'Tis the Season of Salary Arbitration

The Sports page provides more labor law material than any other these days. For an interesting look at the complex yet ultimitely simple world of Major League Baseball salary arbitration see Alan Schwarz's recent article in the New York Times. The Minnesota Twins' Assistant GM's suggestion that arbitrators might not be able to "understand" all the fancy stats was a low blow. Baseball arbitrators get fired not because they don't get it; they get fired because one side inevitably loses. It is the risk both sides take when going to arbitration.