How do you sleep?

[RABID FAN]

Life on the road is tough in the minor leagues.Players trade off who gets the bed and who gets the floor. Wow, we wonder ,if a team owner takes in 10,000 to 35,000 dollars a night, does it seem TO YOU that the under paid players on the road could have beds to sleep in? This is a huge disadvantage for the team on the road.Two weeks a month some U L B players LIVE LIKE the homeless in Los Angeles and sleep on the groud of some hotel room.Wait ,I'm sorry the homeless get beds at a hospice in L.A. These guys give it their all to the fans and the game. Hat's off to them. Make sure you have sunscreen on your bald head when you tip your hat.Wait, let's have a 'guarantee a bed for your FAVORITE PLAYER NIGHT '.THAT WILL BRING THE FANS OUT.

[Thorp]

You have played minor league baseball also? It's tough being on the road with little money to eat on,and it must be within walking distance,even after the games. You're tired,hungry and just want to go to sleep on a bed. How come these players aren't sleeping in the hotel's on beds? These young men play hard every day with the dreams of getting picked up by affiliated ball. A lack of beds isn't good news for these guys.

[Scooterman]

Life on the road is tough in the minor leagues.Players trade off who gets the bed and who gets the floor. Wow, we wonder ,if a team owner takes in 10,000 to 35,000 dollars a night, does it seem TO YOU that the under paid players on the road could have beds to sleep in? This is a huge disadvantage for the team on the road.Two weeks a month some U L B players LIVE LIKE the homeless in Los Angeles and sleep on the groud of some hotel room.Wait ,I'm sorry the homeless get beds at a hospice in L.A. These guys give it their all to the fans and the game. Hat's off to them. Make sure you have sunscreen on your bald head when you tip your hat.Wait, let's have a 'guarantee a bed for your FAVORITE PLAYER NIGHT '.THAT WILL BRING THE FANS OUT.

Dude, where do you get this stuff? I'm thinking that even if they are putting more than 4 players in a room, then all they have to do is ask for a portable bed, most every hotel I've ever stayed in have them. By the way there are no team owners in the ULB, the league owns all of the teams. I know that here in Alexandria they have an official team hotel which gives the league a special rate so that they can afford to give each visiting team enough rooms for their players. In fact in the past the rates were so good that many of the Aces players lived there full time during the season.

[Thorp]

What is the name of the hotel?

[Scooterman]

They have used the McAutur Inn in the past, I am not sure if that is the place they are using now. I know that in the past the team had even gotten apartments for their own players in a rather upscale complex here at a reduced rate for the season. Maybe the teams that are having problems finding a place for thier players to sleep should take a look at the people runnig thier team. I used to drive a tow truck and have had the chance to tow cars for many of the players in the past. I have picked them up from these places, and talked to them enough to know what their living situation was. Also one of the biggest supporters of the team owns a repair shop and always gives the players as much help as possible.

[Thorp]

Sounds like you enjoy the team. Why would you have to tow the players cars?

[Steed Fanatic]

man its called paying your dues....

[Thorp]

Have these young men done something wrong?

[BroncoBill]

Our players (Broncos) stay in hotel rooms and ALL of them have beds plus they get per diem pay for food. None of them are starving and none of them are sleeping on the floor. Moreover, we have our players staying at the dorms at TAMIU during the season and again, none of them are sleeping on the floor. Granted, road games can be long and tough, especially when you get into 6, 9 and 12 game road trips but they get paid and per diem and don't sleep on the floor. It's minor league baseball. I also have an agreement with GNC to provide a bag for the player(s) of the week with sports supplements, proteins, vitamins, etc so that players can get their supps for free if they're the POW. They also get a discount when they go into the store. Also, we and most teams have agreements with several local restaurants where players get discounted meals. We're not slave drivers and not subjecting the players to poor living conditions, starving them, etc. We do everything we can to take care of our players because obviously without them, there is no baseball team.

[Kgriff Fan]

Kevin Griffin, current catcher for Whitewings (by the way, BroncoBill, can you hurry and trade for Kevin Griffin and after a few games trade him to Edinburgh so he can complete the coveted "Team Cycle"- playing for all ULB teams in a single season?...just kidding). Anyway, Kgriff coaches our 10:U travel team here in Florida and he told us all about life in Independent ball and he described it just as Bronco Bill said. The traveling for long road trips was tough (especially in a state the size of Texas) but he loves it and says they are treated well.

This year, he has been traded so many times he has had to leave his truck with the previous team...Thorp, maybe that is why they need towing, they don't have time to get it after they've been traded. ???

[Thorp]

These young men are well taken care of. The road trips are difficult,Texas is large. Can't imagine the players having to leave their vehicles behind though?

[RABID FAN]

What I wrote is the truth. It may not happen all the time,but it did this time. Just ask Buddy. They probably did not want to pay for an extra bed. They are not free. I'm glad this stirs debate. Maybe some teams have it better than others. People should not get upset over hearing these things. I enjoy following the teams and players in the U L B. This league has a way to go to get to the level of media representation that other minor leagues have. If seemingly unfair things could not be true ,then they SHOULD NOT Be because they are true. I have nothing to gain reporting this except knowing more people have heard the truth.

[Scooterman]

How do I ask Buddy? Does he play for a team in the league? What city did this happen in? Maybe someone should contact Craig Brasfield, he is the GM of the league, I'm sure he could rectify the problem.

[Thorp]

This is a baseball league with real live people. This is not a boot camp.

[Thorp]

The troops must be ok.

[BroncoBill]

I don't know why a player would have to leave his vehicle behind when he was traded/released. As for when they're on the road, I have a set up with our local school district police who allow the players to park their vehicles in the parking lot of the school district police station where there is 24 hour security. During the summer, the parking lot see little use except for the skeleton crew of ISD officers working. It's a great resource and they do it for free. We also allow players to store many of their belongings at our homes. I have stuff from several players in my garage and extra bedroom, along with a player who lives with me during the season.

Again, we do all we can to accomodate the players and make their life as easy as possible during the season. They play hard for us and we work hard for them.

[parkerbrooke]

Some players are going to complain, especially rookies who are making hardly any money, but, they choose to play this game, and you have to work your way up.

My husband plays for the dillas and he has never said anything about not having a bed or not having anywhere to park his car, or whatever else. He has always had a bed, and from what I am told, so does everyone else.

Independant baseball isn't like being in a major league organization, but I think the united league is doing the best they can.

Happy Baseball

GO DILLAS!:)

[RABID FAN]

One needs to ask more than one Dilla. Let the truth be known.

[preeths]

Um, I think the truth has been made known. Some are just slower to accept it than others.

[parkerbrooke]

Thank you Preeths!! What is the deal. I have talked to more than one dilla and a few Aces, they aren't complaining.

Like I said earlier, these guys chose to play. I am not saying it's easy for them, but it's not that bad.

Happy Baseball!!!

GO DILLAS :razz:

[RABID FAN]

I know what I've written is true. Ask Buddy B. Players on the floor. I'M NOT SAYING NAMES, JUST FACTS. Personal attacks are not my game. Baseball is. Smiley faced icons are for 1st grade homework. Humour mixed with facts= RABID FAN. Later.

[parkerbrooke]

wait....are you talking about them sleeping on the floor in their apartments or on the road in hotels??

[parkerbrooke]

there are no personal attacks. I just think there are different circumstances for different players. Players that come in later in the season may have to squeeze into an already packed apartment. That's just life.

[preeths]

Life, and minor league baseball. For some reason, this guy has an axe to grind with ULB, but it's pretty easy to see through his heavily veiled accusations. This in minor league baseball, and players aren't going to be treated like they are in the majors. These teams have to operate on very tight budgets. Everyone should know that going in. Almost everyone does.

[Scooterman]

I would still like to know what town this happened in, and if it happened more than once. I will be attending a game or two at Bringhurst this weekend, and Craig Brasfield is a regular there. If I had some real facts I could maybe talk to him about the problem.

[Fells]

Try being a broadcaster for a minor league team. For a semi-pro football game tomorrow night, I think I am sleeping in the luggage bay on the bus........

[Kgriff Fan]

That's funny!