Should Major League Baseball have fined Sox owner John Henry $500,000 for criticizing the sport’s revenue-sharing policy in a Boston Globe interview? Really? That’s what happened according to ESPN.
In 2009, Henry told the newspaper that seven “chronically uncompetitive teams” received over $1 billion. “Who except these teams can think this is a good idea?” he asked.
Half a million dollars is a lot of money for a comment that wasn’t exactly a tirade. I mean all the guy did was say he doesn’t like the system. And he isn’t alone. Our boy, the Hankster, has taken his shots at revenue sharing.
“At some point, if you don’t want to worry about teams in minor markets, don’t put teams in minor markets, or don’t leave teams in minor markets if they’re truly minor,” Steinbrenner said. “Socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it, is never the answer.”
I don’t think Hank got fined for that gem, but the Yankees got a lecture from the commish.
Personally, I don’t think revenue sharing is such a bad idea. It levels the playing field, so to speak. What I’m against is people not being allowed to voice their opinions. Are we living in a police state? Surely MLB won’t crumble if a few owners grumble. (I love rhyming. Sorry.) All this censoring and fining and shushing people makes me uncomfortable.
Moving on, tomorrow’s game will be televised so we’ll all get to take our first look at the hopefully new and improved A.J. Burnett. I hope he doesn’t hit anybody, but just in case I’d advise the opposition to dress appropriately.
