Nancy Pelosi's Jobs Plan: Shut Down Non-Union Plants in Right to Work States (Except for GE's)

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi has weighed this week in on the ongoing dispute between Boeing and the National Labor Relations Board, stating that the aircraft manufacturer's South Carolina facility should shut down if it can't unionize [video at link- NANESB!].

Interestingly, Pelosi's comments come more than two years after workers at the Charleston, SC plant voted overwhelmingly to decertifty their union.

In a move that seemingly went under the radar back in May, General Electric [NYSE: GE] announced that they were constructing a new 500,000 square foot facility to build locomotives in right-to-work Fort Worth, TX- shifting production from closed-shop Erie, PA with no apparent objection from either Congresswoman Pelosi or the NLRB.

Other venues under consideration included Lynn, MA and Mexico. With rival Caterpillar's [NYSE: CAT] subsidiary Progress Rail opening up a new facility in Indiana, GE and Local 201 of the International Union of Electrical Workers were unable to come to any sort of agreement regarding wages.

While GE's Railway unit CEO Lorenzo Simonelli disclosed that a Mexican site had been under consideration by GE they ultimately chose the Ft. Worth site for largely political reasons.

The Fort Worth choice saves Immelt from the potential embarrassment of having the facility go south of the border while he serves as chairman of President Barack Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

The Obama Administration had previously lavished Immelt's General Electric with millions in stimulus money and 'green energy' grants while the conglomerate continued to outsource jobs overseas. Prior to January of this year, GE was also the parent company of NBC/Universal entertainment, whose networks frequently act as the Obama Administration (or Obama campaign's) unofficial mouthpiece. Earlier this year, Comcast [NASDAQ: CMCSA] gained a majority control of the NBC networks.

Since the May announcement about the Texas locomotive facility, General Electric has announced they are breaking ground on two more projects in right-to-work states.

Last month, the conglomerate announced that they will be building a $95 million 236,000 square foot facility that will make components for mining equipment- also in Ft Worth, TX.

Meanwhile, in Auburn, AL, GE is breaking ground on a new jet engine component factory this month. Like the two facilities in Fort Worth, the NLRB apparently sees no problem with Immelt's GE setting up shop in right-to-work states as they've remained conspicuously silent on the matter.

[Hat tip: Director Blue, Lonely Conservative, Eat it or Wear It]

Cutnpaste: - 2012 ZIPS Projections, Jeff Wilpon, Phillip Evans, Jefry Marte, Upton vs. Pagan

2012 ZIPS Projections - New York Mets -  Obviously not a great year for the Mets at 77-85, but if you just went by the tenor of the media reports, thanks to the Wilpon/Madoff turmoil, you'd think the Mets played like the 1993 edition that went 59-103. The team spent most of the year, playing "sort of OK-ish" and while never really in any kind of risk of being relevant, weren't Astrotastic horrible.  The pitching staff is interesting in that while it was one of the worst in the league (the 89 ERA+ was 15th of 16 teams in the National League), it was not because of some notably terrible pitching, but almost an entire staff of guys that had recognizable names, were consistently below-average, but also consistently above replacement level. Perhaps best described as the Sterling Hitchcock Rock 'n' Fun Zone. Beltran is gone from the offense, Reyes is likely to be, and Wright isn't the player he was at his best, so the team's pitching has to get a good bit better as there's less room to count on the front-line talent to score runs. http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle/discussion/2012_zips_projections_-_new_york_mets

It’s a clumsy headline, but “Does Jeff Wilpon Come To Your Job & Knock The Dick Out Of Your Mouth?” didn’t scan nearly as well. I don’t think it would be the most unfair statement of all time to say there’s a slight credibility gap between Mets ownership’s initial assurances L’affair Madoff would have no substantial impact on the ballclub’s day to day operations and the resulting 2011 econo-Amazin’s ; the big name acquisitions were limited to a succession of former GM’s and it wasn’t long before we heard of Fred and Jeff Wilpon going cap in hand to Major League Baseball. Jeff (above) was reluctant to identify the club’s new minority investors earlier this week, not surprising given the way David Einhorn’s attempts to buy into the Mets ended in yet another P.R. disaster. In the considered view of Metsmerized’s Greg Pomes — either the most trusting person in on Planet Earth or a satirist of the highest order — “I know in today’s information age we want to know everything, but this is a non-issue.” http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/in-jeff-wilpon-we-trust-is-the-mets-coo-answerable-to-anyone

11-3-11: - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/11/03/2011-mlb-draft-shortstops-review-part-1 - Phillip Evans, SS New York Mets – (18) – Round: 15 Pick: 462 - Here’s a kid who has good make-up and skill set to be an above average major leaguer.  There was a buzz last year that he could be a 1st round draft pick, but after an up and down spring and a firm commitment to play for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State (not far from home in Carlsbad, CA) his stock dropped like a ton of bricks.  I’m not sure he has the range to stick at SS, but after the Mets moved 8th round pick Daniel Muno from SS to 2B, perhaps the Mets feel differently than I do.  Evans was an August 15th deadline signing and kudos to the Mets for getting this done.   Evans hit .294/.351/.412, which included 2B-4/RBI-4/R-7, and a 5/3 K/BB ratio in 34 at bats spread over quick stops at 3 levels, ending up with Muno with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York Penn League and that’s likely where he will start the 2012 season as well.  I think he’s a player to watch. http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/11/03/2011-mlb-draft-shortstops-review-part-1

11-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-15-jefry-marte-3b.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29  - As a fielder, he’ll never make you think of Brooks Robinson, but there is no reason as of yet to move him off 3B. He charges the ball well, has decent hands and a strong throwing arm. He has problems with his feet going laterally however, and therefore has limited range right now. This can be helped through conditioning and agility work, but as he matures physically and gets thicker, he will have to continue to work hard on this, to remain at the position. The last year he has improved quite a bit in fielding technique, and is not afraid to dive and throw his body around, but where he makes his errors is usually when rushing his throws. Sound familiar? With a continued strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, Jefry Marte could very well force the Mets to promote him to Binghamton for the start of 2012. That would be an incredible accomplishment for a 21-year-old. Again he would be playing against players three years older than himself, but with more and more tools in his tool bag, this hard working ball-player is now better equipped to take on the challenge.

B.J. Upton is younger, generally healthier, and better than Pagan — though not by as much as you’d think. Upton retains some cachet from his days as an uber-prospect, but by WAR he has never had a season as good as Pagan’s 2010. At 27, he’s younger than Pagan and a better bet to play well over the next several years. But Upton is in his last arbitration year with the Rays, meaning he’d have to be non-tendered to become a free-agent (which seems unlikely given his obvious trade value) or the Mets would have to trade something to acquire him. Since Upton is set for free agency next offseason — any team that trades for him would either get only one year of his services or have to broker a negotiating window in which to sign Upton for what will likely be a market-rate extension. http://www.tedquarters.net/2011/11/03/compelling-arguments-for-non-tendering-angel-pagan

Cutnpaste: - DePodesta on Flores, R A Dickey, SI on Jose, Reyes Update, Capt. Kirk

11-2-11: - http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/36313/flores-short-stop-not-over - "That's something we reevaluate every spring with all of our infielders depending on roster composition and long-term plan," DePodesta indicated. "But at this point, yes, there isn't a plan to move him. ... Wilmer Flores  is playing where the (winter-ball) club needs him. Last winter he played primarily third base. They have our blessing to move him around, as we think that type of exposure is good for all of our infielders."

New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro -- even if his team isn't all that thrilled about the potentially dangerous adventure. Dickey is set to scale 19,000-foot Tanzanian mountain in January to raise money for the Red Light District Outreach Mumbai, which combats human trafficking in India. The Mets aren't all that keen about it, and Dickey understands that he could risk forfeiting his entire 2012 salary if he gets injured during the climb. Dickey signed a two-year, $8 million extension with the Mets in January 2011. New York holds a club option on the 37-year-old veteran for 2013. http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7181208/new-york-mets-pitcher-ra-dickey-climb-mount-kilimanjaro?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Jose Reyes  Age: 28  Position: SS  2011 Stats: .337/.384/.493, 7 HRs, 44 RBIs, 39 SBs  CURRENT TEAM: METS - BEST FIT: NATIONALS - Reyes's recurring health problems are a concern -- he has not played more than 133 games since 2008 -- but his production is not. He won the NL batting title this season, and retains 50-steal potential. The on-the-rise Nationals could use a shortstop and top-of-the-order spark plug to go along with future stars Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. Team owner Ted Lerner -- baseball's richest -- can afford to pay Reyes to be just that for the next seven years or so. www.si.com

Jose Reyes is finally a free agent and teams other than the New York Mets can now fill him in on how much they'd like to pay him for his services. A major league exec told the New York Post that the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers are the frontrunners to get the 28-year-old four-time All-Star and current National League batting champion. Reyes batted .337, scored 101 runs, and stole 39 bases in what may have been his final season with the Mets.  The Post notes that Reyes "is expected to command less than the $142 million over seven years that Carl Crawford received from" the Boston Red Sox last offseason. The Post also reports that Mets GM Sandy Alderson doesn't want to offer more than five years to Reyes, who has battled hamstring injuries in recent seasons. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors/post/Brewers-and-Nationals-frontrunners-to-snag-Jose-?urn=mlb-411843

Like Lucas Duda, Kirk Nieuwenhuis was on the short list of potential potential outfielders available from the minor leagues when the 2011 season began but suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder by mid-July. Now on the mend, he's inching his way closer to resuming baseball activities. http://mets.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=2&c=1124500&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fmets.scout.com%2f2%2f1124500.html

Q and A: Mack with… Charles Thompson – Arbitration Salaries

Okay Mack, next question...Couldn't help but notice that players like Mike Pelfrey and Angel Pagan are due raises through the arbitration process, yet their actual season statistics for 2011 were horrible compared to 2010.  Maybe I got the figures wrong here, but if I didn't, how's that possible?  Despite regressing and having drastic drops in production, players still receive increases in their salary?   I always thought they could have a drop in salary of up to twenty percent or something in that neighborhood if they had a poor year.  When you have time Mack, thanks.  Charley

Thanks, Charlie.

First, for the rookies in the audience:

A free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another team.
If a player is drafted and is offered a contract by his drafting team (or any team to which he is traded) each year, he may not become a free agent until:

1. His contract has expired with at least six years of service time on a major league 25-man roster or disabled list, OR
2. His contract has expired with less than six years of service time, but is not tendered a contract or salary arbitration offer (if eligible) by the tender deadline (usually in the second week of December). Such players become non-tender free agents.

A player with less than six years of service time is eligible for salary arbitration if he:

1. is without a contract for the next season, AND
2. has been tendered a contract offer by his current team by the tender deadline, AND
3. cannot agree with his current team on a new contract, AND
4. meets one of the conditions below:
   1. has been on a major league roster or disabled list for at least three years, OR
   2. has at least two years of major league service but less than three, AND is among the top 17 percent for cumulative playing time in the majors in this class of players, AND was on an active major-league roster for at least 86 days in the previous season.

Players with more than six years of service time and who are eligible for free agency can also be offered arbitration when their contracts are up, if they have been tendered a contract offer by his current team by the tender deadline, and have not agreed on a contract.

The 4.2 example of arbitration eligibility above is called the "Super Two" exception, in which a player will have an extra year of arbitration eligibility. Notable recent "Super Two" players include Sam Fuld, Ryan Howard and Tim Lincecum.

Following the salary arbitration process, the player and the team both submit a salary offer for a new contract. The arbitrator chooses one number or the other, based on which offer is closest to the salaries of players with similar ability and service time.

Service time, for purposes of salary arbitration and free agency, is 172 days; a season is 182 days long.

Players eligible for neither free agency nor salary arbitration are very seldom offered contracts for much more than the league minimum salary, as the player has no recourse to try to obtain a better salary elsewhere. For this reason, in the first three major league years of their careers (except for the "Super Two" exception above), it is standard practice for players to accept comparatively low salaries even when their performance is stellar.

Occasionally, a team may wish to sign a player in his second or third year to a long-term contract, and the resulting negotiations can involve salaries significantly higher than minimum. A recent example of this would be the contract Ryan Braun signed barely a year into his major league career, which will last until 2015.

A team does not have to offer a contract to a player not eligible for free agency if his contract has expired, regardless of service time. If the player is not tendered a contract offer by the tender deadline (usually in the second week of December), the player becomes a non-tender free agent. - wikipedea

The raise a player experiences once he is eligible for salary arbitration can be a function of the suppressed salaries he received in his first 3 seasons without leverage.

Remember, the arbitration figure can be submitted by both the team and the player. The arbitrator chooses one number or the other, based on which offer is closest to the salaries of players with similar ability and service time.

Expect raises for players if their “ability” is equal to other players in the league that played the same, but were paid more.

Offering Pagan and Pelfrey arbitration is a tough decision this year. Obviously, neither is part of the future plans of the team, but both are needed to at least put a face up for the 2012 season.  My guess both will come back for that reason.

Mack’s 25-man: - SS-2B Ruben Tejada

It looks like we’re getting close to stop calling this kid a second baseman.

I worried about him making it when the Mets sent him down last year. I’ve seen so many Anderson Hernandez situations where borderline prospects are called up for a minimal role, fail to impress, and are sent back down as fast as they arrived. Shit like this gets in their heads and they never survive, but, Ruben did and, in fact, he impressed the hell out of me by the end of the season.

No, he will never hit as many triples as Jose Reyes… but neither will Jose what with the new field dimensions.  He’ll play short, make the minimal amount of errors on some routine plays, win some games with a spectacular play, bat around .270, and make a pitcher pitch to an eighth batter.

I would have possibly considered him to bat second if Jose remained on the team (notice how I’m already speaking of Reyes in the past tense?), but, because Tejada is back at his natural shortstop position, I’m going to play Daniel Murphy at second and bat him second.

One really good news item here is the team got younger with Tejada in the lineup. He will play 2012 as a 22-year old.

Lineup so far:  Blank, blank, Wright, Davis, Duda, Bay, blank, Tejada, pitcher.

That’s eight down, 17 to go.

Dickey May Face Uphill Climb with Mets over Charity?

R.A. Dickey was the standout ace of the New York Mets this year. His bad luck 8-13 record certainly was unimpressive, but he led the team in ERA (3.28) and WHIP (1.23). He proved he could overcome the first year in Queens. Now the Mets knuckeballer is looking to conquer new heights, 19,000 feet to be exact.

According to ESPN NY, Dickey will try to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. He is doing it strictly for charity. The Mets don't seem too happy about the contribution for goodwill. If he were to suffer serious injury, he would forfeit his entire salary next year.

It's an odd development, but it raises a question. How far is too far for charity? Is a charity worth risking your career or your life? Granted, he may be, by his own admission, climbing the least dangerous mountains of the major ones like Mt Everest and Mt Fuji, but it's still a dangerous trek for raising money.

In an interview in New York magazine, he had the following to say about that,

"They (the Mets) view it as a dangerous thing. Of course, it's a risk I'm willing to take. I know what I'm doing well enough to know it's nothing more than a glorified hike."

Though it may be easy, you can see the point of view of the Mets. They have invested in Dickey. They are relying on him to perform on the field. If he gets injured on duty, they will be more than happy to cover that. However, if he hurts himself by his own volition, they recognize that they are basically screwed by his bad decision.

In both scenarios, they lose a pitcher, but they would rather be in a position to keep him as healthy as possible. Some athletes do stupid things in their off season. Some play flag football. Some go on reality dance shows. Even some do illegal things to make the headlines really interesting.

With all of that said, R.A. Dickey is climbing a mountain and he's doing it for charity. He's using his time off to benefit another human being besides himself. This act alone is worthy of recognition in this selfish, fast-paced, instant-media gratification society. Seldom are there people both in a position to help and willing to do so as well.

The Mets should be concerned if their players are wife beaters (maybe fiance's father beaters), drug addicts and money launderers, but they shouldn't worry about players using their free time to make a small difference in the world. Those types of players are the ones they should be supporting the most. After all, it's those players that help rescue the tarnished image of New York Mets baseball players of the past.

A message to the Mets: calm down and trust your high character people. If this were a player of lesser integrity your fears may have some validity. He's not. He has some experience and he's not going alone.

A message for R.A.: next time, get the whining Wilpons involved more. Maybe they may make some money off of it and stop their complaining long enough to use the money to pay some debts. Good luck Dickey!

The Keepers: - #19 - LHRP - Jack Leathersich

35.     LHP    Jack Leathersich:

The Mets signed their 5th round pick on Sunday, 5-11 LHP Jack Leathersich.

He burst on to the national radar in 2009 with a masterful freshman year as a member of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks, going 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched. His stellar season earned him Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year honors for 2009. In 2010, Leathersich had a bit of a sophomore slump, compiling a 4.26 ERA to go along with a 3-2 record, but still struck out 62 batters in 57.0 innings pitched. He finished up 2010 by pitching in the Cape Cod League for the Orleans Firebirds. As a member of the bullpen, he put together a 1.71 ERA, striking out 31 in just 21.0 innings. Prior to the 2011 season, Leathersich was named the third-best Division II draft prospect, as well as a pre-season All American. I sat down with Leathersich recently and got the chance to ask him how he has made himself into the pitcher he is today and what the future may hold for him. - http://www.goriverhawks.com/sports/m-ba ... 11aac.html  

www.baseballamerica.com : - UMass-Lowell's Jack Leathersich has been in the Riverhawks rotation since his freshman year, but he's best suited to pitch out of the bullpen, which is where he had success in the Cape Cod League last summer. An arm-strength lefty, Leathersich struck out 31 batters in 21 innings of relief for Orleans, running his fastball up to 95 mph, while he works at 88-92 as a starter. He shows two fringe-average breaking balls, a slurve and a curveball, but he slows everything down in his delivery on secondary offerings. Scouts have concerns about Leathersich's mechanics, as he throws across his body with recoil and often loses his arm slot. Some talked him up as a potential top-five-rounds selection, but he'll probably be taken in the eighth- to 12th-round range.

From - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/14/2222649/2011-mlb-draft-new-york-mets-review#storyjump - 5) Jack Leathersich, LHP, UMass-Lowell: Terrific numbers, hits 95 in short stints, but rough mechanics and problems with breaking ball likely limit him to bullpen work, though he could be overpowering in that role. 1.62 ERA, 126/27 K/BB in 89 IP.

2009:  Highly-regarded sophomore pitcher Jack Leathersich (Beverly, MA) will join the Orleans Firebirds in the upcoming 2010 Cape Cod Baseball League season. Leathersich will become one of only six players in program history to compete in the CCBL, including former 12-year MLB veteran Mike LaValliere.  A famed amateur summer league, the CCBL produced 234 selections in the 2009 MLB Draft and countless major league stars such as the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and World Series Champion Mark Teixeira. Leathersich enters the 2010 River Hawk baseball season on the heels of a star-studded freshman campaign. The Beverly native was named Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year and a NEIBA All-Star. Leathersich followed with a fantastic summer league stint where he was named the top prospect in the Valley Baseball League by PG Cross Checker. Leathersich and the rest of the River Hawks will return to action on Feb. 27, when they open their 2010 schedule with a double-header against 2009 NCAA Division II East Regional Championship runner-up Dominican in Petersburg, VA.  - http://www.goriverhawks.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/120309aad.html

2010: - Once Leathersich arrived in Orleans, teammates started calling him "Rocket" for his hard-throwing ways. The lefty didn't have much trouble getting outs either against powerful hitters from more traditional baseball factories like North Carolina, Texas and Rice. Pitching out of the bullpen, Leathersich amassed a 1.71 earned run average while allowing just 14 hits and nine walks in 21 innings. Even more impressive were his strikeout numbers — the power lefty fanned 31 for an average of 13 K's per nine innings. With anywhere from 30-40 Major League scouts at every Cape League game, there's no doubt Leathersich's stock soared faster than Apple's when the iPad launched. Word is the Beverly native should be chosen in the top 10 rounds next spring. - http://www.salemnews.com/sports/x1804459387/Rocket-Launched-Leathersich-enjoys-summer-in-Cape-Cod-League

Harring, who is in his seventh season as UMass-Lowell’s head coach, said dealing with adversity is something Leathersich needed to experience, and something that will help him in the long run. “We had him throwing as high as 95 (mph) in the fall, but I told him guys who can throw that hard are a dime a dozen at the next level,” Harring said. “I think he was pitching to the radar gun, not to the catcher’s mitt. Everybody struggles at some point, and you have to deal with that adversity. In the end, it will be something that benefits him.” Leatherisch, who throws left-handed, said he had straightened things out by the end of the season. He certainly seemed to be his old self by the time he joined the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Orleans Firebirds last summer. Used primarily in a setup role by Orleans, Leathersich posted a 1.71 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 21 innings. Opponents hit .209 against him - http://www.baseballjournal.com/news/2011/03/16_umass-lowell_ace_aims_to_regain.php

7-7-11: - Jack twittered late yesterday afternoon that he would be making his prop debut today, for Brooklyn. 5th rounder… 5-11, 205, LHP out of UMass-Lowell. Had a wonderful freshman season that got him Freshman Of The Year… fastball sits 89-91… two average breaking balls, a sluve and a curve. Scouts were concerned with mechanics… Last year: 89 IP, 55 H, 27 BB, 126 K, 0 HR, 6-2, 1.62 ERA, .175 BAA

8-18-11: - Stock Up – RP Jack Leathersich – Leather pitched 1.2 last night and only had four strikeouts. Poor baby. Seriously, that’s seven relief outings so far this season, for 8.2 innings, and he has 20 strikeouts. Let’s see… 8.2-IP is… 26 outs, 20 of which are whiff. That’s a 58.8-K/PA and a BABIP of .455. Really.