Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams?

Starscream · 11-06-2009, 09:38 AM

Found this article in the Cincinnati Enquirer yesterday. Very interesting read about payrolls in the MLB. I'm a capitalist in the real world, but in sports it's different to me. The article is pretty much common knowledge, but just wondering what others thought about it.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...or+Reds+to+win

Thoughts?

elderboy02 · 11-06-2009, 09:54 AM

I feel that all small market teams are farm teams for the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc.

Look at the Yankees this year. They signed the top 3 free agents.

chippewastud79 · 11-06-2009, 09:58 AM

You got to spend money to make money. Thats one thing small market teams choose not to do (most likely) or cannot afford to do (less likely). The Reds love trading away all their talent or letting them become free agents so they can get picked up by bigger franchises. Like their football team, they are a good place to start a career or squeeze a final few years out, because the owners aren't going to shell out the big bucks for the right free agents. If you think baseball is bad, wait and see if the NFL goes uncapped. This might be the small market teams last shot at the playoffs if the NFL goes uncapped.

AD720 · 11-06-2009, 10:00 AM

1 - The Phillies payroll is not even in the same league as the Yankees. (nobody is really, but there is an $90 million dollar difference there - almost double).

2 - What about the Rays last year? They made it all the way to the series on a tiny budget - 2nd smallest in the league in 2008.

chippewastud79 · 11-06-2009, 10:03 AM

Big money players = big egos. Thats the first obstacle to overcome. There isn't much parody in baseball, it seems the same teams are in contention every year. Yes, small market teams sneak into the playoffs and can make runs, but where do those players go after the season? Ask the first Marlins team how their free agents worked out after that season.

Starscream · 11-06-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

Ask the first Marlins team how their free agents worked out after that season.

And the free agency concept will never go away. Good for the players, bad for the teams and fans. That's why the big spenders win.

jledou · 11-06-2009, 10:18 AM

KC Royals vs NY Yankees = baseball fail. Shorten the season and cap it IMO or it continues to fail. Maybe they could have another strike and we could totally start over.

MedicCook · 11-06-2009, 11:05 AM

One problem is with team ownership. Most owners are not willing to lose money. They treat it strictly as a business. The other thing is how the teams are organized. The Yankees went out and created their own television network. Nothing is stopping the other teams from doing the same thing other than taking a chance. The YES Network is part of the reason the Yankees have the income to pay for the free agents.

Starscream · 11-06-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MedicCook

One problem is with team ownership. Most owners are not willing to lose money. They treat it strictly as a business. The other thing is how the teams are organized. The Yankees went out and created their own television network. Nothing is stopping the other teams from doing the same thing other than taking a chance. The YES Network is part of the reason the Yankees have the income to pay for the free agents.

Most owners aren't ready to take a big gamble and lose millions of dollars each year. They'd rather spend $65-$80 million on payroll and make a small profit on ticket sales. Playing it safe and earning easy money, or gambling big money in order to earn just a little bit more (if any) money.

The Poet · 11-06-2009, 03:53 PM

Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to be able to afford nearly any high-ticket player they covet? Probably not. Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to subsidize other teams by sending them hefty checks each year, only to have those owners say "Screw the fans, I'm gonna pocket this money and the hell with improving my team."? Most definitely not. For all of you who think the Yankees are "bad for baseball", I ask you to stop for a moment to consider how the Yankees are good for baseball. A championship in almost anywhere else benefits that city, but a championship in New York benefits MLB. You may not like that, but it's the fact.

Starscream · 11-08-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Poet

Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to be able to afford nearly any high-ticket player they covet? Probably not. Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to subsidize other teams by sending them hefty checks each year, only to have those owners say "Screw the fans, I'm gonna pocket this money and the hell with improving my team."? Most definitely not. For all of you who think the Yankees are "bad for baseball", I ask you to stop for a moment to consider how the Yankees are good for baseball. A championship in almost anywhere else benefits that city, but a championship in New York benefits MLB. You may not like that, but it's the fact.

Never said that the Yanks were bad for baseball. For ratings, entertainment, and money, the Yankees are the best thing to happen to the MLB. Just saying that the MLB has some serious flaws. In the business world, I'm more than ok with it; in the sports world, I have a few issues. And I'm not just talking about the Yankees. LA and Chicago also have teams in the MLB too.

VirtualSmitty · 11-08-2009, 03:42 PM

There's plenty of hope for small market teams. The Rays, Marlins, and Rockies have shown they can hang with bigger market teams. It takes better planning, better drafting, better scouting, and smarter spending. Teams like the Reds, Royals, and Pirates have only themselves to blame for sucking as long as they have. All three have produced a ton of talent but failed to go anywhere with it. And small market teams get revenue sharing from large market teams. Having a huge payroll doesn't equal success, if that were true the Yanks would have never stopped winning.

yourchoice · 11-08-2009, 04:26 PM

I don't think there is any long-term hope. The Expos were the best team in baseball developing their talent...but once their talent was developed and ready to compete for a title, they became free agents and the Expos couldn't afford them.

Do the Marlins, Rays, Rockies, etc. success prove you can develop a winning baseball team? Yes. But in the long run they cannot remain competitive because they can't compete salary-wise. The Phillies have a top 10 payroll (not sure where exactly), but I will not begin to suggest the system, as is, is fair to smaller market teams.

Some sort of salary cap is needed IMHO.

yourchoice · 11-08-2009, 05:42 PM

Oh....and with a salary cap, there needs to be a salary minimum too. Teams at the bottom shouldn't just be able to suck along while getting their shared revenues (TV, etc.)

Starscream · 11-08-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualSmitty

Teams like the Reds, Royals, and Pirates have only themselves to blame for sucking as long as they have.

kelmac07 · 11-06-2009, 05:19 PM

Being a Mets fan...all I can say is money won't buy you success!!

11-06-2009, 09:38 AM	#1
Starscream Knowhutimean, Vern? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andy Location: In a little town somewhere in the USA Posts: 10,237 Trading: (4)	Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? Found this article in the Cincinnati Enquirer yesterday. Very interesting read about payrolls in the MLB. I'm a capitalist in the real world, but in sports it's different to me. The article is pretty much common knowledge, but just wondering what others thought about it. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...or+Reds+to+win Thoughts? __________________ Insert quote here.

11-06-2009, 09:54 AM	#2
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,508 Trading: (133)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? I feel that all small market teams are farm teams for the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, etc. Look at the Yankees this year. They signed the top 3 free agents.

11-06-2009, 09:58 AM	#3
chippewastud79 Fatter than you! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Larry Location: A little place called home. Posts: 5,397 Trading: (44)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? You got to spend money to make money. Thats one thing small market teams choose not to do (most likely) or cannot afford to do (less likely). The Reds love trading away all their talent or letting them become free agents so they can get picked up by bigger franchises. Like their football team, they are a good place to start a career or squeeze a final few years out, because the owners aren't going to shell out the big bucks for the right free agents. If you think baseball is bad, wait and see if the NFL goes uncapped. This might be the small market teams last shot at the playoffs if the NFL goes uncapped. __________________ If we weren't supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat? You can never have too many cigars, they are like an investment in good times.

11-06-2009, 10:00 AM	#4
AD720 I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The City of BOTL-erly Love Posts: 2,684 Trading: (73)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? 1 - The Phillies payroll is not even in the same league as the Yankees. (nobody is really, but there is an $90 million dollar difference there - almost double). 2 - What about the Rays last year? They made it all the way to the series on a tiny budget - 2nd smallest in the league in 2008. __________________

11-06-2009, 10:03 AM	#5
chippewastud79 Fatter than you! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Larry Location: A little place called home. Posts: 5,397 Trading: (44)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? Big money players = big egos. Thats the first obstacle to overcome. There isn't much parody in baseball, it seems the same teams are in contention every year. Yes, small market teams sneak into the playoffs and can make runs, but where do those players go after the season? Ask the first Marlins team how their free agents worked out after that season. __________________ If we weren't supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat? You can never have too many cigars, they are like an investment in good times.

11-06-2009, 10:18 AM	#7
jledou Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jay Location: Kansas Posts: 2,224 Trading: (27)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? KC Royals vs NY Yankees = baseball fail. Shorten the season and cap it IMO or it continues to fail. Maybe they could have another strike and we could totally start over.

11-06-2009, 11:05 AM	#8
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? One problem is with team ownership. Most owners are not willing to lose money. They treat it strictly as a business. The other thing is how the teams are organized. The Yankees went out and created their own television network. Nothing is stopping the other teams from doing the same thing other than taking a chance. The YES Network is part of the reason the Yankees have the income to pay for the free agents. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

11-06-2009, 03:53 PM	#10
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to be able to afford nearly any high-ticket player they covet? Probably not. Is it fair for teams like the Yankees to subsidize other teams by sending them hefty checks each year, only to have those owners say "Screw the fans, I'm gonna pocket this money and the hell with improving my team."? Most definitely not. For all of you who think the Yankees are "bad for baseball", I ask you to stop for a moment to consider how the Yankees are good for baseball. A championship in almost anywhere else benefits that city, but a championship in New York benefits MLB. You may not like that, but it's the fact.

11-08-2009, 03:42 PM	#12
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? There's plenty of hope for small market teams. The Rays, Marlins, and Rockies have shown they can hang with bigger market teams. It takes better planning, better drafting, better scouting, and smarter spending. Teams like the Reds, Royals, and Pirates have only themselves to blame for sucking as long as they have. All three have produced a ton of talent but failed to go anywhere with it. And small market teams get revenue sharing from large market teams. Having a huge payroll doesn't equal success, if that were true the Yanks would have never stopped winning. __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

11-08-2009, 04:26 PM	#13
yourchoice Down the stretch Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joel Location: South Jersey Posts: 4,091 Trading: (36)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? I don't think there is any long-term hope. The Expos were the best team in baseball developing their talent...but once their talent was developed and ready to compete for a title, they became free agents and the Expos couldn't afford them. Do the Marlins, Rays, Rockies, etc. success prove you can develop a winning baseball team? Yes. But in the long run they cannot remain competitive because they can't compete salary-wise. The Phillies have a top 10 payroll (not sure where exactly), but I will not begin to suggest the system, as is, is fair to smaller market teams. Some sort of salary cap is needed IMHO.

11-08-2009, 05:42 PM	#14
yourchoice Down the stretch Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joel Location: South Jersey Posts: 4,091 Trading: (36)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? Oh....and with a salary cap, there needs to be a salary minimum too. Teams at the bottom shouldn't just be able to suck along while getting their shared revenues (TV, etc.)

11-06-2009, 05:19 PM	#16
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Any Hope for Small Market Baseball Teams? Being a Mets fan...all I can say is money won't buy you success!! __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

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