The Globe's Tony Massarotti reported an interesting item on Thursday that I hope simply won't be shrugged off or allowed to be minimized in any way.

According to two of Tony's sources, Major League Baseball recently denied a proposal that would have increased the amount of road meal money that minor leaguers receive each day.

Oh, it wasn't anything life changing — the daily total would only have been upped to $25 from $20 — but MLB is said to have conveniently cited the flagging economy as a reason.

Yes, the same MLB that reported $6 billion in revenue in 2007 and oversees teams handing out $161 million contracts to one pitcher is the one that's putting the kibosh on a plan that had already been approved by all 30 minor league directors and then by all 30 GMs.

From Boston.com's Extra Bases:

"One team representative estimated that the increase might have cost each club somewhere in the range of $25,000, a microscopic sum in the multibillion dollar industry that MLB has become. Multiplied by 30, that places the total cost of the increase somewhere in the range of $750,000."

Honestly, it's embarrassing for the MLB to be clanging the tin cup and playing the poor act. Even as it delivers coffers of cash to the league, MLB.com just cut four percent of its workforce, including some of its best talent. Then it delivers news like this to guys who are already chasing their dreams on a bare-bones paycheck and living five players to a one-bedroom apartment. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Twenty dollars per day? Have these guys been out there recently to see how much things cost? You can't even get out of McDonald's or Taco Bell these days without spending six or seven dollars. God forbid if they actually want some healthy food to help their athletic careers.

Of course, since we're all facing hard economic times, I'm sure MLB will issue an order to all the teams making sure the next beer-and-hot dog you buy from a concession stand won't cost you more than the per diem of a minor league baseball player.