Why do bad teams lose? It’s their own fault.
Last Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the New York Mets by the final score of 5-1. A few days later, the Baltimore Orioles lost 7-5 to the Chicago White Sox. Seemingly unrelated, these two losses represented the constant futility of these organizations. Each one was the 82nd loss for the team, guaranteeing the Pirates their 18th straight losing season and the Orioles’ 13th. The storied franchises have 8 World Series titles between them, including facing one another in both 1971 and 1979. Yet for over a decade, they have been rendered irrelevant. Many fans ask why. Many wonder how once proud franchises lose for nearly twenty consecutive years.
Often I hear fans of these teams suggest that MLB should institute a salary cap to insure smaller market teams cannot lose based solely on a relative dearth of financial resources compared to those of the Yankees and Mets. However, the blame often lies not on the competition, but on the management of the smaller franchises. Recently leaked documents have shown small market teams, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, pocketing huge profits based on the MLB’s revenue-sharing policy related to its luxury tax. With a payroll of about $50 million, the Pirates still managed to book $15 million in profits in 2009. For a comparison, the New York Yankees’ payroll will be over $200 million in 2010, while the middle third of teams fall in the $70-100 million range. An unwillingness to spend money hinders teams more than the larger markets’ advantages. The MLB needs to install a salary “floor” making it necessary for teams to spend more money on payroll, especially if the owners of those struggling teams continue to make money off a city’s misery.
Success in the MLB has not been concentrated in only large markets. Many see the Yankees as the dominating force with unprecedented revenues and payrolls, yet they have won only two titles in the past decade. The Boston Red Sox have two championships as well, but smaller markets have notable success in baseball, due to smartly investing in player development and evaluation, using minor leagues and drafts to cultivate prospects. The Florida Marlins are regularly near the bottom of the league in payroll, but they still won the 2003 World Series against the Yankees. The Tampa Bay Rays have built a successful team without the finances of a New York or Chicago franchise, leading to a World Series appearance in 2008. The Minnesota Twins have faced threats of contraction and relocation due to a lack of financial viability, but they are well on their way to reaching the playoffs for the sixth time in nine years. These teams have spent money with a purpose, and still managed to piece together successful teams with smaller payrolls.
Meanwhile, the NFL may give the impression that every team has a chance in any given year. However, the same problems of futility exist even with a salary cap. The Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999. The Cincinnati Bengals have not won a playoff game in nearly twenty years. Poor ownership and management lead to a poor on-field product. Meanwhile, a level playing field for NFL owners and GMs has still turned some teams into consistently successful without the financial advantages of MLB powerhouses. The Patriots won three Super Bowls this decade with a salary cap, more championships than any MLB team can boast. The Colts have made the playoffs for eight straight seasons. No MLB team has an active streak of more than three playoff appearances.
A salary cap does not guarantee league-wide parity and competitive teams. Ownership and management are ultimately responsible for the product based on their willingness to spend money (and spend it wisely) rather than focus on turning a profit. Teams such as the Minnesota Twins have shown that small market teams can thrive by shrewdly evaluating talent and spending money accordingly within their limited budget. The fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles need to be storming their front office demanding ownership change their business formula. Otherwise, next year will only mark one more in a never-ending string of losing. And they will only have themselves to blame.
MLB Power Rankings: Week of August 23rd
1. New York Yankees (77-48): After a couple of weeks of mediocre baseball, the Yankees picked it up last week, winning five of seven from the Tigers and Mariners. The Bronx Bombers share baseball’s best record with the Tampa Bay Rays in a dead heat for the AL East title. Still, the Yanks are comfortably in the playoffs, but major concerns loom over the rest of the season. The back end of the rotation has been shaky, with A.J. Burnett and Javier Vasquez combining for a 0-5 record and an ERA of 6.85 in the month of August. With C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes pitching well at the top of the rotation, the Yankees could really benefit from the return of Andy Pettite to serve as the third starter in the playoffs. Pettite is recovering from a strained left groin, and is expected to return in September.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (77-48): Last week, the Rays swept the Rangers in a potential playoff match-up, then split a four-game set in Oakland. This week, the Rays continue their West Coast trip with a three-game series in Anaheim, where they took two of three from the Angels back in May. The Rays will look to improve their major league best 37-24 road record. After returning home, the Rays will host the Red Sox in a weekend series, as they try to protect their 5.5 game lead in the Wild Card over Boston.
3. San Diego Padres (74-49): The Padres return home this week after a crucial ten-game road trip, going 7-3, including a key series victory over division rival San Francisco Giants. This week, the Padres will take on the last-place Diamondbacks and then the surging and recently healthy Philadelphia Phillies. The key to the Padres’ success continues to be their pitching, led by Cy Young candidate Mat Latos (13-5, 2.33 ERA, 144Ks). The Padres lead the majors with only 423 runs allowed; meanwhile, no other team has allowed less than 460.
4. Minnesota Twins (72-53): Two weeks ago, the Minnesota Twins were .5 behind the White Sox in the AL Central. After four consecutive series victories, including two against Chicago, the Twins now lead the White Sox by 4.5 games. Now, Minnesota travels out west to face the AL West leading Texas Rangers and last-place Seattle Mariners. Against the AL West, the Twins have had success this year, compiling a combined record of 17-6, including a 3-0 record against the Rangers.
5. Atlanta Braves (73-52): The Braves have a 2.5 game lead in the NL East, thanks in large part to a fantastic August. In this month, Atlanta has won all six of their series so far, amassing a 14-7 record. The Braves will look to continue that success as they travel to Denver for a three-game set against the Rockies, then they host the Marlins in a weekend series. The Braves are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005 because of their superb pitching. Atlanta is 3rd in the NL in team ERA (3.43) and 2nd in the NL in opponent’s batting average (.244).
6. Cincinnati Reds (72-52): The Reds have won eight of their last ten games to stretch their division lead to 2.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals. Only twelve days ago, the Reds looked overmatched as the Cards swept the Reds in Cincinnati, as tempers flared and players brawled at the Great American Ballpark. Yet, the Reds bounced back to sweep the Marlins and Diamondbacks. Now, the Reds travel to San Francisco hoping to push towards a NL Central title and their first playoff appearance since 1995.
7. Texas Rangers (70-54): The Rangers continued their struggles with the AL East, going 5-7 in their last 12 games, including being swept in Tampa Bay and only splitting a four-game series with the lowly Orioles. Even with those woes, Texas enjoys the largest division lead in baseball with a comfortable 8.5 game lead over the Oakland Athletics. The AL West title seems locked up, but the Rangers will be looking for something else new: playoff success. The Texas Rangers franchise (including their years as the Washington Senators) has only reached the playoffs three times. In those previous three appearances, Texas won only one game, losing all three series to the New York Yankees. And if the season ended now, the Rangers would be matched up with…yeah, you guessed it, New York.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (70-54): The month of August has been very kind to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils have won all six of their series and winning a total of 14 of their 20 games. Not only have the Phillies won, but they have done so without their star players. Ryan Howard just returned after missing the first 16 games of August, Shane Victorino missed the first 9 games of August, and Chase Utley played for the first time since June when he returned to the field on August 17th. Now that the Phillies are healthy, they have a real chance to challenge the Braves for the NL East title. Currently, they remain 2.5 games behind, but let’s not forget this is the two-time defending NL champs. They lost Cliff Lee, but the additions of the Roys, Halladay and Oswalt, have made Philly a force to be reckoned with, come playoff time.
9. St. Louis Cardinals (68-54): After sweeping the Reds and seemingly taking control of the NL Central, the Cardinals have given back several games to the surprise challengers and find themselves 2.5 games behind. St. Louis trails Philadelphia by only 1 game for the NL Wild Card, and a trip to a couple of last-place teams should help the Cards challenge for a playoff berth of their own. First, St. Louis makes the trip to Pittsburgh against the major-league worst Pirates, then to our nation’s capital to face the NL East’s last-place Washington Nationals. The Cardinals have a combined record of 8-1 against the Nats and Buccos.
10. Boston Red Sox (72-54): The Red Sox’s bad luck has seemingly doomed their season, yet Boston continues to win without their star players. Unlike the Phillies, the Red Sox have not gotten these players back. Dustin Pedroia, who won the 2008 AL MVP, has played only two games since June. Their captain Jason Varitek has not played since June 30th. Kevin Youkilis, perhaps Boston’s best hitter, went on the disabled list on August 3rd and plans to have season-ending surgery for a thumb injury. Young speedster Jacoby Ellsbury may miss the rest of the season with a rib injury. The Red Sox always have a chance, but a 5.5 game deficit may be too much for a depleted Boston team to overcome against formidable division rivals New York and Tampa Bay.
On deck: San Francisco Giants
In the hole: Chicago White Sox
MLB Power Rankings: Week of August 9th
1. New York Yankees (69-41): The defending champs lead the tough AL East by 2.5 games over the Rays. Phil Hughes will try to continue his good year (13-4, 3.96 ERA) and secure a series victory against the Red Sox. The Yanks will travel to Texas for a two-game series against the division-leading Rangers, before heading off to Kansas City for another four against the Royals. The lineup is healthy and swinging the bats well with a ML-leading 591 runs scored.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (67-44): A five-game losing streak has the Rays 2.5 games behind the Yankees, but still 4.5 games ahead of the Twins and Red Sox for the AL Wild Card. The Rays’ offense is potent (3rd in ML with 555 runs), but streaky. On Sunday, they were almost no-hit for the 3rd time this season. A trip to Detroit to face the banged-up Tigers, followed by a home series against the Orioles, should help the Rays right the ship. The Rays swept a four-game set against the Tigers at the end of July, and they have won seven of nine against the O’s.
3. Texas Rangers (64-47): With a seven game lead in the AL West, the Rangers are cruising to a division title and a playoff berth. After a nine-game road trip, the Ballpark at Arlington will be a most pleasant sight for the Rangers. Texas has a solid 36-21 record at home, with the Yanks and Red Sox coming to visit this week. However, Texas has struggled against the AL East with a combined record of 9-16. Something’s gotta give.
4. Cincinnati Reds (64-48): Leading St. Louis by two games in the NL Central, the Reds prepare for a showdown in Cincinnati as the Cards come into town. The Reds are playing very well, having won 15 of their 22 games since the All-Star break. Thanks to ace Johnny Cueto and rookie surprises Mike Leake and Travis Wood, as well as an offense that leads in the NL in runs scored, Cincinnati is a legitimate contender. Ochocinco and T.O. need to watch out; the Reds could steal the show by October.
5. San Diego Padres (64-46): There is a lot to like about the Padres, considering they have the best record in the NL. They lead the majors with the fewest runs allowed (382) and the best run differential in the NL (+98). However, their offense is anemic, scoring only 480 runs (20th in the majors). The Pirates come into San Diego for a three-game set, before the Padres head off for a crucial ten-game road trip, including a weekend series in San Francisco to face the second-place Giants who only trail by 2 games.
6. Atlanta Braves (64-47): The Braves lead the Phillies by 2 games in the NL East, after taking three of four from the Giants over the weekend. The Braves have the best home record in baseball at 39-15, but have struggled mightily away from Turner Field at 25-32. They are the only division leader with a sub-.500 road record, and it begs the question of whether they can win on the road in the playoffs. This week, the Braves make a quick trip to Houston before returning home for a series against the Dodgers.
7. Minnesota Twins (63-49): The Twins trail the White Sox by .5 games in the AL Central, but that could all change in the next two weeks. Six of the Twins’ next nine games come against the White Sox, including a match-up at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago starting tomorrow. I put the Twins ahead of the White Sox for two main reasons: they are playing well even without one of their best hitters, former AL MVP Justin Morneau, and second, the Twins have a significantly better run differential (+97 compared to only +60 for Chicago).
8. San Francisco Giants (63-49): The Giants trail the Padres by 2 games, but still lead the NL Wild Card by half a game over the Phillies. Dropping three of four against the Braves didn’t help their cause, but they return home with a golden opportunity to improve their chances. First, a four-game series against the struggling Chicago Cubs, who have just one win in their last twelve games. Then, a weekend series against the NL West leaders, as the Padres travel up the coast for three games. San Francisco is second in the majors in fewest runs allowed with 405 runs, trailing only the Padres.
9. Chicago White Sox (63-48): The White Sox lead the Twins by just .5 games in the AL Central, and that lead could be in serious jeopardy. Chicago has dropped two of three to the resurgent Orioles, and they will look to salvage a series split when their newest acquisition Edwin Jackson takes the mound tonight in Baltimore. The White Sox will return home for a crucial series against the Twins, and then they will face off against division rival Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Chicago drops to ninth in my rankings because of a poor performance in Baltimore, and more importantly, they have the worst run differential of any division leader at +60 runs.
10. Philadelphia Phillies (62-49): Two games back of Atlanta in the NL East, and .5 games behind the Giants for the NL Wild Card spot, the Phillies have been making a strong run for a playoff berth over the past few weeks. Despite injuries to Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino, the Phillies have won 14 of their last 17 games to rise up the standings. The Dodgers come into town for three games starting Tuesday, then a quick drive up to Citi Field to face the New York Mets over the weekend. If the Phils can get back Utley, Howard and Victorino, look for them to challenge the Braves for the NL East title.
On deck: St. Louis Cardinals
In the hole: Boston Red Sox
2010 MLB All-Star Game: Exhibition or Competition?
The MLB All-Star Game doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up. Or rather its overbearing parent, Commissioner Bud Selig, has forced an identity crisis on the game. Is it an exhibition game? Not exactly, since the result determines home-field advantage in the World Series, it’s a big deal. Is it a competition based on the league’s best players? Sort of, but again no. Most of the best players make the team, but if it’s a true competition, why do fans determine the starting lineup? Why must every team have one player on the 34-man All-Star roster? The managers should be given the discretion to fill out their lineup cards however they feel gives them the best chance at winning the game.
For example, Ty Wigginton of the Baltimore Orioles was selected to his first All-Star appearance. As regular listeners and readers of WPRB Sports know, I hail from the “backwoods of Baltimore.” (I’m officially starting my campaign to change that to “backstreets of Balmer.”) As a faithful Orioles fan, I know that Ty Wigginton is not an All-Star. He does not give the American League the best chance of winning. He made the team solely because one player from the O’s has to make the team. The Orioles may have 60 losses by the All-Star break, and one of them is guaranteed to attend!?! Why? They are awful. If I was Joe Girardi, the American League Manager, and I want to win home-field advantage for the World Series, would I play Wigginton? Nope. I would take Kevin Youkilis or Mark Teixeira (both currently not on the roster) way before Ty Wigginton even crosses my mind.
The managers of the respective leagues’ teams have one job: to win the game. The game is no longer an exhibition, thanks to the commissioner’s decision to have the All-Star game decide home-field advantage. Personally, I would like to see an exhibition game with fan voting, but that’s not the case with the current version of the All-Star game. Fans vote based on who they want to see play, not on who gives them the best chance to win (mostly this works out anyway since those two overlap quite often). The only All-Star starter who got his spot ahead of a more worthy player based on popularity and hype was rookie sensation Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves. Granted Heyward will not play due to an injury, but his selection as a starting outfielder over the St. Louis’ Cardinals’ Matt Holliday would have been a disadvantage to the National League. The highly touted Heyward has fascinated fans, but Holliday is a proven All-Star, having been selected three times prior. Holliday is hitting .301 compared to Heyward’s .251 batting average. With similar power numbers, and Heyward striking out far more often (68Ks in 255Abs compared to Holliday’s 48Ks in 299Abs), Holliday gives the National League the better chance of winning.
How about Stephen Strasburg? I know, I know. The Washington Nationals rookie only has six starts. But who would you rather have in order to get 3 All-Star batters out, Strasburg or Evan Meek? (Another related question: Who is Evan Meek?) I don’t care about Meek’s 0.96 ERA or 0.851 WHIP; he made the team because he’s on the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. Are you sure you Charlie Manuel and the NL All-Stars wouldn’t feel more confident with Strasburg’s 100 mph fastball and nasty slider? If I’m facing Ichiro, Jeter and Longoria, give me Strasburg.
I’d rather see an exhibition, but if Commissioner Selig insists on making the Midsummer Classic determine the World Series, than make it a real game. If I was a Yankee or Red Sox fan or any contending AL team, I’d be upset when Evan Meek strikes out Ty Wigginton with 2 on and 2 out in the 8th inning to preserve a one-run lead. And don’t try to tell me they are two of the best 80 players in baseball. So my plea to Bud Selig (and I know he reads wprb.com all the time): Exhibition or competition? Pick one.