While television network executives are likely crying in a corner somewhere thinking about a possible Rockies-Indians World Series, it should be noted that this year’s playoffs are proof that the MLB isn’t all about what teams spend the most.
Check out the 2007 payrolls of the four remaining playoff teams:
2. Red Sox: $143,526,214
23. Indians: $61,673, 267
25. Rockies: $54, 424, 000
26. D’Backs: $52, 067, 546
The Red Sox are the only ones in the top 22 teams that made it to the championship series. Yeah, it helps that teams like Boston and the Yankees are willing to spend more than the Devil Rays, Marlins, Nationals and Pirates. A large budget may win a team their division or a wild card, but the Indians, Rockies and Diamondbacks are proof that it takes more than just a fat bankroll to win a baseball title. Teamwork, coaching and talent will trump a large payroll every single year.
Correct – so wouldn’t it make sense to have a salary cap to just keep everything within normalcy ? Why not ? There is still one problem though … the Yankees and their $200 million plus salary made the playoffs again for the what ? 13th strait time ? Thats a problem. Cap it at $110 – let everybody have a shot. Make the GM’s work a little harder.
Yeah, it’s ridiculous that the MLB doesn’t have some sort of cap. With great management, the small market teams can field a playoff team every so often while the Yankees and Red Sox can buy their way into the postseason just about every year.
Whoa, Yankees – salary caps! I seem to have heard all this before. As a non-Yankee fan, I say if you play by the rules I have no problem. There is no salary cap, therefore the Yankees are playing by the rules.
Seems to me ALL the owners have something to say about a salary cap, but I don’t see it happening. Blame the owners not the Yankees.
It’s a dead issue……….and most people know it…some are waiting for the owners to take a stand but what about the players association? They seem happy don’t they?
We all know there is not a salary cap and we all know it’s because of the Union, the Association, Bud, the owners,my sister, or whoever. The problem still exists that the Yankees have abused it for too many years causing an unfair advantage on the field. Therefore eliminating a lot of teams each year before the first pitch. It’s kind of like a Nascar Cup driver driving in the Busch race on Saturdays … is it legal ? – yeah. Does it piss everybody off ? – yeah. The yankees make $400 mill a year in revenue – nobody else is in the same atmosphere. They have the most and best resources don’t they ? Isn’t that enough ?
Please don’t tell me it doesn’t matter what they spend because they haven’t won in 7 years … thats an organizational problem. They spend the most by about $60 million but don’t know what to use it on. That doesn’t make it OK. Poor teams don’t have a shot at all. Good teams that spend wisely can win it all. Good for them. Maybe the yankees can learn something … but yet they insist on gathering up all the Allstars in the League and keep them from others. This is not an advantage ? Not for yankee fans.
The topic is ” It’s not about payroll ” in my opinion – it’s the yankees ring to win every year – they have the advantage – but what you have seen the last seven years were the yankees leaving the door open for Cinderella. They may not want to hear it – but, the yankee organization is obviously flawed with all that money they can spend .. all they do is try to buy their way out of every problem,every year ,instead of getting good piching – bringing up guys from a great farm system etc … How about just getting younger ? ( example Roger Clemens – you overpaid something awfull – but yet you kept him from everyone else – it’s actually a two-part advantage ) Hello …. ya see – it’s all up to them. That does matter in my book. They could have just as well won their 12th Championship in a row if they knew how to run an organization. A lot of you people will sweep this under the carpet because they haven’t won – but if they had won about 6 in a row a lot more people would see my point. Isn’t it fun watching the NFL where every season your team has a real chance at making the playoffs ?
Here’s a little tip yankee heads. Go spend $100 million – get rid of the old crap – get younger and get better pitching and let your farm system develop – you will be at the top in no time …. and you won’t be pissin the rest of us off anymore. I’m pretty sure this works – you’ve seen it from your dugout in the playoffs for seven strait playoff seasons.
And finally, guess what ? Tampa Bay is not going to win it all next year ! Why ? because it IS about payroll !