ColumbusSports.com : Your place to stay informed and talk about the sports scene and sports teams in and around Columbus.

For all you fans out there who think that all professional baseball players are living a glorious life… think again! This article will paint a picture of the other side of baseball that most people don't see or even think about. While there are times where you feel like you're on top of the world, reality usually hits more often than not.

Extended Spring Training - This level in every organization is usually for players that are right out of high school, rehabbing from injuries, or just aren't good enough out of spring training to be placed on an affiliated team. In my case, I was picked up as a free agent and have to prove to the Blue Jays that I am able to play at higher levels. Our routine is Monday through Saturday starting at 8 AM. We stretch, throw, condition, and work on fundamentals for three hours just as we would do in Spring Training. We then head inside for a quick lunch and start a game at 1 PM. Lifting is mandatory four times a week, which forces you to take care of your body. Quality rather than quantity is emphasized a lot because of the long hours that we’re doing physical activity.  

Marathon, Not a Sprint - The minor league baseball season is 142 games with days off that are few and far between. Everyday becomes very monotonous, making the long season a tough mental battle. We all usually sweat through a couple shirts a day in the 95 degree heat, right smack in the middle of the day with ridiculous humidity. Meanwhile we get paid $1200 a month, not including taxes, clubhouse dues, or meal fees. After paying for rent, groceries, and gas, we are either barely breaking even. Most players starting out have to survive on their parents, signing bonus, or money from jobs in the off-season. Plus there are four to six hour bus rides every three days. Sometimes we'll get home as the sun is rising, but will have to be back on the field in eight hours for another game. Don't get me wrong, this is the chance of a lifetime that most people dream about, and I'm not taking anything for granted. Obviously things get better as you move up levels, but every player has to start somewhere.

Baseball Politics – The common perception for professional baseball players is that baseball is the greatest game on earth, but it’s screwed up because of the people running it. This can be explained by the Yankees payroll, steroids, and how every playoff game ends after midnight (inhibiting the younger generation of fans from seeing the most exciting part of the playoff games). 10% of players drafted have to prove they can't play in the big leagues, while 90% have to prove they can. This explains why it's so tough to make it to the top in this sport. Players with the large signing bonuses will be given chance after chance to make it to the top, while any other player could get released for a bad couple weeks. Numbers don't necessarily mean anything in the minor leagues. A lot rides on projectability and fitting into the organization's mold. That's just the nature of the business.

Thanks for reading and Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there!

Tags: baseball, minor league baseball, toronto blue jays