on this chance not because of bad economic times but because major league baseball and the players unions etc.. do not know enough about economics that they make rules that do not allow the market to adjust to current economic turmoil. Those players being left off of any major league team due to this would probably be willing to come up for a raise of ZERO. They would take the league minimum that was in effect in the 80's. But they do not have that choice. They have to be paid the league minimum or can not play. That is sad but yet that happens everyday.

The National minimum wage is over 7 dollars. Many businesses do not think that certain employees are worth over 7 dollars so they do not hire those prospective employees. We complain that they can afford it but they care only about profits. That is true but with so many businesses barely staying out of red ink and others losing jobs don'y you think they might have a point. Most people being paid minimum wage come from middle class families and are children that would like to work and maybe afford a car to drive around instead of the family automobile. Yet politicians ruin their chances everyday with careless political laws that the population as a whole likes because they know so little about economics. Our unemployment rate would not be this high if a person who was laid off could be hired for $4.00/hr. You might say "he is worth more". Well let him or her make that decision but telling the employer "thanks for the offer but shove it..." Or the person might say to his wife "I found a temporary job till I can get my old one back when the economy recovers. At least we can afford food without food stamps."