Thread: Article: The Stress of the Trade Deadline

Originally Posted by YourHouseIsMyHouse

Frankie wants to play for the Twins and I want him to play for the Twins. What is coming between us?

I'd guess money...

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Understood, but 99% of the non-players would not mind if their employer traded them to a team in Antarctica, if they were making a few million a year or even half a million minimum wage to play a kid's sport. Trenton is not too bad actually if you are in the right place during day time. And the ball park is pretty nice.

most kids aren't striking out in front of 30k people and having to answer for it in the court of public opinion. not to mention that ballplayers have shown that they're in the elite 0.01% of humanity in terms of hand-eye coordination. i get that being a ballplayer could be a really fun career but it's also super hard for all but a half dozen players so the argument of it being a "kid's sport" is lazy, imo.

Originally Posted by Vervehound

most kids aren't striking out in front of 30k people and having to answer for it in the court of public opinion. not to mention that ballplayers have shown that they're in the elite 0.01% of humanity in terms of hand-eye coordination. i get that being a ballplayer could be a really fun career but it's also super hard for all but a half dozen players so the argument of it being a "kid's sport" is lazy, imo.

Yeah, I agree that I think there is plenty of stress just playing the game for these players, i.e. each at bat, the press etc, the idea that you may be traded should be at the bottom of that list IMHO.

Having moved and changed jobs on a number of occasion, I think it is safe to say that it is a stressful experience. I realize that these guys aren't facing circumstances like what Jason Marquis faced earlier this season, but that doesn't take away from the stress of the situation. Add to it that these guys basically live out of a suitcase from April to October, which is hardly a cakewalk. The idea that this is simply a kids game and is unstressful is rather lazy if you ask me. These guys are people who have to deal with families, travel, and everything else just like the rest of us. Just because they make a lot of money doesn't somehow make these issues go away.

Going back to some of the earlier comments about stress, I actually think that stress is feeling like you don't have control of the situation.

So, to me, Span's situation would be more stressful than Liriano's because Span is locked into a contract through 2014 -- and has no ability to make his own choices until after that season. Liriano becomes a free agent after this season so regardless of what happens, he only has to live with it for a few months.

And, some people have a greater need for control than others -- usually these are also people who don't react well to change becaue it affects their control (that is control over their own circumstances not necessarily control over others).

I have a feeling from his tweets last year that Span may be someone who needs that control -- it may be part of why he wanted to sign a long-term contract (considered by many to be team-friendly even at the time) in the first place. It gave him some certainty over a period of time.

And that is also why all the talk of trades might be more stressful to him than it might be to others in the same situation.

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Yeah, I agree that I think there is plenty of stress just playing the game for these players, i.e. each at bat, the press etc, the idea that you may be traded should be at the bottom of that list IMHO.

I disagree. Playing in front of crowds and handling the press is something that the players train for -- and it becomes routine. Since they know what to expect, the stress level is minimized.

Dealing with a family situation (as Marquis did) or being traded is a whole different thing. It is stressful because you have no way of knowing what will happen.

And each person's view on this question may well depend upon how much of a control freak you are personally. (Since I am one, that may well explain why I think not having a say in where you will be for the next few years would be incredibly stressful)

Originally Posted by gil4

Chief, you work with people who move all the time. The shorter the notice, the more stress. More money doesn't necessarily reduce the stress, although they obviously have more resources to throw at the stressors. It's still difficult to pick up and move, whether you're an A1C with a wife and kid, a Major married to a Captain with no kids, or a ballplayer making $1M+.

The military member is going to have a few days to take care of business; the ballplayer is going to be expected to be in uniform in Toronto (or wherever) the next night.

Fair points, and I understand being told today you're working in another city tomorrow can't be fun. I still think people are making way too much of this.

Is it too stressful for them when they're told theyre leaving Rochester on the next flight to Minneapolis? Perhaps all in season promotions should come with two weeks notice?

A major leaguer getting traded is going to have the team pick up the expenses, have a flunky waiting to help him find a place to live, have his personal effects packed up and shipped by others, etc etc.

Maybe I'm just a cynical old bastard, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for pampered millionaires getting "stressed" over something they signed up for.

Originally Posted by JB_Iowa

I disagree. Playing in front of crowds and handling the press is something that the players train for -- and it becomes routine. Since they know what to expect, the stress level is minimized.

Dealing with a family situation (as Marquis did) or being traded is a whole different thing. It is stressful because you have no way of knowing what will happen.

And each person's view on this question may well depend upon how much of a control freak you are personally. (Since I am one, that may well explain why I think not having a say in where you will be for the next few years would be incredibly stressful)

I'm sorry what is the purpose of bringing up what happened to Marquis? What does that have to do with a player being traded? Are you comparing the potential death of a child to being potentially having to move to another city?

Shouldn't've backed off Chief. If the coaches can't handle their agony in a few sentences they should just laminate your comment and hand it to them. Their stress is pretty much the same stress I feel when I get a piece of road tar on my motorcycle.

Makes me think of the old Martin Mull song "Rich Man's Blues"..."I felt so low down I threw my drink across the lawn."

No, I'm not comparing it. Someone else brought up Marquis earlier.

Of course the stress of dealing with an injured child (or spouse or parent or other loved one) is greater than the stress of moving to another city.

But changing jobs or moving to another location is a pretty high stress factor as I recall from all those cute little lists they publish from time to time on life's stressors. And, even when it is by choice, its not really routine.

My point was that most at bats for a player (even in front of 30,000 fans) are somewhat routine. Does that mean that he doesn't get stressed? Of course not. And SOME at bat situations are very stressful, I'm sure.

But overall, I think that the possibility of being traded -- and in having no say in where you go -- is probably more stressful than routine at bats for which the player has trained.

Why its not correct to compare our jobs getting transferred to baseball is players only play 6/7month seasons....they still go home for 5months & dont work....do workout but its not work.

Originally Posted by JB_Iowa

But changing jobs or moving to another location is a pretty high stress factor as I recall from all those cute little lists they publish from time to time on life's stressors. And, even when it is by choice, its not really routine.

I have moved states like 5 or 6 times in my life, only once was due to choice. I'd say the majority of people in this country have had to as well. It's really not that stressful.

These guys are professionals, if they are concerned with outside issues (such as being the rumor of trades) they should keep it inside and continue to do their jobs. Just like everyone else is expected to do in their day to day lives.

I still think the stress of playing in front of 40k fans and millions on TV is much greater then "oh we might have to move soon"

Pro sports is like musical chairs, the game show. Denard should realize that, along with every other player. Play hard, and then hope you get to sit with a good team for awhile, and make some money.

Originally Posted by USAFChief

Is it too stressful for them when they're told theyre leaving Rochester on the next flight to Minneapolis?

I'm sure the flight in the other direction is much more stressful, especially since it usually comes with a major pay cut. (I'm sure the cut from the MLB minimum to the pittance most minor leaguers make is pretty painful.)

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

I still think the stress of playing in front of 40k fans and millions on TV is much greater then "oh we might have to move soon"

That is something I think you can get used to, especially after years of being watched. In my experience, real stress sneaks up on you. Worrying that your kid needs to move from his friends ( or be raised by an absentee father). Worrying your wife is alone or that her support network is in jeapordy or that her parents are going to call her worrying about the latest rumors & whether that means the grand kids are moving away. Ths is the stuff that hits you when you aren't looking, that you can't control.

That doesnt mean they need our pity, and that's not what the story was saying. It just men's it's silly to think this stuff means NOTHING to them. It probably does, and they likely can't help but have it affect them.

I enjoyed the article and agree that the "cloud" of a trade rumor could be stressful. Just because someone makes a lot of money and has flunkies to do the grunt work does not mean that he won't be stressed by some of the consequences of being traded.

I also agree with those who believe that it is good business to treat your employees with respect and with concern for their personal lives. As fans, we expect players to give 110% for the team. If the team perceives that the GM is a coldblooded *******, I think that this could hurt team morale. But if the GM genuinely cares about every player as a human being, then this could build loyalty. My sense is that Terry Ryan seems to feel this way. Here is a quote from a recent article from the Twins website where Ryan talks about losing the opportunity to trade Capps and Pavano:

But Ryan refused to look at the injuries as a lost opportunity for the Twins, as he's more worried about them coming back healthy.

"I wouldn't be worried about trade chips when it comes to a guy's health," Ryan said.

Here is the link to the full article.


I understand that baseball is a business and that the GM sometimes has to make a tough decision. But I think that players will play harder when they think that the GM genuinely cares about them as human beings.