RSSNotes from the Cheap Seats
Feb 21
Sports baseball, salaries Comments Off
We’ve all heard the endless rants about $55 million from the Royals to Gil Meche and yes, that’s definitely one sign of the apocalypse. But $100 million from the Astros to Carlos Lee? The Cubs giving $136 million to Alfonso Soriano?? That’s insane! And I really like Alfonso Soriano. I’ve been a big fan since I saw him hit two home runs in the All-Star Futures Game at Fenway Park in 1999. But the guy is only good for home runs, stolen bases, and flailing strikeouts. Someone once described him as the next Hank Aaron, but since Hank broke the all-time home run record, people forget what an amazing all around player he was. In contrast, no one remembers that Soriano played second base, and he did it up until last year!
And okay, my Red Sox were no better this off-season, giving $70 million to D.L., I mean J.D., Drew, a former super prospect with limitless potential that of course has been limited by missing as many games as he’s played. So much for the salary correction. I remember two years ago when ridiculous pitching contracts were being thrown out all over baseball and I said to myself, “these guys are going to regret these deals, big time.” $48 million from the Dodgers for Derek Lowe? $47 million from the Blue Jays for B.J. Ryan? $40 million from the Evil Empire for Carl Pavano? (Okay, I was right about Pavano -- Eat it, Yankees!- but the cosmic scales were balanced out when the Sox dumped $25 million on Matt Clement.) But, those deals would be considered bargains this year. I never thought I’d have to say that.
So, why another spike? After last year’s short lived downturn, we’re back in March 2000 Nasdaq territory for baseball salaries. The experts say that the sport is flooded with money so owners are willing to spend some to keep making even more. And I’m sure that’s the financial reasoning. But me, I think players and owners are setting themselves up for scorn and backlash from fans. More than two years ago, more even than the crazy years following the 1999 and 2000 seasons (I admit, I was psyched when we got Manny Ramirez). If A-Rod can get booed in New York during an MVP season because he makes “too much” money, just imagine what will happen to these lesser players when they don’t produce like an MVP. Remember Kevin Brown? Mike Hampton? Both got $100 million deals at the end of last century and didn’t come close to living up to the lofty expectations. How about Chan Ho Park? After completing the most pathetic $65 million deal in history, he signed last week with the Mets for $600,000. That’s a long way down.
In the end, management operates within the economics of baseball. But the fans don’t relate to these dramatic increases because we don’t make anywhere near as much money and we sure don’t get 500% raises. So, we expect better performances for higher salaries. And better teams for more expensive tickets. This off-season, the big money didn’t stop with the big names, trickling down to every mediocre player lucky enough to be a free agent this year. But if these guys want to actually enjoy any of their time under the weight of these oversized deals, they’re going to have to produce better than some of their predecessors. I’m looking at you Gary Matthews Jr. (5 years, $50 million from the Angels), Juan Pierre (5 years, $44 million from the Dodgers), and Vicente Padilla (3 years, $34 million from the Rangers). And if your response to that is “Who?,” you are not alone.
Notes from the Cheap Seats
Better spring training stories than the obscenely overexposed arrival of Daisuke Matsuzaka or the mind numbing discussion of where A-Rod will go next year if he opts out of his $17 trillion deal.
Some guys have played the game the right way for many years:
Greg Maddux The guy has been a wizard for nearly 20 years. He’s gaining on the all-time greats in wins and no pitcher has ever mastered the true art of deception like Maddux. I even wrote a paper back in college analyzing statistics that show his 1995 season may have been the best ever by a pitcher. Do yourself a favor and watch any game he pitched around that time. The way that man makes a baseball move is inhuman. Seeing him with San Diego will be a fun new twist on a legend.
Tom Glavine Maddux’s old teammate from the 1990′s Braves is back for maybe one last season and is closing in on 300 wins. No one from Billerica, MA ever achieved more by obsessively pitching just off the outside corner. If you can find it, 20 cents will buy you his 1990 Score baseball card where he’s in full hockey gear shooting a puck. He almost played in the NHL instead of the MLB. The NHL? It’s the hockey league. Yes, it’s still around! They’re on the Disney channel! No, wait, ABC family. Well, I don’t know where the hell you find a hockey game on TV!
Craig Biggio and Ken Griffey Jr. Two throwbacks that are the incarnation of summertime, late night games on the radio, and dusty infields in August. When healthy, they both can still really play. Biggio goes for his 3,000th hit, all with the Astros, and Griffey needs 37 home runs to reach 600. He’s the only legitimate 500 homer guy since Eddie Murray and will be the first to truly earn 600 since Willie Mays. Reaching that milestone with his hometown Reds will make battling all the injuries worthwhile.
