Show Me The Money!

[Wolf Hopper]

Money don't get everything it's true.
What it don't get I can't use.
So gimme money (that's what I want)
A little money (that's what I want)
That's what I want, ye-ye-yeh,
That's what I want.

Because he finished 10th in the 2003 MVP ballot, Seattle second baseman Bret Boone gets an automatic $250,000 raise to $8.25 million.

Earlier this month, Pedro Martinez got $500,000 for finishing third in the 2003 AL Cy Young race.

If you were a player, would you rather win the award or get the most money out of those on the ballot - and the heck with actually winning the thing?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Easiest question ever: win the award. Being the best is what you should be playing for -- well, that and winning.

Besides, the money is already there, and if you win the award, you will surely get more of it.

[Craig S.]

The award, without a doubt. You're already being more than fairly compensated financially, so any monetary benefit would be gravy. Getting paid is part of the job, but winning is what it's really about for any kind of competitor.

[Left Field]

Well, it's unanimous so far!

[Domeboys]

Another way to look at Boone's bonus is a 3% increase. Would you give up 3% of your salary to be recognized forever as the best among your peers for one year? A no-brainer in my book.

[mkempton]

Well, I accidentally voted for the award, but I'm not sure which I really think. Sitting here at my job watching 20 people get whacked today (with more tomorrow), I'm thinking the money is more important. But maybe at that level, the award is. I just can't fathom any award in my line of work that would be more important than a guaranteed contact worth millions. It's my skewed point of view, for sure. Ideally, the award matters more, yes.

[rico_p]

When you make that much money, I'll bet that's what sits around getting dusty. mkempton, you make a good point about us regular Joes, but I just can't imagine another $250,000 changes these guys' lives in any real way.

Another thing to consider is that the monetary rewards for winning are probably higher than those for coming in 3rd, right? So wouldn't players want to win the awards both for the trophies and the money?

[mkempton]

When you make that much money, I'll bet that's what sits around getting dusty. mkempton, you make a good point about us regular Joes, but I just can't imagine another $250,000 changes these guys' lives in any real way.

Another thing to consider is that the monetary rewards for winning are probably higher than those for coming in 3rd, right? So wouldn't players want to win the awards both for the trophies and the money?


I misread the email. My bad. Definitely the award. I thought it was "would you like a big contract or the award?" Yes, if it's just the cash incentive for finishing in X place, definitely the award.

[Wolf Hopper]

I misread the email. My bad. Definitely the award. I thought it was "would you like a big contract or the award?" Yes, if it's just the cash incentive for finishing in X place, definitely the award.

So, in the end, your vote was right! ;)

[Skip]

I'll take the award anytime. Unless something is totally screwy, if I'm good enough for the award I'm making darn fine money anyway - or willl soon. Not the best poll since the items arent really exclusive.

[rico_p]

I think this poll would be really interesting if we could get players to answer it, and to be honest, too. It's really easy for all of us to say "Give me the award," when we know we're not really choosing to turn down hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Seems to me as a player, you're going to be remembered more for your awards than for your bonuses, but players are constantly doing things that baffle me, so maybe they don't care about their legacies, at least not while they're playing.

[manny tortolero]

If Boone has that huge bonus money (US$ 250K is the 75% of the last season's salary of Aubrey Huff, who puts very similar numbers than Boone) because he finnished 10th in the voting :eek: , I ask myself if their agents are doing any kind of lobby keeping the name of their players in the news all what they can, because only one vote of difference can means good money for them. :eek:
I think that the award is the main goal , not those bonus, but with so wide range of reward due his numbers, some players can be playing only to get good figures at the end of the season.
Manny

[guerinto]

If you get the awards, the money will come anyway.

An award is a guarantee that you will be immortalized as one of the best.

[JamesI]

I'll take being MVP rather than 500000 for coming in third.
Anyone who wins MVP either makes a fortune or will make a fortune so, they don't need the bonus.

[LisaG]

i might could have a skewed perspective, being a housewife with very little spare cash (thank you kidz) but truthfully, even tho i voted for dough, i guess it would depend on my salary. if i were earning the major league minimum, extra dough would be great. on the other hand, once you earn 25 mill, what on earth difference would a few extra thou make, so then i'd rather have the trophy. but i guess i'm somewhat of a hypocrite saying i'd rather have $$$ cuz i married someone i liked instead of finding someone with $$$

[LisaG]

one more thought. if you win in, say your rookie year, when you're only getting the minimum, you can't be sure that you won't have a carreer ending injury and never get the big contract, so it would only make sense to take the $$$ at that point instead of an award.

[TimmyB]

I thought to myself... what would I do if I were really in their shoes? I voted for the $$$.

[Rice4HOF]

Actually.... neither. (although I wouldn't turn down the $).

Seriously... I play ball. Sure it's non-competitive, recreational, mixed beer-league slo-pitch type of stuff, so I concede that it's somewhat different than the MLB. But, what I want the most is... TO WIN. I'd rather go 0-5 with 4Ks, and 3 defensive errors, and have our team win the game, than go 4-5 with a grand slam, a couple of defensive gems, and lose the game. So... to me personal awards don't mean anything. I would trade them all in for a championship, and I'd guess most major leaguers would too. I bet A-Rod would rather have a ring on his finger right now than the MVP trophy.

(I know that's not what the question asked, but I just felt like venting... thanx for the opportunity) ;)

[Domeboys]

one more thought. if you win in, say your rookie year, when you're only getting the minimum, you can't be sure that you won't have a carreer ending injury and never get the big contract, so it would only make sense to take the $$$ at that point instead of an award.

Perhaps, but a rookie, minimum salary award winner is a very rare situation, indeed. Most all of the major winners are making multiple millions in salary already. Take today's winner, ARod...

[pwdennis]

Up to a certain point it would be give me the money (which was my vote) - past that point (at the point in which my financial future already was assured) it would be the award

[KCBOOMER]

I like LisaG's viewpoint. It is a matter of how much is the bonus against how much is my salary. Also, have I won this award before is a factor. Also it has to be either the CY or MVP award. If I have the choice of RoY or Comeback Player send me the money (unless it is chump change).

[gyb13]

mmm...how much can you sell the trophy for? ;)

recognition is nice, but it's also self-serving, no? if your work is good (whether on the field or in your workplace), you may be recognized by your peers, even without awards.

i'm more practical - i'll take the money. i can do more good with it than having something to put on the mantelpiece, look at, feel good about myself, and get lazy and accomodated