Around Baseball 2019

[Boxcar]

Everyone who understands unions?

 

Everyone I know who is in a union hates being in a union.

[Abomination]

Estrada is doing Estrada like things to the Red Sox again.

[Spanky__99]

Three consecutive walks by Cardinals pitchers, including walking in a run just now. If you're a Cards fan you're pulling your hair out by this point. One run game.

 

As a Pirate fan, I've watched the Pirates lose 2 of their last 3 games on a cross-up, brutal.

[Boxcar]

Estrada is doing Estrada like things to the Red Sox again.

 

I read this and thought the Red Sox were destroying the A's. Now I'm confused.

[Spanky__99]

Link to incident:

 

https://streamable.com/9pylv

 

Holy what a meltdown from Kulpa.

 

"I can do anything I want, that's right" *smh*

[Orgfiller]

The Fernando Rodney experience is not fun to watch unfold.

[Abomination]

And now Rodney is doing Rodney things.

[thatoneguy]

That Culpa thing, man he needs to be shitcanned.

[Jimcanuck]

One start, bro, lol.

 

Nah, he has been in decline

[onwego]

A second time this year that a runner has been hit by a batted ball in a Yankees game, you can go years between seeing it happen

 

Kay knew the rule and said with the infield back the runner was out, Judge hit in the heel by a line drive heading to third

[Spanky__99]

Nah, he has been in decline

 

We're talking about Kluber, right? lol

[BTS]

It's April 4th and Jacob deGrom is up to 1 fWAR.

[G-Snarls]

DeGrom stuck out 14 over 7 innings

 

And tied Bob Gibson's record for number of consecutive quality starts (26)

 

Oh, and hit a home run

 

Not a bad night

[Brownie19]

Everyone who understands unions?

 

I must not understand them and would love to learn more. I'm sure there are lots that work really well, but all I ever see is a system without any incentive to improve or be better at your job, which ultimately creates a group of people who do the bare minimum - while protecting the absolute dog f***ers and/or incompetent ones (like Ron Kulpa). We all know those jobs where people say "if you get in there - you're set for life!". Those are the jobs with thousands of people who are trained and waiting - just waiting for their opportunity to get in because the compensation/benefits v. the effort required are so far past what is reasonable.

 

Those situations are created by unions for jobs funded by the public.

 

I'm sure I only see the bad side of unions and miss half the story. I'm definitely jaded by particular ones.

[Bobthe4th]

I must not understand them and would love to learn more. I'm sure there are lots that work really well, but all I ever see is a system without any incentive to improve or be better at your job, which ultimately creates a group of people who do the bare minimum - while protecting the absolute dog f***ers and/or incompetent ones (like Ron Kulpa). We all know those jobs where people say "if you get in there - you're set for life!". Those are the jobs with thousands of people who are trained and waiting - just waiting for their opportunity to get in because the compensation/benefits v. the effort required are so far past what is reasonable.

 

Those situations are created by unions for jobs funded by the public.

 

I'm sure I only see the bad side of unions and miss half the story. I'm definitely jaded by particular ones.

 

On the whole I lean towards being anti-union. I've always worked in the private sector so if my employer decides to make redundancies then tough s***. While I appreciate that unions can help people have rights, I do think they go too far in many instances - e.g. the transport unions in Europe are f***ed because they won't accept that modern trains don't need as many people to run them, so the unions are always striking when cuts are proposed.

 

IMO union strikes shouldn't be allowed for public services like emergency services and transport.

 

Specifically in baseball, a union for umpires just creates a cartel. It's unnecessary and discourages advances that would help the game (like video tech, and sacking Angel Hernandez).

[TheHurl]

It's April 4th and Jacob deGrom is up to 1 fWAR.

 

He's 2-0...the old timers can stop complaining about his team hating him now and just call him elite. Meanwhile ... Matt Boyd is the new DeGrom.

[Brownie19]

On the whole I lean towards being anti-union. I've always worked in the private sector so if my employer decides to make redundancies then tough s***. While I appreciate that unions can help people have rights, I do think they go too far in many instances - e.g. the transport unions in Europe are f***ed because they won't accept that modern trains don't need as many people to run them, so the unions are always striking when cuts are proposed.

 

IMO union strikes shouldn't be allowed for public services like emergency services and transport.

 

Specifically in baseball, a union for umpires just creates a cartel. It's unnecessary and discourages advances that would help the game (like video tech, and sacking Angel Hernandez).

 

Interesting story. I'm working with a Town to redevelop their Main Street. Currently, parking is paid using the old school meters that you have to pop coins into. Of course under the new design we explored pay and display meters that accept credit cards and ones that can even be refilled using an app. We present this to the Town and the comment comes back that we may not be able to do that because the meter maid's job indicates that she handles money some f***ing nonsense about how we can't change that or the union may consider it unfit.

 

I fully expect there's a way around this - and this is obviously just a one-off, insane example - but the notion that this was an issue in the first place is embarrassing.

[Deadpool]

I must not understand them and would love to learn more. I'm sure there are lots that work really well, but all I ever see is a system without any incentive to improve or be better at your job, which ultimately creates a group of people who do the bare minimum - while protecting the absolute dog f***ers and/or incompetent ones (like Ron Kulpa). We all know those jobs where people say "if you get in there - you're set for life!". Those are the jobs with thousands of people who are trained and waiting - just waiting for their opportunity to get in because the compensation/benefits v. the effort required are so far past what is reasonable.

 

Those situations are created by unions for jobs funded by the public.

 

I'm sure I only see the bad side of unions and miss half the story. I'm definitely jaded by particular ones.

 

At their core, unions exist to protect employees from the capriciousness of employers. Unions are the reason why the 5 day/40 hour work week exists, why we have anti-child labour laws, why we have many workplace safety laws etc. The labour movement created the middle class and ended the "gilded age" (to a degree). The degradation of unions is one of the main reasons why income inequality is exploding.

 

Individual unions may be bad (I've been in two that did virtually nothing "directly" for me, one that was amazing) and they CAN allow for poor workers to be protected (though, they don't always) but what they have done for the working class is undeniable.

 

For the record: I'm not currently in a union, and haven't been for almost 2 decades. My field really doesn't do "unions" 'cause my field is full of selfish John Galt types, but if an I.T. union ever formed, I'd be right in there.

 

And to avoid creating a second long-winded reply, I'll agree with Bobthe4th that strikes shouldn't be allowed for (some) public services. Unions are more than strikes though, collective bargaining is, historically, an important way to level the playing field for the workers.

[TheHurl]

Interesting story. I'm working with a Town to redevelop their Main Street. Currently, parking is paid using the old school meters that you have to pop coins into. Of course under the new design we explored pay and display meters that accept credit cards and ones that can even be refilled using an app. We present this to the Town and the comment comes back that we may not be able to do that because the meter maid's job indicates that she handles money some f***ing nonsense about how we can't change that or the union may consider it unfit.

 

I fully expect there's a way around this - and this is obviously just a one-off, insane example - but the notion that this was an issue in the first place is embarrassing.

 

That's not union issues that is municipal govt. In a roundabout way I'm working for my 5th municipality now and every single day you see something that just makes you shake your head.

[Brownie19]

That's not union issues that is municipal govt. In a roundabout way I'm working for my 5th municipality now and every single day you see something that just makes you shake your head.

 

well they framed it as it's in their defined scope of work and the union won't let you change that. But yes - municipal politics makes me sick....but isn't that a reflection of an entire network made up of union employees who have no incentive to make things better? It certainly comes off that their priority is to avoid a catastrophe that would get them fired instead of making improvements.

 

Also - I just realised how sexist my original post came off "meter maid" and "she handles money" - what an insensitive dick I am.

[Brownie19]

At their core, unions exist to protect employees from the capriciousness of employers. Unions are the reason why the 5 day/40 hour work week exists, why we have anti-child labour laws, why we have many workplace safety laws etc. The labour movement created the middle class and ended the "gilded age" (to a degree). The degradation of unions is one of the main reasons why income inequality is exploding.

 

Individual unions may be bad (I've been in two that did virtually nothing "directly" for me, one that was amazing) and they CAN allow for poor workers to be protected (though, they don't always) but what they have done for the working class is undeniable.

 

For the record: I'm not currently in a union, and haven't been for almost 2 decades. My field really doesn't do "unions" 'cause my field is full of selfish John Galt types, but if an I.T. union ever formed, I'd be right in there.

 

And to avoid creating a second long-winded reply, I'll agree with Bobthe4th that strikes shouldn't be allowed for (some) public services. Unions are more than strikes though, collective bargaining is, historically, an important way to level the playing field for the workers.

 

Interesting - and some good points. The issue for me is that instead of working to "even the playing field" - a lot of unions (that are in the public eye) push well beyond a reasonable level. Ontario is broke - the most in debt province/state in North America, yet the teachers continue to push and threaten for higher wages/benefits. They are some of the highest paid educators in North America.

 

Now instead of cutting them back (which we know would create chaos and strikes), we're forced to change the educational system to try and create efficiencies and save money. Larger classes, less funding, etc. - which of course the teachers are now all up in arms about. From someone who's admittedly overly educated on the situation, it certainly appears we're in this position because the union pushed wages/benefits so far past a "level playing field". They've created this issue. Don't believe it - go look at the lineup of substitutes waiting patiently to jump on the gravy train.

 

Unions aren't paid to make it fair to the employee and the employer - they are paid to suck every ounce of benefit out of it for their respective party. I guess that's why each side comes to the table - but the fighting over what's fair just seems so unproductive.

[Brownie19]

Matt Boyd's FIP is -0.07. That's a negative folks.

[Boxcar]

As someone who keeps exotic pets, municipal bylaws control the ability to keep certain animals and most of them reek of someone writing them because they had nothing better to do. For example, and this city is one of the worst, London has a bylaw with a 12/24 rule for reptiles. This means you are not allowed to own lizards that are longer than 12" (so adult bearded dragons are illegal to own) and no snakes longer than 24", which essentially limits you to garter snakes. Why? Because f*** you, that's why.

 

When I was looking for a house, it came down to Guelph or Cambridge and now that I'm going to be moving to Cambridge, I'm supposed to somehow get rid of all of my arachnids. Why the government cares so much about legally acquired, captive bred, harmless pets while letting people own dogs is beyond my understanding. Municipal governments are filled with morons on power trips.

[Carlos Danger]

At their core, unions exist to protect employees from the capriciousness of employers. Unions are the reason why the 5 day/40 hour work week exists, why we have anti-child labour laws, why we have many workplace safety laws etc. The labour movement created the middle class and ended the "gilded age" (to a degree). The degradation of unions is one of the main reasons why income inequality is exploding.

 

Individual unions may be bad (I've been in two that did virtually nothing "directly" for me, one that was amazing) and they CAN allow for poor workers to be protected (though, they don't always) but what they have done for the working class is undeniable.

 

For the record: I'm not currently in a union, and haven't been for almost 2 decades. My field really doesn't do "unions" 'cause my field is full of selfish John Galt types, but if an I.T. union ever formed, I'd be right in there.

 

And to avoid creating a second long-winded reply, I'll agree with Bobthe4th that strikes shouldn't be allowed for (some) public services. Unions are more than strikes though, collective bargaining is, historically, an important way to level the playing field for the workers.

 

Unions advocate for issues, however the two examples you have are laws that were passed by legislative bodies, not parts of a CBA. Child labor laws are an international issue and there are international laws. The work week is set by the law of whatever country etc.

 

Unions also force inefficiency and waste, increase costs that have nothing to do with worker's rights. This isn't the 1920s anymore where Unions had their place...

[Brownie19]

As someone who keeps exotic pets, municipal bylaws control the ability to keep certain animals and most of them reek of someone writing them because they had nothing better to do. For example, and this city is one of the worst, London has a bylaw with a 12/24 rule for reptiles. This means you are not allowed to own lizards that are longer than 12" (so adult bearded dragons are illegal to own) and no snakes longer than 24", which essentially limits you to garter snakes. Why? Because f*** you, that's why.

 

When I was looking for a house, it came down to Guelph or Cambridge and now that I'm going to be moving to Cambridge, I'm supposed to somehow get rid of all of my arachnids. Why the government cares so much about legally acquired, captive bred, harmless pets while letting people own dogs is beyond my understanding. Municipal governments are filled with morons on power trips.

 

That's simple Boxy. Exotic pets are creepy. Nobody wants to live next to creepy guys with 5 foot long pet snakes.

[The Cats Ass]

Interesting story. I'm working with a Town to redevelop their Main Street. Currently, parking is paid using the old school meters that you have to pop coins into. Of course under the new design we explored pay and display meters that accept credit cards and ones that can even be refilled using an app. We present this to the Town and the comment comes back that we may not be able to do that because the meter maid's job indicates that she handles money some f***ing nonsense about how we can't change that or the union may consider it unfit.

 

I fully expect there's a way around this - and this is obviously just a one-off, insane example - but the notion that this was an issue in the first place is embarrassing.

 

What about the meters that take coins and work off of an app? That way everyone is happy.

[The Cats Ass]

As someone who keeps exotic pets, municipal bylaws control the ability to keep certain animals and most of them reek of someone writing them because they had nothing better to do. For example, and this city is one of the worst, London has a bylaw with a 12/24 rule for reptiles. This means you are not allowed to own lizards that are longer than 12" (so adult bearded dragons are illegal to own) and no snakes longer than 24", which essentially limits you to garter snakes. Why? Because f*** you, that's why.

 

When I was looking for a house, it came down to Guelph or Cambridge and now that I'm going to be moving to Cambridge, I'm supposed to somehow get rid of all of my arachnids. Why the government cares so much about legally acquired, captive bred, harmless pets while letting people own dogs is beyond my understanding. Municipal governments are filled with morons on power trips.

 

You'll just have to crop the tails on your snakes and lizards.

[Brownie19]

What about the meters that take coins and work off of an app? That way everyone is happy.

 

They literally told me that meters that take everything (coins, cards & work off apps) have less coins and these could be considered a reduction to their scope of work or some s*** like that. I almost got up an left I was so dumbfounded.

[Boxcar]

That's simple Boxy. Exotic pets are creepy. Nobody wants to live next to creepy guys with 5 foot long pet snakes.

 

I'd rather live next to that guy than the guy with an aggressive Rottweiler.

[P2F]

BTS, I trust you're keeping close tabs on the Detroit pitcher today.