FO, just took in one player called up from Kane County last week, and one moved up to Midland on Sunday.
a lot of movement this time of year.
EH

If everybody whose has a son in the minors wants to send me an e-mail with their son's name, MLB affiliation, and minor league assignment, I will put a list together, including a website link for their team, and try to figure a way to get it on a thread (I am sure Julie will help me with that).

My public e-mail address: mrsmarvls@yahoo.com

Mary Ann

My son Chris McConnell is in Wilmington De. He is a Blue Rock, which are the Royals.

Its nice when a team has host families, when my son was in short season his team didn't have hosts, home was a motel room and you ate all your meals out. He also rode a bike

nj... DANG... I wanted to cath a Blue Rock game a month ago! I was working with AstraZeneca for a few weeks in Wilmington..... If i'd had known, i would have gone to a game!

Okay, I have the list started. Keep the news coming. (I know I could try and look it all up on recent and past threads, but I tend to be lazyin my old age ... )

Batavia Muckdogs (as Fungo suggests St Loius Cardinals )
NY Penn League

Now that some dust has settled we got a chance to speak with son concerning his summer expenses. I would like to share this info, only so that people understand that once they join the workforce there are realites to deal with, no matter what the situation.
1100 a month, salary paid twice a month, son took out one deduction. Approximately 800+ a month for spending, depending upon NY taxes. His rent is 65 per week, room only not food and I can tell you mine eats alot! Can't go grocery shopping with a bike so he has been eating most meals out but we insisted on healthy choices so his meals are not inexpensive. He will try to get to the grocery store on his day off (whenever that may be) to pick up some things. I suggested that he might ask the man helives with if he could pick him up somethings or get a ride, he said maybe when he gets to know him better. He also has an apartment in Clemson that needs to be taken care of for another 8 months. Since he has no transportation that requires no fuel, we are saving $$ this summer. We are fortunate in the sense that he eventually will be able to have some income that will sustain him for a long time. He will take over his car payments while we still keep him on the phone and insurance (car) plans. We laid down some strict perameters, about spending and basically my son is CHEAP, and he knows that he has to save most of which he will get in bonus money. Although he was given money to finish school, he may need money to live on while he does so, not forced into going back to work if things do not work out. And he will be fortunate that he does not have to work in the off season.
This conversation was brought about by him, as he wanted to learn how to budget himself asap.

Someone posted here once that sending your son off to school costs a lot to support him, I can see sending your son off to play baseball might be the same.

It's an exciting time for any young man and his family, but as your son's draft time approaches these are some of the realities that should be discussed.

Banking can be a bit of a problem,I know of some one who opened a checking account in the local town and was sent up the next day. You really get very little notice,from what I have seen you move out within hours of being told. No time to close accounts. Rental deposits have to be collected from the player who stays till Sept. Good luck.
ATMs,debit cards work best. Walmarts cash pay checks for a fee. Travel light because if you don't have transportation,and if it doesn't fit in a suitcase its staying behind...... equipment bags and suit cases are heavy could cost you extra $$$$ at airport.
Take food with you on road trips because the bus doesn't always stop. and there isn't always a spread waiting at the field.
Fly Southwest when possible, doesn't cost to change flights. Book early and if son is relocated you don't lose your money. I know of a player who planed to fly home during allstar break, his flight was out of Iowa but he was moved to Idaho !

quote:

Take food with you on road trips because the bus doesn't always stop. and there isn't always a spread waiting at the field.

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Fly Southwest when possible, doesn't cost to change flights.

Writin' that all down.

So ya'll gettin' $1100 a month, too?.......

yup, 1100 it is!

Have a question. Are players given transportation back to their respective homes, or just if they are invited to fall instruction? Or is that up to each team or league?

TPM, I think the transportation from and to "home" is included.

Ref banking and that enormous paycheck they all get ... it is difficult for a myriad of reasons, but I would suggest that if possible, the players arrange for a direct deposit into their home account. Ours did that and managed to use his ATM card instead of checks. When it came time to write a check for his room/apt, his host/landlord was accomodating.

Quite a few of the teams, especially at the 'entry' levels (doesn't that sound so much better than 'lower levels'?), have booster organizations that can help with a lot of things ... the one in Lancaster even stored used furniture, tv's etc., so the boys could borrow them during the season. Our son also had situations in at least 2 cities where the players were 'adopted' by a family, who in turn provided travel snacks, gatorade, in some cases even sandwiches (our son was asked what his favorite was and they accomodated) to help with those nasty old bus rides.

By the way, the transportation seems to improve as they get into the higher levels ... Mobile travel buses have satellite so the players can watch live action sports etc., rather than the same movie/DVD they have seen 100 times in the last 3 years.

Just some info FWIW

TPM and FO -- Thanks for sharing your son's experiences. It's fun reading about them and what they are learning.

We are enjoying reading about your son's adventures - thanks TPM and FO!

We have a question - is the $1100 a month just during the season or is it year round?

Thanks!

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Originally posted by curveball07:
We are enjoying reading about your son's adventures - thanks TPM and FO!

We have a question - is the $1100 a month just during the season or is it year round?

Thanks!

You only get paid when you play. No year round employment at this time!

FBM,
This is the first season that Cards have played in Batavia, it was the single season home to the Phillies for years. Not sure if they have embraced them as yet.

Good point about direct deposit, hope there is a Bank Of America close by. Dave was told his contract had to be approved before he is paid and it can take up to two weeks, so he might miss next paycheck.

Future back mom. You mean the DVD player on the bus worked!!!!!!!! in my son's short season team the bus didn't have working air conditioning. wasn't even auto transmission. woke the players up every time he shifted gears.
TPM, The organization arranges players air travel home (to nearest airport)or pays a set amount to the player if he drives, for example son got $475. when he drove from Arizona to NJ. which really doesn't cover gas and lodging.
Players don't get paid for spring training.But they get free room and board

quote:

Players don't get paid for spring training.

Knew that.

quote:

But they get free room and board

Hadn't even thought about that.

"Dad, I'm glad I have played three years of college baseball......."

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If everybody whose has a son in the minors wants to send me an e-mail with their son's name, MLB affiliation, and minor league assignment

I never have been able to put my son's name in that golden thread.

I thought I might if he ever got drafted.

When I thought about sending FBM that email with the information, my fingers wouldn't do it, but I think I realized at that momement that this is a dream, but I have not been asleep and this really has happened...................

FO,
No secret to who your player is!

Our son told us the same thing, he is glad he played college ball. He said that what he has experienced in collge, living on his own first, getting good instruction, playing good competition, growing up has helped him to understand a lot of what he is experiencing now and not too overwhelmed.

FYI. Due to the nature of son's new profession, he has been advised to save all receipts or do all transactions on debit or credit card for future reference. I would imagine there are expenses he can write off.

quote:

FYI. Due to the nature of son's new profession, he has been advised to save all receipts or do all transactions on debit or credit card for future reference. I would imagine there are expenses he can write off.

He can write off expenses made in the earning of his income. These would be expenses he is not reimbersed for by his employer.

Some people even write off expenses for travel ball . Educational ?

You can 'write off' all manner of things.

But if you're audited by the IRS....

Orlando if you can justify it as an expense incurred while earning your income it is writeable. I did US and Canadian tax returns for several NHL players .
There are business lunches and all kinds of things in negotiating contracts etc. Travel that may not be reimbersed ,lunches etc.
Non of my clients were audited.
I guess I shouldn't say I was with a firm that dealt with Alan Eagleson when negotiating contracts. He is out of jail I hear.