The Yankee's Unfair Advantage
February 17, 2004 | 
22 Comments
Bear with me as I rant about something that has bugged me for years now.
It’s obvious to me that baseball has a big problem. Its been obvious to me for years now, but with the Yankee’s signing of last year’s AL MPV Alex Rodriquez, its been thrown into ridiculously sharp relief.
The playing field is uneven and the Yankees have an unfair advantage over every other team in baseball. Period.
Because of the way revenue sharing in baseball is set up they have the ability to spend more money on their players than anyone else can come close to. In essence they can buy themselves a great team. No other team can compete with their payroll.
Case in point: The Mariners, who have it much better than many other smaller market teams, have about half the payroll the Yankees have. Why? Many reasons, but the major reason is simply because they don’t make as much money as the Yankees, and therefor have less to spend on payroll. Sounds simple right? Wrong.
The Mariners have almost as much local fan support as the Yankees. So that’s not it. My understanding is that merchandise sales (both local and international) is part of revenue sharing. So that wouldn’t be it. No, I’m pretty sure it comes down to television.
The Yankees have a TV contract that allows them to make more money than everyone else. Because of the way that revenue is shared, they get to keep more of that money as it’s local revenue. Sounds reasonable. I mean, if people are watching the Yankees they should get the lion’s share of that money. Right? Well, yeah, except it creates an unfair advantage that’s not equalled out anywere else. Obviously they have more fans than anyone else, but unless they have more fans than the rest of baseball, it’s messed up. But it gets worse.
A bigger problem here is that when the Mariners set up their TV deal with the Japanese networks when Ichiro came over, they had to share that revenue equally with the rest of Major League Baseball. The difference being a local deal, vs. an international deal. So, even though these networks are covering the M’s, and the money is being made based on the desire to watch a Mariner’s player — Ichiro — they still have to share with everyone, while the Yankees don’t have to do this on their TV contract.
To me this is a bit of a double standard, one of many. I may not understand the whole issue here, I may have the facts wrong, but all I know is that regardless of anything, the Yankees have an unfair advantage over everyone else.
It doesn’t even matter why it is. Because revenue sharing is so unequal and there is no salary cap, there is an uneven playing field that kills the joy of competition for fans of baseball all over the world. I mean at least the Mariners have a shot! How in the hell is Kansas City or Tampa Bay supposed to hang in there?
For many people, the cost of a baseball game and all the related extras just isn’t worth it to see a team with no shot play. Not to mention the wasted emotional investment. I know it’s not worth it for me to just root against the Yankees. What are Texas Rangers fans going to do? For the next seven years they’ll know that part of their team’s payroll, which comes from hard earned money spent on tickets, hot dogs and beer, is going to fund New York’s All-Star team?
This is horrible for baseball and my guess is it will get worse. When will baseball wake up and realize that having a team this strong isn’t a good thing? When the Yankees sign Maddox or trade for Randy Johnson? It’s high time baseball levels the playing field and does what is right for all of baseball, not just the Yankees.
The proof is in the series. Just take a look at the history of the world series. Unless baseball is all about the Yankees, in which case I’ll find another American pass-time, something’s not right.
Filed under: Life and Such
Comments
1. Dan Cederholm said:
Amen. It’s been several days and I’m still picking my jaw up off the floor. It is bad for baseball, and it’s especially painful for Red Sox fans. But to a Red Sox fan, anything that is good for the New York Yankees is bad for baseball.
And to add insult to injury, A-Rod has agreeably moved over to third base to allow Jeter to continue at shortstop. And here we were cleaning out Nomar’s locker over the holidays… I could go on and on :)
Posted on February 17, 2004 08:21 PM | #
2. JMBR said:
Who won the World Series last year?
Who won the World Series before that?
Who won the World Series three years ago?
I am a Red Sox & Detroit Tigers fan and nothing gives me more pleasure than to see the Yankees spend sooo much money every year and NOT win the World Series. They often do win the series like the top teams in European Soccer, but when the Florida Marlins, Anaheim Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks win the series it ain’t all bad.
Posted on February 17, 2004 08:37 PM | #
3. Mike Steinbaugh said:
Is the A-rod trade bad for baseball? No way. The Red Sox win over the Yankees in the playoffs will be so much sweeter now. Pedro against Maddux in the World Series will be even better. That’s right, it’s Red Sox vs. Cubs baby. Then again, those loveable Giants could always sneak through :)
Posted on February 17, 2004 09:11 PM | #
4. Keith said:
JMBR - Your point isn’t entirely missed, however, one could ask when was the last time the Yankees missed the playoffs? Or, if you are a fan of the majority of the teams in the AL, when was the last time your team made it to the World Series? Only two teams a year make it and the fact of the matter is just about 1 out of every 3 times, one of those teams is the yankees.
Even if they don’t make it to the series, you can mark them down for the playoffs just about ever year. Only 4 teams in the AL make it and one of those, almost every damn year, is the Yankees. The last two years aside, just look at history. Look at that list I posed of World Series games. This goes beyond a two year streak.
I feel something is wrong with that.
Mike - The A-rod trade is bad for baseball. The whole A-rod situation is bad for baseball. Ok, so the NL teams don’t have to worry about it too much, lucky them.
I hope the Red Sox, or any other team besides the Yankees make it to the series from the AL, but it’ll be hard and you can bet that they’re probably the only team that realistically has a shot now. What about those AL teams that aren’t the Red Sox? Even if the Yankees crash and burn this is bad for baseball.
Posted on February 17, 2004 09:32 PM | #
5. Zelnox said:
I cheer for Montreal.
Yes, there is a team in Montreal. Hehe. It pains me to see guys like Barrett and Guerrero leave, because several years ago, they were supposed to save Montreal.
The last strike really hurt us, T_T. Back then, the stadium was still drawing in the 50Ks easily. Ever since, and following a few fire sales, the crowd here feels disillusioned and just gave up.
Nevertheless, last season the team was competing well enough until the super-long road trip of doom (only positive point was sweeping Seattle, I think, hehe). Montreal gets no respect.
About the television contract, here, it has been announced that only a handful of games will be aired. Sponsors don’t want to get burned again.
You can’t say that Montreal is only a hockey city. There is no hockey during the summer anyway. People like sports here, yet many many fans here have lost hope in baseball.
Sad, sad. I wish Guerrero could come back. Don’t care about Rodriguez or Jeters or Griffeys…
Posted on February 17, 2004 10:24 PM | #
6. John Gruber said:
Major League Baseball *is* comprised of haves and have-nots; but you are very wrong that the Yankees are the only haves. What about the Dodgers, who until recently were owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.? The Atlanta Braves are owned by Time-Warner. These teams could match the Yankees payroll dollar-for-dollar, but they don’t.
Or take the Red Sox. A-Rod was theirs for the taking, but they simply didn’t offer a good enough deal. They could have, but they didn’t.
There are plenty of other teams that could have dealt for A-Rod.
Admittedly, there are plenty of teams that couldn’t have; teams whose entire payrolls are the same order of magnitude as A-Rod’s salary alone. Too bad.
The Marlins beat the Yankees last year with just one serious superstar in their lineup (Pudge).
Posted on February 18, 2004 07:17 AM | #
7. F - train said:
You think its bad being a Montreal fan… try being a fan of the other Canadian team right now! Thats right I’m a Jays fan!
If the Jays were in any other division in the AL and yeah possibly in the entire MLB they could have a shot at the post-season. But with the Yanks and Bosox spending money like water - okay the Yanks are spending like water, the Bosox they could have just as easily had A rod playing in the infield alongside Nomar and not Jeter) - there’s little chance the Jays could make the postseason.
Whether its good or bad for baseball I’m not sure. But I will be watching the jays vs Bosox and jays vs yanks a lot closer now, hoping my David can beat there Goliaths!
Posted on February 18, 2004 08:04 AM | #
8. Keith said:
John is right about the Yankees not being the only team in history (or even currently) that has the ability to outspend other teams.
However it still doesn’t make it right and frankly the fact that there *are* have and have-nots in baseball isn’t as bothersome as the whys and hows behind it all.
I think it’d be much more fun (and baseball is supposed to be fun right?) if every team had an equal opportunity and there were no “couldn’t” haves.
I will say it is great when a team like the Marlin’s up and smacks the Yankees, but that doesn’t happen very often.
Posted on February 18, 2004 12:38 PM | #
9. beerzie boy said:
While it is a problem, I’m not sure much has changed since the early days of baseball. If I recall much from Ken Burns’s Baseball series, it is that money has always been integral to the game. Not that it is good…but…
Big-market teams are always at an advantage, especially when they are teams like the Yankees who have a lot of tradition and are in a big, exciting city like New York. (Not that Dallas-Fort Worth or Montreal aren’t charming, but the ain’t the Big Apple.)
Posted on February 18, 2004 02:10 PM | #
10. Scott Johnson said:
I couldn’t agree more with what JMBR said above (#2). It’s very nice to see the Yanks spend SO much money and not win. Sure, the Yankees have an unfair financial advantage, but that’s not the only way to win in baseball.
Posted on February 18, 2004 04:25 PM | #
11. MJH said:
Hey, theres a pretty heated discussion about this going on at: http://www.atarisuicide.com/archive/2004/02/17/screw_the_yanke/
if anyone wants to check it out.
That would be me defending the Yankees.
Posted on February 20, 2004 06:19 AM | #
12. James said:
I’m often confused by the idea that the Yankee’s are in an unfair position.
Of course the conversation inevitably begins with their advantage in money. Advantage?
You’ll have to explain this to the NY Mets. While having the 2nd highest payroll in the league they finished dead last - sorry second to last in the NL.
You’ll also have to explain this to the Oakland Athletics. Although being outspent by a hundred million dollars - sorry slightly more then a hundred million dollars, they finished 5 games behind the Yankees.
The Atlanta Braves spent fifty million dollars less then the Yankees and finished tied with them.
The Texas Rangers spent how much and finished where?
Sorry, I don’t buy the money aspect one bit. One look at the 2002-2003 Regular Season Standings shows four of the six division winners having whats considered to be modest payrolls in the league.
I understand the owners frustrations - they made a poor business decision and now they want to hold someone else accountable. Like all businesses, the owners are blaming everyone but themselves.
Posted on February 20, 2004 10:48 AM | #
13. Keith said:
Hey Mike - I saw your initial comment over there –
“Every year its the same argument, yet theres no real correlation between total team salary and success” – and I’m calling bullshit on that one. Sure, not every year, but I’m pretty sure the Yankees have had the highest payroll in baseball forever and they hold 25% of the World Series titles, have been to the Series about 33% of the time and are in the playoffs something like 80% of the time. If you don’t think money has something to do with that you’re kidding yourself.
Must be nice to be a Yankee fan. You’d be singing a different tune if you were an M’s fan like me. I mean we had one of the greatest seasons ever, have a fairly high payroll and actually have some semblance of a shot this year. Thing is – if we miss our chance, like the Yankees did last year, we won’t get another for quite a while. The Yankees, because of their unfair advantage, have a shot every goddamn year.
Professional sports is seeming more and more like a sucker’s bet to me, with the possible exception of the NFL. Baseball is controlled, generally, buy the big market teams. The NBA is controlled by superstar players…
If you’re one of the have-nots your better off waiting until your team is well into contention before spending one red cent. I’m a huge sports fan and I’ve spent so much money on sports that aren’t played on an even playing field it makes me sick.
Last night I went to the Sonics game vs. Philly. Now, granted, the Sonics aren’t a great team by any stretch, and that’s ok. I love basketball. What I don’t love is watching two teams shoot 73 free throws.
Allen Iverson bitched in the first half, he goaded the refs into giving him calls – many of which were straight up bullshit – then the Sonics bitched so the refs had to even it out.
I sat there thinking, “I payed good money for this crap”…the refs took as superstar’s goading and used it to put their stamp on the game. It was very hard to watch.
The point is, I don’t care if my teams lose, as long as I feel they were given the same chance as the other team and it’s played in the true spirit of the game. In baseball this comes down to the fact that one team has it so that they can win it all 25% of the time.
That would be fine….if there were four teams.
Am I bitter? Hell yeah I’m bitter, A-Rod left Seattle for money and now he gets to play for the Yankees. Screw that, he should have wallowed in Texas for the rest of his career.
I mean, shit, I’ve not seen one of my teams take a championship my whole life. Not one. From any sport. Red Sox fans bitch about their curse, screw them, most of them are also Patriots fans, or Celtic fans. Excuse me if I don’t feel the least bit sorry for them. Try living is a small market where you’re very lucky to get one championship, from one of your teams every 30 to 40 years, if that.
Seattle has had 1. Count it. 1 Championship ever. That’s it, and it was before I lived here. There are many markets who can claim similar. But NY has coutless. LA, at ton. Chicago, lots. Boston might have more than anyone.
I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think that maybe there is something to that. I know there is in baseball and while I’ll still watch and root for the M’s I’m not spending anymore hard earned cash on someone else’s good time….until the playoffs. ;)
Posted on February 20, 2004 10:54 AM | #
14. Keith said:
James, while I respect your opinion, how could you not see that the Yankees have an unfair financial advantage???
Sure, if you look at one year this might not seem to be the case. There are lots of factors that can go into a season in MLB, money isn’t the only one but it sure helps.
You can’t f’n tell me that the fact that they were able to weasel the best player in baseball, Shef, Giambi, and the list goes on and on has nothing to do with cash and doesn’t help their chances to get to the Series.
No other team could have done that. It’s not because they’re smarter or make better decisions. It’s because they’re payroll is almost twice as large as anyone elses!
The only valid example you bring up is the A’s and that is a special case that, over time, will not stand up. Talk to me in 2 years when they’re in the cellar. Oh and last time I checked, they didn’t get to the Series. Who did? Oh yeah….The Yankees.
The Yankees spend more money than everyone else year in and year out and guess what – they win 1/4 World Series, and they play in 1/3 World Series. It does have something to do with money. It’s obvious! The fact that A-Rod went to the Yankees proves it. Even with Texas taking some of the financial burden no other team could afford him. It was a trade, it’s not like he chose to go to NY. Don’t you think, for one second, that maybe some other team would have liked to have the best player in baseball. Are you telling me that the rest of the league was just to stupid to figure this out? It’s because they didn’t have enough money to compete for his services.
Tell me, if it’s not money, what is it??
Posted on February 20, 2004 11:11 AM | #
15. MJH said:
Its ludacris to blame the yankees for playing within the rules set forth for them. Just because our owner has a different mentality than the rest of the league doesn’t mean its the wrong mentality.
The league is the way it is because the rest of the owners think lower ticket prices and fan festivities will bring in more people. Instead, pay for the better players and raise the ticket prices up front and watch the dividends roll in. Get a rivalry between “local” teams or divisions (the makings of the As vs Seattle rivalry is awesome) going, and watch the money roll in.
Steinbrenner leads the most successful franchise because he gambles better then the rest of the owners. He knows he doesnt NEED Arod, but he knows that signing him will sell out the $100 jerseys, sell out 99,000 (in only four days!) more tickets and piss off the Red Sox royally. AND in the process take all the joy away from the delirious Patriots fans, and steal the national headlines for a week [so far]. In his mind, he’s won the first half of the season already.
I disagree that no other teams could have made this work. The Mets surely could have, the Red Sox had a great opportunity, and lets not remind you that the Mariners couldn’t keep their hands on him in the first place.
Understand that even though you felt like you wasted your money at the b-ball game last night, for me to go to the game - being in a bigger market - would cost me much more to see the same crap. There is a price to pay being in the NYC area compared to the “small-market” teams, and we do expect better.
Posted on February 20, 2004 12:08 PM | #
16. Keith said:
Ok, first off, I don’t blame the Yankees for this at all. I f’n hate them, but I don’t blame them. This is beyond them, I realize that. It’s MLB’s problem as a whole.
Having said that, it bugs me that nobody is willing to admit that some teams, the Yankees being the major one, have certain unfair advantages over others.
The M’s Japanese TV contract is a prime example, they have to share equally with the rest of the league, wheras the Yankees don’t with their Yes deal. To me, just because the M’s are making money overseas, they shouldn’t be treated differently. I mean in a “real” business (as lots of Yankee fans are quick to use as a defense) this wouldn’t matter.
But, then again, all the owners agreed to it so it’s all their fault. What I’m saying is that as a fan, it’s about the sport and the sport isn’t happening on an exactly level playing field.
The M’s pull in a shit-load of money, I think they’ve had more sell-outs than any other team in baseball the last few years. More than many, many other teams, but they still can’t compete financially with the Yankees and never will be able to, no matter how well they run their business, unless things are changed. I do realize that the M’s management is a bit stingy, which sucks for the fans, but the difference here is almost $100 million!
Oh and, “There is a price to pay being in the NYC area compared to the “small-market” teams, and we do expect better.”
Wow, what a truly “New York” thing to say…I’ve been to a Knicks game. The difference in price isn’t all that much, the tickets were harded to get, but they weren’t more expensive. I guess you have to be a New Yorker to expect quality? Come on….
Posted on February 20, 2004 12:41 PM | #
17. James said:
[quote]
James, while I respect your opinion, how could you not see that the Yankees have an unfair financial advantage???[/quote]
Whats unfair about what you claim to be the Yankees financial advantage? If you look at the standings in recent history, its not in order of payroll. Quite the contrary. Instead, its made up of teams w/ big, medium, and small payrolls at the top. In fact, if you look at the losing teams, those are made up of teams with big, medium, and small payrolls. Again, if you look at the middle of the pack - well again, its made up of teams with big, medium, and small payrolls. Advantage? The answer is simply no.
[quote]No other team could have done that. It’s not because they’re smarter or make better decisions. It’s because they’re payroll is almost twice as large as anyone elses![/quote]
You’re absolutely wrong. Half a dozen teams could have picked up A-rod if they wanted to without a problem. 15 teams could have made sacrafices and picked him up. You’re complaints that the Yankees are the only team in the league who can afford these players is nonsense. They’re just the only ones who do afford them. You say its not because they’re any smarter - theres a lot of WS rings out there that say otherwise.
[quote]The Yankees spend more money than everyone else year in and year out and guess what – they win 1/4 World Series, and they play in 1/3 World Series. It does have something to do with money. It’s obvious![/quote]
Of course they’ve won their share of World Series rings, they’ve been in the league a lot longer then most teams. Yankee-haters like to throw around a lot of statistics but they don’t like admitting the Yankees have also been around a lot longer then most teams. A 100 years from now the Devil Rays might have 20-something championship rings too.
[quote]Don’t you think, for one second, that maybe some other team would have liked to have the best player in baseball. Are you telling me that the rest of the league was just to stupid to figure this out? It’s because they didn’t have enough money to compete for his services.[/quote]
Thats absurd. We’re not talking about men like you or I who make $200,000 on a good year. Owners are made up of multi-billion dollar corporations and men worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s not that they can’t afford these players. They don’t want to! It’s a giant risk. What if A-rod comes to NY and doesn’t produce? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time an athlete came to NY and stunk up the place. It’s silly for baseball fans to keep claiming that teams can’t afford players.
It’s like inheriting 60 million dollars and being offered a 50 million dollar mansion. Could you afford it? Sure. Is it worth it? Probably not.
Posted on February 20, 2004 08:06 PM | #
18. Keith said:
Whatever man, I’ve heard it all before and I still think it’s wrong. Period. Frankly I’m sick of all the excuses from Yankee fans, and all reasons aside the fact of the matter is that the Yankees payroll is almost double that of any other team, with 1 or 2 exceptions. It’s a fact, regardless of what made it that way. And for fans of other teams it sucks. Blame it on our owners, whatever, it doesn’t matter. If there was a salary cap or a more equal revenue share, it wouldn’t be like that.
The Mariners got screwed a few years back by revenue sharing and there was nary a peep. If that’d happened to the Yankees all hell would’ve broken loose.
They have an all star at just about every position and STILL I hear Yankee fans bitching about the hole at 2nd base. That’s like bitching about a mole on Heidi Klum’s ass, as I heard somewhere.
I actually laughed my ass off at one thing you said, “15 teams could have made sacrifices and picked him up.”
Your absolutely right. The thing is, the Yankee’s didn’t have to make sacrifices to pick up A-rod, which proves my point. Make all the excuses you want. The f’n fact of the matter is the Yankees have (for whatever reason - it really doesn’t matter) much more money than every other team in baseball and that gives them an unfair advantage.
Period.
As far as your point about the standings. Of course it’s made up of all different teams, because the damn Yankees can only win one division!
If you define big payroll based on all of baseball there is only one team with a big payroll – the Yankees.
Anyway, you obviously don’t see my point, and why should you? Things are great year in and year out for Yankee fans. If I was one I wouldn’t want to see things change and admit the system is screwed up either.
I’m done with it. Hopefully we’ll see you in the playoffs, it’ll be 1995 all over again and I’ll be proved wrong.
Posted on February 20, 2004 09:37 PM | #
19. ren_man said:
2 words. GAY ROD! That sucker may be great, but he doesn’t appreciate what he has (HE SHOULD OF LEARNED FROM RIPKEN). His words are polished to a BS sharp edge. And as for advantage, it’s Location Location Location.
NY.
The don’t have a great TV contract, they own the Darn channel and make money off of revenue. They sell advertising and the brocast rights.
It’s like PSB vs CNN or NBC.
Until someone with some HOOTS steps in and stops taking sh*&^% this will continue.
The Commish is a fool. He can’t even put on an All Star Game in his home town.
The M’s, A’s and Twins have it correct. Grow your own, spread the dough and sneak in in August and then Slay the dragon.
The Yankees have no real pitching. They will have to win 22-20. AKA Texas. HA HA.
GAY ROD is looking for a cheap ring and he won’t get one. That team is a year away from imploding.
I could go on.
I can’t wait for OCTOBER. Bring it on Pencil kneck Spankees.
\m.
Posted on February 21, 2004 12:10 AM | #
20. James said:
“Your absolutely right. The thing is, the Yankee’s didn’t have to make sacrifices to pick up A-rod, which proves my point. Make all the excuses you want. The f’n fact of the matter is the Yankees have (for whatever reason - it really doesn’t matter) much more money than every other team in baseball and that gives them an unfair advantage.
Period.”
So what? As you acknowledge half the league could have picked up A-rod but were unwilling to make the sacrafices. Thats their problem. My Mets passed up A-Rod a few years ago and it was one of their worst decisions in recent memory. Such is baseball.
I’m just happy baseball is going in the opposite direction of the NFL. I’m a sports fan. Living on Long Island, I have my favorite teams but I’d rather watch a good game over my team anyday. I hate watching football because there are no good games. Each team is about the same. On one team you have a great offensive line but no QB. Their opponents have a great QB but no receivers. On the next channel there are two fantastic defenses but no offense.
The point is, w/ teams like the Yankees, Braves, Red Sox, and other consistent teams I know I can watch a good team any night during the season. If it were up to the Yankee-haters, we’d be watching the Devil Rays play the Tigers over and over again. I’d rather watch a good team play then a bottom feeder.
Posted on February 22, 2004 09:37 PM | #
21. Longtime Fan said:
Baseball has a lot of problems that need to be dealt with. The Yankees are more like one of the symptoms.
I started watching baseball back in the late 60’s. My Grandfather took me to my first game in ‘72. The game has changed, no doubt. There are so many factors that go into where the game is today.
Expansion: There are simply too many teams for the amount of quality pitchers available. Most teams # 5 starters are not Major League caliber talents. Many teams have # 4 starters that are not up-to-snuff either. Between 40 & 50 of these Pitchers appearing one a week should still be in the minors. 40 - 50 pitchers is 4 to 5 teams’ entire staffs…. Expansion has also watered down the everyday lineups as well. Most teams have a few guys going out there every day that shouldn’t be there.
Pitching Mound: MLB lowered the mound 6 inches. It affects the angle that the ball comes in at. Since this change, batting averages have gone up considerably.
Strike Zone: From the letters to the knees and the entire width of the plate is supposed to be called a strike. I know MLB is trying to fix this, but you still see a lot of high strikes called balls.
No Commissioner: Selid running the show is a joke. He is so afraid to take charge and do anything that might upset a few owners. The previous Commissioner was FIRED. That isn’t supposed to happen A Commissioner is not supposed to fear for their job. It is like being appointed a judgeship. The most powerful tool that a Commissioner has is evoking the clause “In the best interest of Baseball”. Anyone that actually uses this gets fired. Landis is probably rolling over in his grave.
Yankees: The Yankees are not winning the way that they did from the 20’s through the 60’s, the great Ruth-Gehrig-DiMaggio-Mantle eras. TSince te start of Free Agency, they are winning by outspending the other teams at every level. Not just on the field payroll, but in the minors and on scouting. They can draft and sign prospects that other organizations can’t afford. Check out how many prospects get drafted by other teams only to not sign. The watch where those kids eventually end up going…..
How to fix Baseball:
Contracton: Get rid of at least 4 teams. That’s 40 Pitchers and 60 Positional players back to the Minors and a higher quality MBL product for us to watch.
Pitching Mound: Raise it back to where it was originally. Batting averages will go down and we won’t have to watch so many 11 - 9 ballgames.
Umpires as Employees: Hire the umpires back as employees instead of having them be contracted. If they are employees and they refuse to call a uniform strike zone, they can be fired. Baseball can control it’s employees.
Commissioner: Get a real one who has the “stones” to stand up to the owners and the player’s union. Someone with a real love of the game. Peter Gammons would make a fine Commish.
Revenue Sharing and a Salary Cap: All revenues from all sources shouls be shared evenly. All teams should have the same payrolls for Major & Minor Leagues, as well as what they can spend on scouting and research. A true “Level Playing Field”
Posted on June 27, 2004 10:42 AM | #
22. Vito said:
The Yankees three highest paid players make just over 56 million dollars a year. That is higher than the total salaries of 14 other teams. Who has the best record in baseball this season? The Yankees. How is this supposed to be fair? Its not. The Yankees would not have the same succes as St. Louis if their salary was cut by 100 million so that they would be equal. Steinbrenner is not a good buisnessman because he got A-Rod. The owners of the other teams in the league who pay half of what Steinbrenner pays and do almost as good are good buisnessmen. Bottom line, the Yankees are good because they pay a player whatever he wants instead of getting guys that are worth more than they demand.
Posted on July 7, 2004 11:56 AM | #
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