As I prepare to cheer for the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays the rest of the way, I wanted to do a little research on team payrolls. Every baseball fan knows there are 3 types of teams:
The Haves - These teams are usually in a big city, have a big fan base, big TV contract, and a legitimate chance to win every year (see NY, CHI, LA, ATL, SF).
The Sorta Haves - These teams are not as big as the Haves, but have a shot because they'll buy the right player given the right situation (see Phillies, Giants, Astros) or sometimes they buy the wrong player (see Phillies, Giants, Astros). It seems every year there's a Sorta Have in the mix (this year its the Phils).
The Have Nots - These are the teams that usually have nothing (see Pirates, Expos/Nationals, Royals). There are a few Have Nots that rise up occasionally but eventually are put to bed by a HAVE in the playoffs (Oakland, Minnesota, San Diego). And then there is the very occasional Have Not who rises up and wins (see Marlins 2003...thank you Steve Bartman).
As I chopped up these categories there were 6 teams that jumped out at me that were not in the right category:
Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners (back to the Sorta Haves, you Frauds!). Brewers and Reds (once a Have Not always a Have Not). And finally, the Giants and Rangers (big market/city, big TV contract teams should equal bigger salaries you guys, bust open your wallet for crying out loud).
So when you dial in a MLB playoff game this Fall, cheer for the (Devil) Rays...they're this year's winner of the 2008 BEST TEAM MONEY CAN BUY AWARD (The 2008BTMCBA).
Here are few team's in the opposite situation:
1. Detroit Tigers $138 Mil (hands down loser)
2. NY Mets/Yankees (neither qualified for postseason play for a combined $350 mil)
3. Seattle/Atlanta (no excuse for this kind of spending and that poor of performance)
4. Marlins (c'mon $21 million, that number would make Calvin Griffith blush)
The HAVES
Yankees $209 Million
Tigers $138 Million
Mets $138 Million
BoSox $133 Million
ChiSox $121 Million
Angels $119 Million
Cubs $118 Million
Dodgers $118 Million
Mariners $117 Million
Braves $102 Million
The Sorta HAVES
Cards $100 Million
Blue Jays $98 Million
Phillies $98 Million
Astros $88 Million
Brewers $81 Million
Indians $78 Million
Giants $76 Million
Reds $74 Million
Padres $73 Million
Rockies $68 Million
HAVE NOTS
Rangers $68 Million
Orioles $67 Million
D'backs $66 Million
Twins $62 Million
Royals $58 Million
Nats $54Million
Pirates $49 Million
Athletics $47 Million
Rays $43 Million
Marlins $21 Million
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3 comments:
I'd like to take a couple of the teams and put them in their own
category, the "Shouldn't Haves". This would be the lovely franchises in
the Motor City and the South side of Chicago.
Detroit - if not for Gary, Indiana it would draw strong consideration
for the armpit of North America. Claims to fame: massive unemployment,
skyrocketing crime rates, and the sense (or lack thereof) that they have
the right, nay obligation, to burn down as much of the city as possible
every time one of their over-glamorized franchises wins anything. The
only thing that's keeping the city from becoming a glowing ember is the
continued futility of the Motor City Kitties. Matt Millen should get
some sort of humanitarian award for the untold property and lives he
saved during his pathetic tenure.
Chicago White Sox - Is there any team that's easier to hate? Before
'05, what was their claim to fame? Keeping "Shoeless" Joe out of the
Hall of Fame? Disco Demolition Night? A crack-smoking father and son
attacking the Royals' first base coach? Now that's class. They seem to
be of the mind that, the larger the population of your city, the more
swagger you can exhibit. I guess that would carry more credence if some
of that population would actually show up at Comiskey and they would win
more World Series than the Twins or Marlins in the last 90 years. These
aren't like the die-hard Cubby fans because as soon as the team becomes
mediocre again (it's coming soon, Ozzie), they'll scurry back in to the
woodwork like the cockroaches they are.
If Bud "Stop calling me Nerd" Selig is looking to contract again, those
would be my 2 surprising nominees.
That's real fair, kind of reminds me of College football. ... E
I don't know what the statute of limitations is on blog posts...but perhaps this will help serve as evidence for lengthening it.
You called out the Giants and Rangers two years ago...and the Giants listened. They went from 76 to 82 to 97 million, and are in the World Series. The Rangers on the other hand have gone from 68 to 68 to 55...and are favored.
Just thought you'd like to know we remember everything you write. PT
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