Tommy Pham: “This is a mess”

Tommy Pham, along with the rest of the Padres in spring training, is slowly heading back home after team officials let them know that the MLB will be suspending play for the foreseeable future. As things stand, baseball might not be back until June, July, or maybe even August.

Pham just turned 32-years old last week and had big plans for his time in San Diego, one that included a brand new Bentley, which he bought as a present to himself after signing his most-recent contract, a nice place to live downtown, and some of his best baseball in front of him. This entire pandemic obviously brings all of his aspirations to a halt, along with the rest of the country.

Pham admitted he didn’t think the virus was going to be a big deal after doing some of his own research. By no means did he expect it to blow up into what it has become. He’s frustrated, and understandably so.

“I didn’t put all of the work I did in the offseason to be sitting around right now.’’

“I just want to play baseball. That’s what all of us want. That’s what people are forgetting, is just how much we love to play this game.’’

The players union most recently stated they will give each player a $1,100 allowance through April 9th. After that point, the clubs should be taking over expenses.

“I don’t know if any of us will get paid,” Pham said.

“But you look around, I got friends in the NHL, they’re getting paid. The guys in the NBA are getting paid. How’s it going to look if we’re the only major sport, and the richest sport bringing in the most revenue ($10.7 billion last year), and we’re the only ones not getting paid?’’

According to Pham, the recent crash of the stock market cost him $92,000. He was hoping to put this year’s salary into savings to cover himself in case of a strike next season since the labor agreement comes to an end on December 21st, 20121. He admitted that he doesn’t think he can afford to miss an entire season.

Pham is just one of many MLB players that are nervous for the coming months. It just seems like, no matter how much some may seem like they have a plan, they inevitably don’t.

“We have so many questions, and nobody is giving us any damn answers,’’ Pham says. “Are they going to pay us. Are they going to pick up our lease? What happens when we do come back?”

“That’s what makes it so frustrating, no one is telling us anything.’’

Pham feels like this whole situation might as well be a work stoppage and he thinks might as well start working on a new collective bargaining agreement if they’re not going to be playing baseball anytime soon. With a “real one” potentially on the horizon, fans aren’t going to want to go through a labor strike immediately following this whole virus situation.