Why has Scott Boras infiltrated as far as he has in this (significant) sport?..?

Question

Does he really think he can play off the "owners" that way? Like all anyone cares about is money? That proposal of his I read for a 9-game world series to increase owner revenues was not only striking--I was flabbergasted that baseball would even consider such a guy? Of course there is SO much more to baseball than money, and to ask for something like that requires very good reason, and then for it to be so crass and usury, I couldn't believe the guy was a baseball heavyweight?

But I mean, I knew of his history of "getting the most" for the players, and I thought, jerkishness. But this was different.

Anyway, the guy's a megalomaniac, and he's no good. And I'm fairly new to the sport, but I've a couple times now, after watching a game, sat out on the porch late at night , with a smoke, and contemplated, "In baseball, as in life.." So I hope it all works out for the best.

It's a fairly strange thing, to even use the word "owner", chattel, highly-paid chattel. I was thinking about it last night, like a vestige of slavery or something? But then the players are getting (highly) paid, and have a lot of reverse, perverse power? Anyway, it's a beautiful sport, and the players out on the field, actually experiencing life, are the ones out there, actually ..etc.. What kid ever had a heartfelt memory of watching, etc..

Answer 1

One simple word "GREED." The players allow it because instead of making only 5 or 6 million a year, Boras pushes it to 12 mil per year. They don't take into consideration the "good of the sport." Just their pocket books.

But I guess I can't blame them too much, it would be hard to live on only 6 million dollars per year.

Answer 2

Isn't it ironic that just about thirty-five years ago before free agency the owners had such economic domination and needed a guy like Marvin Miller to fight for prosperity. Now with the likes of Scott Boras, the players have it so much over the owners. Baseball agents right now do not see their clients getting the off the field opportunities that football agents are getting and would like baseball to resot to gimmicks like "neutral site" world series games, No weekend world series because TV is down on Saturday nights, and silly stuff like that. I think these agents should be happy with their 5-10% and leave the game alone. I am sure if you ran into a Phillie fan and mentioned Scott Boras five minutes of four letters words would come out. (The J.D. Drew debacle)

Answer 3

I think anyone who writes Boras off as greedy needs to view baseball in a historical context. For over a century, the owners treated players like chattel, keeping all the profits for themselves.

As a former minor-leaguer turned lawyer, Boras is only doing what he's hired to do - get the most money for his clients. It's not his fault that the owners brought a strong players' union on themselves through years of mistreatment, and it's not his fault that people like Tom Hicks are willing to throw $252 million at players like Alex Rodriguez. Sure, he's a tough bargainer, but that's why players hire him. And he understands the uncertainty of professional sports careers, which is another incentive for cashing in when you can.

I don't think the owners should listen to him regarding the World Series proposal, but neither would I consider him usury or crass. In interviews, he comes across as honest and straightforward, but it's almost like he's too good at what he does, and he's an easy scapegoat for the owners.

The fingers should not be pointed at the players or at agents like Boras - they should be pointed at the owners and fans. As long as we willfully continue to throw cash for admission, TV packages, and merchandise, why shouldn't Boras try to get that cash for his clients?

I would agree, though, about the megalomaniac comment - that seems to have been progressing over the years. I guess power does corrupt!

EDIT - I agree, the players may now be too powerful, kind of a reversal of the old system. The MLB players' association will never give in to the owners, because they've got such a good track record of beating them in everything for the past 30 years. I believe everything must come to a head at some point, but the current collective bargaining agreement, I believe, still has four years left. At that point, maybe we'll see some sanity?

Answer 4

He's a greedy parasite and the owners are frightened of him because of the top players he represents. Agents should be thrown out of sports.