Life in the Majors

Not sure why this story interested me, but nonetheless, I thought I would pass some of it along.

Life in the Majors.

It wasn't that long ago that Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! catcher John Baker was making $15,000 per season in the minor leagues, then working two jobs in the offseason to make ends meet.

Baker, who spent six years in the minors before being called up last July, is now making the major league minimum of $400,000.

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"Travel is a lot nicer," said Baker, recounting the schedule in the Pacific Coast League that had players getting up at 3 a.m. to get to the New Orleans airport to catch a Southwest flight that would make two stops before getting to Tacoma.

"You've been up 12 hours when you get to the hotel and you have time to drop off your bags, then head for the stadium," Baker said. "It's difficult to feel good physically every day and play."

The Marlins use charter planes that get them to their destination as quickly as possible.

And those hotels are different, too.

"You go from Motel 6s to Ritz Carltons," said relief pitcher Brian Sanches, another minor league veteran.

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And unlike the minors, having a roommate is not allowed, a rule written into the collective bargaining agreement, which also calls for first-class accommodations.

"When I first got called up, I didn't know we didn't have roommates. I got my key and checked my room expecting someone to be there, but I saw this king-sized bed all for myself, and thought, 'This is nice. I could get used to this,'" rookie outfielder Brett Carroll said.

I read the CBA and I don't remember seeing the roommate clause, but then again, after my eyes glazed over about a third of the way through it, I can't say I remember much of anything about it.

Not only do the players get first-class accommodations, the Marlins also provide the perk of putting them up in any haunted hotel they can find.  Talk about a win-win.

Read the whole article, it will give an you idea of the differences between being in Triple-A and being in the Majors.