Like everyone else, we reported this morning that the Red Sox were threatening to boycott their trip to Japan if their coaches weren’t paid the same appearance fee ($40K) as the players.

(El Tiante’s chest hairs approve)

MLB caved today in some fashion, probably giving the coaches something. We can’t imagine it was $40K, but the issue has apparently been resolved.

What’s funny to us though is how the main media (and us, at least initially) took Bosox players seriously in this matter.

Does anyone really think the team would’ve not gone to Japan if their demands hadn’t been met? Especially with Dice-K scheduled to pitch the first game?

How much of the reax of the players had more to do with childish blanching at the prospect of a 19-hour flight - rather than the actual substance of the issue? For example, if the team was going to Vegas for exhibition or regular season games, do you think the players would’ve been so likely to hold up the train for coaches’ pay? We think not.

The move was a complete bluff by Curt Schilling & Co. And the media overplaying the issue heightened the players’ leverage with MLB.

Safe to say now, Luis Tiant will be going back to the high end cigars.