The Twitter account Advocates for Minor Leaguers has made an impact in the lives of those minor leaguers this season. They have caused changes for players in the A’s and Orioles systems by calling out the ridiculous lack of care given to minor leaguers, with improved nutrition and arrangements. The St. Louis Cardinals are next on the list.
On Sunday night, after their game went late, the Cardinals’ Double-A team pulled up to their hotel only to learn that they did not have rooms. As such, the players had to sleep on chairs and on the floor of a ballroom.
The Double-A teams for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres begin a series tomorrow in San Antonio. This is where the Cardinals players were forced to sleep last night. pic.twitter.com/A0YjP6g6DB
— Advocates for Minor Leaguers (@MiLBAdvocates) July 19, 2021
St. Louis Cardinals Double-A players spend restless night
In theory, Major League Baseball’s decision to eliminate 42 minor league teams was made to avoid such scenarios. At least, that was the reason given by the league. Instead, it has put a spotlight upon how poorly minor league players are treated, from their minimal pay to how cheap teams are when it comes to their day to day.
In this case, the Cardinals were not entirely at fault. Because the game ended up going into extra innings, causing a much later departure, the hotel had given their rooms to other guests. The players were in the new rooms that morning and able to sleep in before heading to the ballpark.
But this is the sort of scenario that should be avoided. teams have traveling secretaries for this purpose, to notify hotels that the team would be arriving late and to hold the rooms. However, in the case of minor league squads, that role is often held by one of the coaches, who would instead be focused on the game.
Life in the minor leagues could be a lot better. As teams look for the next advantage, improving the conditions for minor league players, from salary to nutrition to accommodations, could be that next frontier. The players would certainly appreciate that attention.
Players for the St. Louis Cardinals Double-A team had to sleep on chairs and the floor on Sunday. The treatment of minor leaguers is utterly pathetic.