Baseball’s Teams with the Largest Payrolls Are Struggling, But It’s Early

All, Baseball Jason McIntyre May 21st. 2012, 5:15pm

The five teams with the highest payrolls in baseball – the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, Angels and Tigers – are all hovering around .500. We’re about 40 games into the 162-game marathon, and if this were the NFL season, we’d be just starting the first quarter of the 4th week.

Yankees: 21-20 [$197 million payroll]
Phillies: 21-21 [$174 million]
Red Sox: 20-21 [$173 million]
Angels: 18-24 [$154 million]
Tigers: 20-21 [$132 million

If the MLB season ended today - thank goodness it doesn't - your MLB division winners in the AL: Orioles, Indians, Rangers. And in the NL: Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers.

[Note: Not surprisingly, the five teams with the lowest payroll in baseball - Padres, A's, Astros, Royals and Pirates are all .500 or below. The Rays are 25th in payroll, just missing the cut. They'd be a Wild Card team if the season ended today.]

It’s May. Let’s revisit this at the All-Star break. But for fun, we’ll include the Vegas over/under win totals. The Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox and Angels were all projected to win 90+ games. That’s still possible, and those four going 75-45 (ish) over the last 120 (ish) games is not out of the realm of possibility.

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40 Responses to “Baseball’s Teams with the Largest Payrolls Are Struggling, But It’s Early”

1
Billy Buckner Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:17 PM
If the MLB season ended today – thank goodness it doesn’t – your MLB division winners in the AL: Orioles, Indians, Rangers. And in the NL: Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers.
Blow me.
Thank goodness it doesn’t because the Yankees aren’t in? I feel like a great majority of fans would rejoice in that fact. O’s are in first place, bitches!
/Dougies
//Has been Dougie-ing over this for almost a month now
///Enjoying the ride
2
rondoman Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:18 PM
We’re about 40 games into the 162-game marathon, and if this were the NFL season, we’d be just starting the first quarter of the 4th week.
More like the last quarter of the 4th week.
3
SouthernAggression Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:19 PM
We’re about 40 games into the 162-game marathon, and if this were the NFL season, we’d be just starting the first quarter of the 4th week.
But what if I use the NBA for my point-of-the-season comparisons?
4
Billy Buckner Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:20 PM
On a related note, I hope everybody paid their respects, and wished Matt Wieters a happy 26th birthday, today.
5
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:20 PM
I applaud your restraint here Jason. Though I can only assume that if the standings are the same or only slightly better at the All Star Break, the followup post to this one will be filled with talk of vindication of your beliefs.
6
José Pippen Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:26 PM
Tigers: 20-21
But I thought they were going 162-0? I wasn’t a math major in college, but I don’t think you can be under .500 after playing 41 games and still go 162-0…
7
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Still think the Brewers are the most disappointing team in baseball to this point in the season. The NL Central is 50% crap and they’re in the bottom third of it.
8
PeerLessPrices Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:28 PM
If the MLB season ended today
I think after last season’s debacles by Red Sox/Braves, there’s no point in pointing this out this early.
/points finger at J-Mac
9
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Still think the Brewers are the most disappointing team in baseball to this point in the season.
They lost their best power hitter and their infield has been gutted by season ending injuries. What did you expect?
10
Charlie Sheens Dopeman Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:30 PM
Tbl’s neglect of baseball and his reduction of it to a money analysis reminds me of the Vietnam War
11
SouthernAggression Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:32 PM
Still think the Brewers are the most disappointing team in baseball to this point in the season.
More so than the Angels? Is anyone on the Brewers significantly underachieving? I know losing Gonzalez hurts, but I think with what the Angels did in the offseason, and the talent that’s on that team, a sub-.500 record through a quarter of the season is the most disappointing
12
Badger Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:32 PM
Still think the Brewers are the most disappointing team in baseball to this point in the season. The NL Central is 50% crap and they’re in the bottom third of it.
It’s still early, but for the most part I agree.
Losing Gamel and Gonzalez were killers tho.
13
ButtersBC Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Tbl’s neglect of baseball and his reduction of it to a money analysis reminds me of the Vietnam War
4 posts today though while an NBA playoff game was just mentioned in the Roundup so it’s not all bad…USA Today knows what moves the needle
14
SouthernAggression Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Is anyone on the Brewers significantly underachieving?
Well, I just looked at Rickie Weeks’s numbers. Anyone … else?
15
Badger Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:34 PM
Is anyone on the Brewers significantly underachieving?
Rickie Weeks. Ramirez. The bullpen and the starters have been underwhelming.
Lucroy and Braun are the only ones producing.
16
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:37 PM
They lost their best power hitter and their infield has been gutted by season ending injuries. What did you expect?
I expect them to not have the 2nd worst WHIP in the National League. Only the Rockies staff, who has to pitch their games at Coors, is worse. Greinke, Gallardo and Marcum are a solid 1-2-3 in the NL. I see 20 quality starts among them. I think they’ve got 9 wins (not a good metric). Their bullpen must be awful for them to be allowing the 2nd most runs a game in the NL. They’re still scoring at a reasonably good pace.
Bacne McHotpiss is still raking despite the fact he shouldn’t even be starting his season until June 2nd. They just lost 2 of 3 from to both the Mets and the Twins. Not good.
17
Jason McIntyre Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:39 PM
But what if I use the NBA for my point-of-the-season comparisons?
? IDK, crunch the numbers if you feel compelled
18
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:39 PM
The bullpen and the starters have been underwhelming.
Greinke has been pretty good. But yeah, Gallardo’s walk-rate is way out of whack. Marcum is hit or miss, but you expect that. I know Axford has been downright terrible in non-save situations but for saves he’s money. Is K-Rod having a bad year? Who is their middle relief that is this bad?
19
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:39 PM
I expect them to not have the 2nd worst WHIP in the National League. Only the Rockies staff, who has to pitch their games at Coors, is worse. Greinke, Gallardo and Marcum are a solid 1-2-3 in the NL. I see 20 quality starts among them. I think they’ve got 9 wins (not a good metric). Their bullpen must be awful for them to be allowing the 2nd most runs a game in the NL. They’re still scoring at a reasonably good pace.
Look at you using WHIP to support a point. I’m proud of you.
/pats SC on the head
//can’t quite reach
20
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Just looked at the schedule. The Brewers have won 4 series this year. Two against the Cubs, one against the Astros and one against the Rockies. Those are 3 of the 4 worst teams in the NL.
21
Chief Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Look at you using WHIP to support a point. I’m proud of you.
/pats SC on the head
//can’t quite reach
He seems to be working pretty hard this season to learn, I’m proud of him too.
22
Badger Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Veras has 10 walks and 13 ER in a little over 18 innings of work.
23
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Veras has 10 walks and 13 ER in a little over 18 innings of work.
Holy shit. Those are Carlos Marmol numbers.
24
Billy Buckner Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:44 PM
One thing I’m absolutely terrified about is how much Buck has had to go to our ‘pen. I’d kill to have Tommy Hunter go 7 or even better, 8, tonight.
25
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:45 PM
Just looked at the schedule. The Brewers have won 4 series this year. Two against the Cubs, one against the Astros and one against the Rockies. Those are 3 of the 4 worst teams in the NL.
Astros also returned the favor by sweeping a two game series last week. So the Brewers also got swept by one of the 5 worst teams in the NL.
26
Ben80123 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:46 PM
It’s May. Let’s revisit this at the All-Star break.
I would think this is something to look at historically, or at least the last 15-20 years, and not May and then again at the All-Star break.
We’re about 40 games into the 162-game marathon, and if this were the NFL season, we’d be just starting the first quarter of the 4th week.
Nope. The average team has played 41.3 (25.5%) games and we’re in the opening minutes of the fifth game of the NFL season. Even using only 40 games (24.7%) would put the NFL schedule somewhere deep into the MNF game of week 4.
27
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Astros also returned the favor by sweeping a two game series last week. So the Brewers also got swept by one of the 5 worst teams in the NL.
And the Padres!
This is why I think they’re one of the biggest disappointments. The NL Central is totally up for grabs and I’m starting to think that NickP’s Reds are probably the best bet. Finally moved Chapman to closer (lost 4 games because of Marshall), he may even make the rotation. Votto is on a tear right now. They’ve also been able to stay healthy save for the bullpen. The Cardinals losing Big Puma just set them back.
28
SouvenirCity Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:50 PM
Who will win the Central divisions in baseball this year is a fun game to play. Detroit still has plenty of time but goddamn that team’s defense is pretty terrible. Warmer weather should see them winning some 11-9 ballgames though.
I’d pick Cincy and Detroit right now but it’s a total free-for-all
29
jim Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:50 PM
Both the AL and NL Central are very shitty this year. Lots of bad baseball in the heartland.
30
Chief Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:55 PM
Both the AL and NL Central are very shitty this year. Lots of bad baseball in the heartland.
If Detroit doesn’t start dominating sometime soon, this AL Central will be the worst out of the last 10 years.
31
ButtersBC Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 5:58 PM
The White Sox remain the only team in the AL Central with a positive run differential, so long as this is the case I will be amused by it
32
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:02 PM
PECOTA has the Astros at 60-102 this year. I think personally that they could be in the 62-65 win area if they manage to have a better record in 1 run games than they did last year, but this is all by way of saying, that I knew this was going to be a rough year. And next year will be as well. But I’m ok with it because we seem to be heading in the right direction by clearing out the old and bringing in younger players.
33
Ty_Webb Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Still think the Brewers are the most disappointing team in baseball to this point in the season.
Mickey Hatcher on Line 1
34
ms621 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:05 PM
So the Mets are 22-19 in spite of a run differential of -31. That’s rather astounding.
35
Sir Spicious Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:06 PM
O/T a little, but the Pirates are 19-8 when they score 2 or more runs. I can’t believe how shitty that offense is. I also can’t believe that TBL thinks the Angels should be contracted.
/since they’re worse than the Buccos
36
jthussler Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:13 PM
I was expecting this post to be atrocious, but it was pretty meh. (About as good as we’re getting from JMac in non-media dating stories these days.) Though, this bit of faggotry was unfortunate:
If the MLB season ended today – thank goodness it doesn’t – your MLB division winners in the AL:
37
Ty_Webb Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:23 PM
OT/
After this weekend in L.A. I am officially drawing a line under Long Beach, anything below that line and above Mexico is Southern California.
/fixed
38
starkweather Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 8:20 PM
this bit of faggotry was unfortunate:
If the MLB season ended today – thank goodness it doesn’t – your MLB division winners in the AL:
Indeed. If it meant something like “thank goodness it doesn’t, I love watching baseball” it would be one thing. But I’m pretty sure it is just some bullshit about the teams that are leading the divisions. If the writing were more succinct and pointed – thank goodness it isn’t – I would probably be more sure of the intent.
39
scripty Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Chances the Orioles or Indians are still leading the division in September?
The Indians, with an injury-ravaged roster, were 3 back into Labor Day weekend last year. They’ve had more balance in their rotation this year, better defense, have added Kipnis for a whole year… and a roster with not many guys playing way over career averages. I’d say the Indians are at worst 50/50 for being in first at some point in September.
40
starkweather Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 8:29 PM
I’d say the some team Indians (NHOT) are at worst 50/50 for being in first at some point in September.
/JMac’d