Baseball Managers Caught In The Middle
When he heard of the Major League Baseball Player Association’s idea of cutting field managers, coaches and trainers from the union’s benefit plans if they work with replacement players, Philadelphia manager Jim Fregosi wasn’t happy.
“I don’t like being threatened,” he said. “I know when I was playing, we’d never condemn a coach or a manager for getting paid during a strike. I am paid to manage by the Phillies.”
Seattle manager Lou Piniella’s response was no less firm, just a bit less pugnacious.
“I don’t see it as much a threat as a negotiating ploy, but it is unfair for the union to put demands on … managers, coaches and trainers,” he said. “As part of the management staff, coaches are seriously caught in the middle. We work for the teams, yet we need that trust and relationship with players so they know we have their well-being foremost in our minds.
“When you take a management position, you’re part of management. When the club opens camp Feb. 16, my coaches and myself will be there. I’m getting paid to manage whomever shows up, and I will.”
Piniella made it clear, however, that his preference is, “to get this settled … my strong preference. I don’t think anyone in baseball has replacement teams as their preferred option.
“We have a month. There’s plenty of time to hammer something out. If we can’t, it’s very unfortunate.”
Piniella even had a proposal of his own.
“I’ve been wondering for some time if there’s some way we managers can help,” he said, “that some of the managers could get together and help work out something to get players playing again. All of us have been on both sides of the labor issues, including a heartwrenching strike in 1981, and I’m sure (we) would be willing to mediate or somehow bring something to the equation.”
Told of Piniella’s offer, John Ellis, Mariners chief executive officer, said, “It’s a wonderful thought, but it just wouldn’t work.” He added that only people such as federal mediator Bill Usery could be considered neutral.
That several current managers were key players in past contract negotiations makes the union’s effort to pressure them even more bizarre, Piniella believes.
“What’s really amazing is that people like myself, Fregosi, Don Baylor, and Bob Boone have gone through negotiations and strikes on behalf of the union,” he said.
“We haven’t been asked to help. Like everyone else, (we’re) waiting and hoping.”
Earlier, Piniella had suggested it was foolhardy for owners to use replacement teams, that a “reasonable deadline” should be set and if a settlement could not be reached, “they should call off the season.”
He has changed his stance.
“Baseball has to go on,” he said. “The game is bigger than all of us.”
“Yet the situation we’re headed for, using replacements, can cause long-term problems,” Piniella said.