gripes and whines

Add Prince Fielder (Brewers), Jeff Francoeur (Braves), Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox), and Nick Markakis (Orioles) to the list of aggrieved young big-leaguers. All have had or are having public/private disagreements with their clubs about how much they will be getting this year. John Smoltz of the Braves, always ready with advice, had this to say to Cole Hamels: cool it. Joe Kerrigan opined that an older player should take Cole aside and explain to him that that's how the system works, that it's his own players' union that set things up like this, and that in the end, if he stays healthy, he'll be making untold millions. Seems like the young guys want it both ways and want it now. A dose of real world economics might help but that ain't going to happen. All I say is, stay healthy and perform. And opening day can't get here too soon.