In MLB, Have Big Local TV Money? Will Sign Stars.
How can all this local TV money possibly be good for baseball? The Plain-Dealer has a fascinating read on the widening gap between the spend-happy owners (thanks to local TV money) and the frugal owners who aren’t flush with cable cash:
Heated competition and demand for sports cable programming are driving up broadcasting rights fees. And some ball clubs find themselves flush in a sport with no limit on how much they can spend for players.
This isn’t technically “news,” as the sport has been struggling with this for nearly a decade. But in the wake of Pujols-to-Anaheim, Yu Darvish-to-Texas, and Fielder-to-Detroit (even though the Tigers claim a lucrative TV deal didn’t have much to do with the deal), the problem has arisen once again. Braves fans should be worried. And Milwaukee, which just lost Prince Fielder, is not happy.
“The TV contracts are the biggest difference,” Melvin said. “All I know is ours doesn’t come close to [the Angels, Rangers and other big-market teams]. We can’t change our market. We’re not going to be able to go and bring five million people to Milwaukee for a better TV market.”
Pitchers and catchers report in 19 days! [Plain Dealer]
- Tony Allen: Here’s Video of Him Dancing in Front of a Green Screen Taping an ESPN NBA Promo
- Amar’e Stoudemire Wore a Yarmulke to the Knicks’ Shootaround
- Jaguars Cheerleader Swimsuit Video is Something to Root For [Video]
- Baby Goat Playing and Jumping on a Sleepy Pig Should Highlight Your Weekend [Video]
- Mitchie Brusco – a 15-Year Old – Landed a 1080, Wins Silver at the X-Games [Video]
- Curtis the Close talker on Amar'e Stoudemire Wore a Yarmulke to the Knicks' Shootaround
- Shining Base Path on Amar'e Stoudemire Wore a Yarmulke to the Knicks' Shootaround
- Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
- A.P. on Bradley Beal Seems to Have Lost a Little Respect for Derrick Rose Because He Didn't Try and Play
133 Responses to “In MLB, Have Big Local TV Money? Will Sign Stars.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
![ESPN Tried Very Hard to Lure Seth Meyers to Host a Late-Night Sports TV Show. Who Will ESPN Make a Run at Next? [Media]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686667190-thumb0.jpg)
ESPN Tried Very Hard to Lure Seth Meyers to Host a Late-Night Sports TV Show. Who Will ESPN Make a Run at Next? [Media]![Ian Kinsler Had The Worst Head First Slide Of All Time [GIF]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688078131-thumb1.gif)
Ian Kinsler Had The Worst Head First Slide Of All Time [GIF]![NBC Sports is Already Blowing Up The Crossover, and Michelle Beadle is Going to Host the Show Alone [Media]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688089802-thumb2.png)
NBC Sports is Already Blowing Up The Crossover, and Michelle Beadle is Going to Host the Show Alone [Media]![Bashing Sam Presti? Did Everyone Forget Russell Westbrook WAS INJURED? [NBA]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13687202723-thumb3.jpg)
Bashing Sam Presti? Did Everyone Forget Russell Westbrook WAS INJURED? [NBA]![Tavon Austin Has 'Cousins' in Baltimore Counting on His Bank Account Before He Even Has a Rookie Contract [NFL]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686682184-thumb4.jpg)
Tavon Austin Has 'Cousins' in Baltimore Counting on His Bank Account Before He Even Has a Rookie Contract [NFL]![ESPN's Bob Ley Receives Letter From Fan: Did Joe Paterno Fake His Death? [Twitter]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13685869805-thumb5.jpg)
ESPN's Bob Ley Receives Letter From Fan: Did Joe Paterno Fake His Death? [Twitter]![Lionel Messi Scored 60 Goals in 2012/13, Heres Video of All of Them [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13687255916-thumb6.jpg)
Lionel Messi Scored 60 Goals in 2012/13, Heres Video of All of Them [Video]![Manny Machado or Bryce Harper or Mike Trout? You Must Embrace This Debate! [MLB]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686534477-thumb7.jpg)
Manny Machado or Bryce Harper or Mike Trout? You Must Embrace This Debate! [MLB]![You Must See This Monster Rugby Hit [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13688090438-thumb8.png)
You Must See This Monster Rugby Hit [Video]![Jeon Jun-woo, a Korean League Player, With the Greatest Bat Flip Ever on a Fly Out [Video]](http://thebiglead.fantasysportsven.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/plugin/resize_13686535059-thumb9.jpg)
Jeon Jun-woo, a Korean League Player, With the Greatest Bat Flip Ever on a Fly Out [Video]
January 30th, 2012 at 12:58 PM
We can’t change our market. We’re not going to be able to go and bring five million people to Milwaukee for a better TV market.”
Three words, Doug. Free. Cheese. Curds. That’ll lure at least 3.5 mil.
January 30th, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Wheeler-to-Cleveland.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Define “struggling”? The sport is struggling with increasing interest, and thus higher cable rights costs? What a problem!
If you’re implying it struggles with parity, well we all know you literally have no clue what you’re talking about.
A lesson to aspiring writers: when you write to a narrative, your points lack clarity and nuance.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:01 PM
I keep forgetting…is it good or bad for baseball to have big market teams make the postseason?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
According to the narrative spun by this website, bad. Unless it’s the Yankees.
/Rays will win the AL East this year
January 30th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I’m not sure why this is news… of course it’s the TV money. What else did you think it was? It’s not attendance. Milwaukee came close to or flat out outdrew the white sox and the braves (and the dodgers last year) for the last 4 years or so… but that doesn’t mean they pull nearly as much money for their TV contract.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Then explain to me why the Mets have the roster of an expansion team this year.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
/chisels MLB gravestone
//ignores that it’s more of the same ol’ teams playing in the Super Bowl
January 30th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Then explain to me why the Mets have the roster of an expansion team this year.
MADOFF!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
At 5dimes you can get 25:1 on them winning the WS. Tempting odds, but my Red Sox fandom might prevent me from putting down a shekel or two.
/shit, just looked: it’s down to 18:1
January 30th, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Because they’re fucked financially? Don’t understand why they didn’t go ahead with that minority interest sale to Einhorn last year…
January 30th, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Because they’re fucked financially? Don’t understand why they didn’t go ahead with that minority interest sale to Einhorn last year…
It was my understanding that he backed out of that because they weren’t going to eventually let him have a majority interest… and why would anyone want to buy a minority interest in something as terrible as the mets organization.
/I think that’s what happened, could be wrong
//HEDGE!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:07 PM
!!!!!!!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:08 PM
Market forces. Dare I say “the invisible hand” (for the economists out there, did I get this right?)?
There are owners in a crack, and maybe don’t know what to do about it. Their local TV market isn’t as lucrative. Their personal fortunes aren’t as deep. It may be years between seasons where a Kansas City or Oakland are competitive.
What’s a small market owner to do? You can say “invest in the farm system”, but a) it takes years to bear fruit, and b) even when the high picks show up, there is no guarantee that any individual prospect is going to live up to the hype (or even stay healthy).
I thought the Twins did it right for years, when their farm system was paying dividends. But, when Mauer and Morneau started getting hurt, the holes were too big and expensive to fill.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:09 PM
If only there were a mechanism that funneled some of these rich, big-market team’s money into the coffers of their less affluent, needy cousins. We could say they were sharing their funds. No that’s not right. Sharing their profit. Still not right.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Braves fans should be worried.
… that their team is owned by a media conglomerate who is more concerned with making a profit than winning.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:10 PM
pay the playoffs
January 30th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Yeah. I can’t imagine why more financially equipped teams would be a good thing.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
didn’t the Tigers suck for like, i don’t know, 15 years? and by suck, i mean epically bad.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Because…
January 30th, 2012 at 1:12 PM
The Twins had a major flaw in development though, with their refusal to draft pitchers that rack up strikeouts, hence all of the soft-tossing, pitch-to-contact. They are not in a good spot developmentally. Sano isn’t going to be up with another 2-3 years.
You got everything right on this statement. The best teams are willing to take advantage of their own situations. And Kansas City will be in the top 3 of the AL Central this year and contending next year.
/Big fan of Hosmer
January 30th, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Don’t understand why they didn’t go ahead with that minority interest sale to Einhorn last year…
Cause he got nailed for insider trading later on.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:12 PM
For the 75,000th time, it doesn’t matter how much money your organization has as much as it matters how smart your front office is. Money does not equate with sound player evaluation or personnel management.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Contract the league!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
For the 75,000th time, it doesn’t matter how much money your organization has as much as it matters how smart your front office is. Money does not equate with sound player evaluation or personnel management
Ah, so you’ve heard of the New York Mets.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
I heard the Cardinals and the Brewers were in the NLCS last year.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:13 PM
And Milwaukee, which just lost Prince Fielder, is not happy.
They’re unhappy they lost one of their best players, but not at the system that gives them a lot of money from the higher revenue teams. Melvin was just stating that he understands how the systems works. Everyone knew 4 years ago Prince was gone. Good for him.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Happens to the best of us?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Money does not equate with sound player evaluation or personnel management
Exactly. Spending on “big name stars” just to spend is stupid. See: Red Sox last year. Also, DC with the Werth contract.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:15 PM
damn it’s weird seeing pujols in a non-cards uni.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:15 PM
damn it’s weird seeing pujols in a non-cards uni.
but their uniforms are almost identical… always throws me off.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Time Warner doesn’t own them anymore. But the TV revenue thing sucks. They are locked in on a 25 year deal (with 22 years left).
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Ah, so you’ve heard of the New York Mets.
Pretty much all the NYC teams except for the Yankees.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Carl Pavano for the Yankees, Jason Schmidt for the Dodgers, Carlos Lee for the Astros.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Time Warner doesn’t own them anymore.
I know… Liberty Media does (right?)… same thing.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Exactly. Spending on “big name stars” just to spend is stupid. See: Red Sox last year. Also, DC with the Werth contract.
If there is an advantage to being a big name team with an Uncle Scrooge style vault of cash, it’s that they can better absorb bad contracts. So they can afford to make mistakes. That, so far as can be quantified, is the only major advantage to having bucks. But baseball especially has shown time and time again that you can win with a relatively small payroll.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
For the 75,000th time, it doesn’t matter how much money your organization has as much as it matters how smart your front office is.
Hear, hear.
ms, if it wasn’t so long, that would be a great meme whenever any of us gripe about free agency, potential sign-and-trades, why my fave team sucks, etc. Great phrase, usable in a variety of circumstances.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:16 PM
It sure as shit does under the new CBA. If you don’t have the money to splash on free agents, but you do have the money to throw at signing bonuses to build from the ground up, well best of fucking luck to you!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:17 PM
almost identical? maybe the colors are similar, but usually it’s not too tough to distinguish between script and print fonts.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:17 PM
That’s correct.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:17 PM
Agree. Small market teams can have their moment in the sun, but there’s just no room for error.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Also, DC with the Werth contract.
/weeps openly
January 30th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
almost identical? maybe the colors are similar, but usually it’s not too tough to distinguish between script and print fonts.
I don’t like to read though. I just look at the colors.
/gets distracted by shiny object
January 30th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
John Malone has more money than God. The Braves could spend if they wanted to.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Agree. Small market teams can have their moment in the sun, but there’s just no room for error.
Marlins have 2 world series titles in the last 15 years!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
John Malone has more money than God. The Braves could spend if they wanted to.
So could a lot of billionaire owners. They don’t want to lose money though, especially when they have shareholders to appease.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
sit back and collect luxury tax and revenue sharing checks while watching their team appreciate in value?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
The Twins had a major flaw in development though, with their refusal to draft pitchers that rack up strikeouts, hence all of the soft-tossing, pitch-to-contact.
philly, so true. Tough part is, when you draft hard throwing 18-year-olds, you don’t know if they will still throw gas when they get to the majors. Drafting pitching is so inexact. Don’t know if there is a path you can choose that you can depend on year after year.
Soft-tossers get hurt, also.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
It sure as shit does under the new CBA. If you don’t have the money to splash on free agents, but you do have the money to throw at signing bonuses to build from the ground up, well best of fucking luck to you!
How much of a team’s overall payroll do signing bonuses for draft picks make up? I would venture to guess that it’s a relatively small amount. But if a team is going to spend gobs of money, I would agree with you that it’s better to spend on the front end on draft picks that can be developed and controlled for several years before being owed a much larger contract as a free agent.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
The Tigers do not actually have a lucrative TV deal like many other teams. So the premise for this article has nothing to do with the Fielder signing.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
I can not wait for baseball to start…my dynasty league starts its prospect draft on Friday.
/February 18th – pitchers & catchers
January 30th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Exactly. It’s why I want one rich dude beholden to no one to own my sports teams.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:21 PM
Also, I once a very well written piece by Miz that showed the Brewers spent more than every other team based on the size of their market. I’d link to it, but then the comment would go to moderation.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
sit back and collect luxury tax and revenue sharing checks while watching their team appreciate in value?
I know it’s done, but it makes me wanna scream. “Oh, yeah. We’re gonna be competitive in ’15″. To hell with that. I don’t wanna hear about windows of opportunity.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Ilitch wants a ring and realized he can’t take his money with him when he dies.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Can’t teach velocity. Draft it. You can teach them to control it.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Good read on Clifton Phifer Lee’s fastball.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:23 PM
We abhor the capitalistic approach that breeds parity; we much prefer the 50cia1istic ways of the NFL and NBA, where the same teams win all the time.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Put it another way: the sunk cost of an average signing bonus for a draft pick, it seems to me, is almost always going to be smaller than the sunk cost of signing that same player as a free agent if he goes on to be a star. And the signing bonus equates with several seasons of team control on that player, whereas the free agent contact will invariably involve some type of no-trade clause, which limits the players value right away.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Oh it’s the much smarter way to do it if you’re the Pirates or Royals. However, the league is now heavily limiting the amount that CAN be spent on that. So basically the league is limiting the ability to build through the draft.
Which does absolutely nothing but protect the massive payroll teams at the detriment of the smaller ones.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:24 PM
Another one. On the Tigers defense that currently employs no less than 3 iron gloves in the infield.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
/February 18th – pitchers & catchers
This is silly, but…
One thing that brightens my day is a picture from spring training where you see players in windbreakers warming up on a sun-splashed day. From my childhood until today, that always makes me happy.
/sentimental old fool
January 30th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
To be fair, that’s worked for them in the dome and even moreso at Target Field. Now when you go all in on a Japanese SS/2B that ends up being awful and screws up your entire infield, that’s a problem.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Oh, I know. But that has nothing to do with a tv contract. It’s from all those 5 dollar pizzas he’s selling!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
It’s a damn dirty shame that the Astros are in the condition they are in. I believe they drew 2MM last year, a year in which they set a club record for futility. Houston is a great baseball town, but it’s been cursed with an owner who ran off the one decent GM he ever had (Hunsicker). Now the new owner is saying he’ll build the “right way.” It’s hard to be patient, though.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Oh it’s the much smarter way to do it if you’re the Pirates or Royals. However, the league is now heavily limiting the amount that CAN be spent on that. So basically the league is limiting the ability to build through the draft.
Which does absolutely nothing but protect the massive payroll teams at the detriment of the smaller ones.
Fair point. But I don’t think that necessarily undermines the original point I was making which is that a smart front office is more important than having tons of money to spend.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Cabrera, Peralta, Raburn, and Prince. Worst infield defense ever?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
RACIST!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
tinyurl, dear watson.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Yes and no. A major issue they’ve had is their inability to strikeout (the part of a pitchers ability that they control directly) hitters on teams that don’t strikeout a lot or hit a lot of contact, see Yankees-Twins throughout the 2000s. If your pitching can’t strikeout the hitters, then they’re going to get burned.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Can’t teach velocity. Draft it. You can teach them to control it.
Yeah, but for every Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver, there is a Brien Taylor or Mark Prior.
A guy like Frank Tanana was the exception, a flame-thrower as a youngster who evolved into a “stylish left-hander” later.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
on a day like today with 25 degrees and windy weather seeing photos like that make me bitter and angry.
but i know what you mean about the start of spring training.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
I agree for the most part, just think the new rules protect the teams who can do things like pay fifty million dollars for the right to talk to a player. Yet the Pirates giving Cole eight million is ruining the sport.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
I really don’t understand moving fat, drunk and abusive to 3B. You’ve got a DH slot this year that’s currently not in use. Platoon Fielder and Cabrera at 1B/DH. Save yourself a few runs.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Thanks, miz!
January 30th, 2012 at 1:29 PM
I agree. But I think Delmon will be the primary DH so that Andy Dirks gets regular playing time in the OF.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:29 PM
That infield is gonna be brutal. At least they can stick Delmon Young at DH.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
THIS THIS THIS. I have no idea why small market teams agreed to the new draft regulations.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:30 PM
…fat, drunk and abusive to 3B…is no way to go thru life, son.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
He should send his resume to teams in bigger markets. Duh.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
It doesn’t help big market teams that are trying to build through the draft, too. Or with international signings.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Platoon Fielder and Cabrera at 1B/DH. Save yourself a few runs.
Inge has become serviceable. Also, Don Kelly has played there in the past. The Tigers have better choices at third.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Solution: Don’t have shitty broadcasters, and therefore, more viewers will tune in and thus you can increase the price of advertising.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
I’m really hoping Albert falls on his face in Anaheim. It of course helps the Cubs in the Central but he really should have been a Cards lifer.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
They only pay that money if they agree to a contract.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:33 PM
I feel bad for Doug Fister pitching in front of that defense.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Inge should never ever start a major league game again. His defense used to be solid, not it’s almost as bad as his bat.
The Tigers should have signed Jose Reyes for half the money they gave Prince and then moved Peralta to 3rd. The Tigers still have no leadoff hitter.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
The Tigers should play Inge every game. He’s the straw that stirs the drink.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
And Rick Porcello. Last hear he was top 5 in groundball rate. Now all of those will turn into base hits.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:34 PM
I honestly don’t think the announcer affects people too much. If people want to see the game, they’ll deal with terrible announcers, let alone average ones.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:35 PM
My facetiousness falls on deaf ears.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Inge should never ever start a major league game again. His defense used to be solid, not it’s almost as bad as his bat.
I watched the Tigers twice last season (I think). What happened to Inge defensively? Is it lack of confidence? Chronic injury limiting his range? Is it just his getting old?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:36 PM
Both of his knees are shot.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:37 PM
I’m worried about my Tigers’ infield defense. Big time. The front office told Cabrera after the season they might move him to 3B and to prepare thusly. We shall see.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Wish there was more to talk about with baseball but there just isn’t yet. No more FA splashes to be made (until Cespedes is a Marlin) and the Dominican League just ended.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Ha. Not having every single local game on cable would help some. Or, if that’s the channel, don’t blackout streaming MLB in the local market.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Yeah, what Watsonian said. The knees are basically gone. He’s also getting up there in age. His glove and arm were a huge asset to the team and overshadowed his below-average and often terrible bat for the past 5-6 years. Now, he brings little to the team.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Can we start to discuss which teams we like in which divisions along with Wild Card?
NL: Phillies (barely), Reds, D’Backs, Giants
AL Rays, Tigers, Angels, Rangers
January 30th, 2012 at 1:40 PM
He brings some whitetrashy tatoos though.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:40 PM
Contract the playoffs while paying the salary cap.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
That’s not why they did it though, They identified two players they thought were valuable pieces going forward and did what it took to get them. They more just didn’t look at Crawford objectively (after he tore them up for years) and are paying the price. Looking at what’s going around, it doesn’t seem like Adrian is too overpaid, for a very good offensive and defensive player.
Not like the Red Sox are spending much this year. Really John Lackey was the only big recent “we can afford it let’s overpay for the best guy available” signing (and they admitted as much). Even JD Drew was paid more because the Red Sox overvalued him, than just had to spend money.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
I’ll wait to project anything until we get the injuries in Spring Training out of the way. I will say I like the Yankees to win the World Series though. I know, this limb is really fragile out here.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:41 PM
COME ON NOW. Those are his boys.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:42 PM
NL: Phillies (barely), Reds, D’Backs, Giants
AL Rays, Tigers, Angels, Rangers
I like those picks, but I would like to see the post-McCourt Dodgers be at least competitive. The Cardinals may also have something left, after Pujols.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:42 PM
I’ll give it to WWoS; he’s a diehard. He’ll type four-paragraph comments about his teams that I won’t read.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:42 PM
A post-season without the Red Sox or Yankees? Your wishful thinking is getting in the way of your better judgement.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Contract the playoffs while paying the salary cap.
/tee hee
January 30th, 2012 at 1:43 PM
I’m just doing paper assumptions at this point. And Spring Training doesn’t mean dick, except for seeing who gets injured and whether someone wins a tight position battle, also to find out which level prospects get assigned to.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Red Sox will miss the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year. That team didn’t get any better yet their entire division did.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:44 PM
You’re the worst
January 30th, 2012 at 1:45 PM
I really think the Red Sox will mash, and the Yanks will have better pitching, however the Rays are still the top defensive team, hopefully a healthy Longo and a full season of Jennings, along with the truth, Matt Moore.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:45 PM
And they’re the best team in baseball.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:46 PM
NL: Phillies, Cards, Giants, Braves
NL: Rangers, Tribe, Red Sox, Angels
January 30th, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Who exactly is going to pitch for the Dodgers besides Kershaw & Billingsley? And it’s Kemp, Ethier, Gordon and a bunch of scrubs.
Cardinals will be in a tight contest for 2nd in the NL Central, especially with Wainwright back, however I like the Reds a lot this year.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Take off your homer glasses.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:49 PM
I’m not sure I agree with this (they definitely didn’t get better). Their RF spot can’t be worse, Crawford can’t be worse. Lester wasn’t great last year and Buchholz was gone most of it. Youkilis can’t be less healthy. The drop-off at SS is going to be like 10%age points in batting average. The only loss is if (when) Ellsbury can’t repeat his MVP-caliber performance.
Most of all, Bard/Aceves/TBD may not be awesome as 4th/5th starter, but to replace Lackey/DiceK/etc, it’s not much of a high standard. I would have liked Scut/Reddick/Lowrie to stick around as depth, but I’m not sure they didn’t exactly get any better.
/for NDub
January 30th, 2012 at 1:50 PM
You just described the NBA. You are a fucking idiot.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:51 PM
exactly. moment in the sun. fire sale.
garbage. empty stadium.
moment in the sun.
garbage, empty stadium.
Marlins probably wish there was a level playing field, too. (Well, not the owner, he’s just laughing all the way to the bank and new stadium)
January 30th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
Shut up, Wes Welker.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
I’m not worried, I’m pissed, and have been ever since they kicked the Braves off TBS and onto Turner South/Whatever It’s Called Now/Not Offered By My Cable Provider.
I miss Ernie and Skip and Pete.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:52 PM
it’s not really a level playing field tho considering the only teams with as many titles as the marlins in that time period are the yankees, red sox and cardinals.
who cares what teams do when they’re not contending? that’s their business, not yours. capitalism, brah.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Marlins weren’t garbage after their last title team. in fact, they tried to keep the team together. then remained competitive for most of the decade.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Who exactly is going to pitch for the Dodgers besides Kershaw & Billingsley? And it’s Kemp, Ethier, Gordon and a bunch of scrubs.
Aye, a good question, and I know zilch about LA’s rotation.
I do like a competitive Giants-Dodgers rivalry. Even in this age of free agency/cross-pollination, those organizations from time to time will let out mutual dislike or even contempt.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
+1 Coma
January 30th, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Haven’t the marlins been in at least the wild card hunt more years than they haven’t since their second title?
January 30th, 2012 at 1:57 PM
The NL West is top heavy with the D’Backs and the Giants at the top, then the Dogers, Rockies and Padres all way behind.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:58 PM
/checks standings
//sees 5-way tie at 0-0
///”yep, every April”
January 30th, 2012 at 1:59 PM
This man needs a clue. Can Trey spare a few?
January 30th, 2012 at 2:00 PM
The D-Backs have a lot of young talent, but can they be consistent all year?
Rockies and Padres? Just unfortunate. The Rocks don’t know what they want to do from year-to-year, organizationally. The Padres did get Carlos Quentin, though.
January 30th, 2012 at 2:04 PM
That stadium is going to kill his bat. He can’t stay healthy either.
January 30th, 2012 at 2:09 PM
I’ll take 25 year old Justin Upton, their bullpen and Trevor Cahill along with their amazing pitching prospects. (Bauer, Skaggs & Bradley)
January 30th, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Just need Jupton to be consistent. Having Drew comeback would be nice to. Their pitching is stacked.
January 30th, 2012 at 2:45 PM
exactly. moment in the sun. fire sale.
garbage. empty stadium.
moment in the sun.
garbage, empty stadium.
That’s not an indictment of the system being inequitable, that’s an indictment of Wayne Huizenga and Jeffrey Loria as owners.