MLB

[Irrelevant]

If we just look at the champion we have: 3

Anyone remember who represented the NL in the 2023 WS? Arizona, #22 that year. Point is, teams can be competitive with lower salaries. General management is just as important as bankroll.

even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. That is not the basis for a professional competitive basis.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Again... hold my beer.

The Mariners started in 1977, they have had 7 total "good" years in that 48 year period. '95-2002
We have active members of HT that weren't born the last time the Mariners were good.

True, but we also got to watch Junior, Edgar, Big Unit, Ichiro, Felix ,etc.
I'll still watch them.

 

[Oak]

even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. That is not the basis for a professional competitive basis.
View attachment 364562

Have any solutions other than a salary cap? Seems the kneejerk solution is always to push the top down instead of to pull the bottom up. How do we compel the owners who are spending the least to do more? Don't forget, I'm in CO and a Rockies fan as well. The Monforts are sitting on a cash cow and investing very little in the team. Why should they? Last year, the Rockies were 15th in attendance, 17th in payroll, and 29th in record. And I realize that I'm part of the problem, but without cable, I pay extra to be able to watch Rockies games in CO, because I'm a baseball fan.

 

[seeth07]

While true, the argument to be made is about team being able to be competitive over a duration with lower salaries which is an extreme challenge.

I know the Brew Crew well is it is probably the best example of this. Their management and ability to find and craft and raise ball players up through the minors has to likely be one of the best in the big leagues. These players get continually tossed into the Majors and shine and make the team at least competitive for what has been quite a long stretch now but they struggle to keep these stars around. They just simply can't afford them because they can't compete with other offers they are receiving. And it only makes them competitive, not enough to really compete well enough at the end to actually make the WS.

So although I made this point, I do need to retract it a bit after talking in depth on this subject with my brother who is a way bigger fan than I am (although I do consider myself a pretty big fan) with heavy baseball experience (he still plays semi pro locally).

The Brew Crew does manage to keep a few great players around and although we are never competitive enough to be considered true contenders for a WS Pennant, Mark Attanasio has been doing something very right since 2004 since he took over to make baseball exciting and establish a winning season as an expectation for this fan base. There is something in the culture that kept Uecker here as a lifetime Brewer (heck maybe he alone was the culture). Players like Braun, Woodruff, Yelich come to mind as big time stars that spent most of their time in MKE and choosing to stay over a bigger payday elsewhere.

So perhaps @Oak is right, its not all salary to guaruntee a WS Pennant - it just makes it easier.

 

[seeth07]

Have any solutions other than a salary cap? Seems the kneejerk solution is always to push the top down instead of to pull the bottom up. How do we compel the owners who are spending the least to do more? Don't forget, I'm in CO and a Rockies fan as well. The Monforts are sitting on a cash cow and investing very little in the team. Why should they? Last year, the Rockies were 15th in attendance, 17th in payroll, and 29th in record. And I realize that I'm part of the problem, but without cable, I pay extra to be able to watch Rockies games in CO, because I'm a baseball fan.

Do you have anything handy that shows revenue (ideally net not counting salaries) per team? I'd love to compare that number to amount spent on salaries

 

[Oak]

Do you have anything handy that shows revenue (ideally net not counting salaries) per team? I'd love to compare that number to amount spent on salaries

You make a good point about teams’ ability to generate revenue. Here’s what I found in a quick search. Interesting that the article suggests a “salary floor” instead of a salary cap.

How generous, or cheap, is your favorite MLB team's owner?

This is one of the most talent-laden World Series matchups in recent history.The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers were the No. 1 seeds in their respective leagues, the first time top seeds have met in the championship round, in a full season, since 2017. The rosters are loaded with...

www.thescore.com