I think I'm about done

[chaddurbin]

The sooner people realize athletes don't owe you $hit, the better the interaction between athletes and fans are gonna be. You going to the ballpark twice a year is not paying their salaries...

[earlywynnfan]

what is the minimum salary threshold for outsiders to dictate what should and should be your job? If ballplayers made $70K like I do would they still be expected to do fans' bidding? After all, they'd still be paid by "us."

Why doesn't anyone bitch that Tom Cruise or Taylor Swift don't sit outside their venues and sign for fans?

For those of you who feel players "owe" us free autos at the park or wherever, how many? 1 each? I can hear the bitching already from people who have "only two" items. For an hour? What if there are more people? How about 100 free autos every day? Is that enough? Not to number 101!

What about the smile factor? If Joe Shlub gets all "Willie Mays" on you, will you bitch? I've seen it on here, just like people complaining about the penmanship of their free autos.


Hey, Rats: I'm not asking about you working extra time when needed. I'd imagine we all do that. I'm asking you to work extra every day you're on the job. And in your driveway. And when you're at Target. And at the local pool. Somebody buys your company's product or uses its services, right? Then I say those people have a right to demand extra from you, whether you are on the clock or no, whether you are at the job or not.

[baseball tourist]

In the - travel to spring training for a week scenario above - you are paying for the experience/vacation/enjoyment/relaxation, right? If you manage to obtain a few sigs along the way - great! That is a bonus IMHO.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by baseball tourist

In the - travel to spring training for a week scenario above - you are paying for the experience/vacation/enjoyment/relaxation, right? If you manage to obtain a few sigs along the way - great! That is a bonus IMHO.

Of course. But let us say that you head to FLA or AZ to see your favorite team and player. Which is the better scenario? Now spring training is a different beast because players are more relaxed and perhaps more willing to sign during the spring.

Scenario A: You purchase great seats to a couple of games to see your favorite team and player. Over the course of the games your player plays well hits a home run and you witness him signing autographs and interacting with the fans.

Scenario B: You purchase great seats to a couple of games to see your favorite team and player. Over the course of the games your player plays well hits a home run and you witness him being a bigger tool than Crafsman.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

The sooner people realize athletes don't owe you $hit, the better the interaction between athletes and fans are gonna be. You going to the ballpark twice a year is not paying their salaries...

True, but there is plenty of competition for the entertainment dollar and baseball is no longer king. Once the fan moves on it will will be difficult to get the fan back. So wait until attendance is down and then wonder why the fan left. If players take a few minutes out of each day and sign for kids, they likely make a fan for life. That fan will attend games throughout their lifetime. The sport that takes care of the fan, appreciates the fan and understands the fan will likely never have a problem with having enough fans to support the sport.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by biohazard

True, but there is plenty of competition for the entertainment dollar and baseball is no longer king. Once the fan moves on it will will be difficult to get the fan back. So wait until attendance is down and then wonder why the fan left. If players take a few minutes out of each day and sign for kids, they likely make a fan for life. That fan will attend games throughout their lifetime. The sport that takes care of the fan, appreciates the fan and understands the fan will likely never have a problem with having enough fans to support the sport.

Baseball attendance is at an all-time high. With that said, I still hate Mike Heath for rudely rejecting my autograph request as a 10 year-old boy. My 40 year-old self still refuses to have any card of him in my collection.....even if needed for a set.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Baseball attendance is at an all-time high. With that said, I still hate Mike Heath for rudely rejecting my autograph request as a 10 year-old boy. My 40 year-old self still refuses to have any card of him in my collection.....even if needed for a set.

Interesting article: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...ce-tv-ratings/

[witster]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Baseball attendance is at an all-time high. With that said, I still hate Mike Heath for rudely rejecting my autograph request as a 10 year-old boy. My 40 year-old self still refuses to have any card of him in my collection.....even if needed for a set.

Well, you never know. I have a similar story.
I was at Petco around 10 years or so, ago. I tried to get Ryan Klesko to sign a ball, however he didn't want to use my pen. At the time, I thought it was a dickish move, but I wasn't going to use a crappy pen he had from someone else. His autograph wasn't going to make or break my collection anyways.

So, fast forward to a few weeks ago. I'm in Atlanta catching the Mets series, because its the final season for Turner Field. Its still a nice stadium, though the neighborhood/parking seemed to be the major issue towards moving to a new stadium.

Anyways, on Sundays, they have Alumni Sundays with former Braves signing autographs before game. Lo and behold, Ryan Klesko is one of the signees. He ends up using MY pen (same type to what he didn't prefer to use years ago).
Dude was really cool and he engaged in conversation with everyone.

Now I'm not saying hold your breath, but you never know.... Witster