Which system is better: NFL or Baseball

Payroll cuts started... three years ago?

 

See my edit.

And Time Warner cutting the payroll has nothing to do with the system, and everything to do with the AOL merger losing money out the ass.

 

Are you saying the Yankees don't have it stacked.... stacked... in their favor?

 

Are you listening?

Yes, it has to do with the system.

As the Braves have been forced to spend less, their challenge has become greater.

 

No, not saying that at all. Sure, they do.

But tell me ... how many World Series in the last five years?

Since 1997:
Yankees, 3 World Series titles
Marlins, 2 World Series titles

The system is not perfect. It's not. But it's OWNERSHIP that can change the ways of their teams. THAT'S what I'm saying. The system doesn't have to be changed. The owners can do more to help their shitty teams. They really can. Blame ownership first. If that doesn't work, blame the system. But direct your rage toward David Glass and McClatchey and the rest first ...

 

But here's the thing: The Braves aren't "forced" to spend less because of the system. It's because their owners are more worried about losing money in other aspects of the economy. Has NOTHING to do with baseball, everything to do with OWNERS.

You're blaming the system for Time Warner not giving a shit about the Braves on the field.

 

I don't know what their baseball revenue is anymore.

If it has contracted (it would seem to me that the TV money must be MUCH less than it was 5-10 years ago), it is system related.

Owners cannot be expected to dip into other businesses to subsidize a losing one.

 

Owners -- who buy teams with their own money -- should be expected to dip into their own money when their team fails to perform up to expectations.

Not, as David Glass does, take other teams' money and not put it back into his own team. That's the bigger flaw here.

 

Empty Glass ... great album.

But, the Marlins, the darling of all the baseholes here, are doing EXACTLY the same thing. Pocketing that money and turning their first profit EVER.

Wayne Huizenga dumped the Marlins in 1998 after he piled in the money, won the whole damned thing, and realized he would NEVER make money on the team.

 

He was also in a market that has not proven that it will support major league baseball. And a market that has been deceived twice by ownership, which launched two fire sales after winning two World Series in seven years.

It's a complex issue. You can't just overhaul the system and expect that to solve it all.

 

From today's Inquirer on the Abreu trade:
"The trade told everyone that the Phillies plan to rebuild a team that had proved unable to make the playoffs, despite expensive additions in recent seasons that included Jim Thome, Billy Wagner, Kevin Millwood, Eric Milton, David Bell and Tim Worrell"

Money spent doesn't equal success. The Phillies started spending serious money prior to the 2003 season, as an attempt to build the Phils into a consistent playoff team for the new ballpark. The Phillies haven't made the playoffs since. The management of the club, with Montgomery and Wade, wasn't good. Their development system hasn't been good, as it hasn't been able to turn the good prospects from the farm system that Arbuckle built into competent big leaguers.

In the years since 2003, the Twins, A's and Marlins have made the playoffs. The Tigers are going to this season, and the Reds have a good shot.

Yes, if the Yankees or Red Sox had made the moves the Phillies did, they'd be able to cover them up with more money. But those moves would still have hurt the Sox or Yankees, to some degree.

 

That's only partly true.

First of all, he never really gave it a chance. He never let the team defend its title, so who knows how attendance would have been.

Second, there were some grossly overpaid players on that team that could have been jettisoned without destroying the entire team.

Third, making money on your team from year to year is just one part of the equation. Something just as important --- and often forgotten --- is that NO OWNER EVER LOSES MONEY when he sells his team.

So even if you aren't profitable from year to year, it's still an investment that appreciates tremendously over time.