Money Ball?
The Dodgers make a lot of money. Every home game, after they announce the attendance, they proclaim that they are the most successful franchise in the history of baseball (perhaps all sports, but I forget). They routinely draw 3 million fans a year, who pay top dollar for everything from parking ($15!) to hot dogs to $12 beers.
Too bad they spend it so poorly.
Their payroll is $108.4, including $12 million to Odalis Perez and Bill Mueller. That’s a lot of money, but not as much as the Angels ($109.3 million), Mets ($115.2 million), or White Sox ($108.7 million). And it’s not even in the same league with the Yankees ($+ or – 200 million, depending on the day) and Red Sox ($143 million).
I’m not saying that money equals championships. If that were true, the Yankees would win it all every year. But it does equal competitiveness. The Yankees are in it every year, as are the Red Sox, Mets, and Angels. So are the Braves, though they spend somewhat less because they have smart management.
What I am saying is that the Dodgers act like a discount franchise, refusing to spend big money on big time players. What they do spend big bucks on are mediocre players like Darren Dreifort, Odalis Perez, J.D. Drew, and Juan Pierre. This is a case of cheapness exacerbated by mismanagement.
I’d like to see the Dodgers pick up Torii Hunter this offseason, as he is a perennial all star who delivers big hits and has playoff experience. He’s really the only jewel in the 2007 free agent class. But if they don’t get Hunter, I’d hate to see them repeat the Pierre for Soriano mistake of last year by signing an inferior player like Adam Dunn or Brad Wilkerson to a slightly cheaper contract.
It’s the rare player in baseball who merits the kind of millions being paid to the elite. For the most part, the Matt Kemps of the world can deliver the same numbers as the Juan Pierres and Luis Gonzalezes for a whole lot less money. It’s appropriate to spend huge sums on players who provide that added differential that truly makes them superstars.
Too bad they spend it so poorly.
Their payroll is $108.4, including $12 million to Odalis Perez and Bill Mueller. That’s a lot of money, but not as much as the Angels ($109.3 million), Mets ($115.2 million), or White Sox ($108.7 million). And it’s not even in the same league with the Yankees ($+ or – 200 million, depending on the day) and Red Sox ($143 million).
I’m not saying that money equals championships. If that were true, the Yankees would win it all every year. But it does equal competitiveness. The Yankees are in it every year, as are the Red Sox, Mets, and Angels. So are the Braves, though they spend somewhat less because they have smart management.
What I am saying is that the Dodgers act like a discount franchise, refusing to spend big money on big time players. What they do spend big bucks on are mediocre players like Darren Dreifort, Odalis Perez, J.D. Drew, and Juan Pierre. This is a case of cheapness exacerbated by mismanagement.
I’d like to see the Dodgers pick up Torii Hunter this offseason, as he is a perennial all star who delivers big hits and has playoff experience. He’s really the only jewel in the 2007 free agent class. But if they don’t get Hunter, I’d hate to see them repeat the Pierre for Soriano mistake of last year by signing an inferior player like Adam Dunn or Brad Wilkerson to a slightly cheaper contract.
It’s the rare player in baseball who merits the kind of millions being paid to the elite. For the most part, the Matt Kemps of the world can deliver the same numbers as the Juan Pierres and Luis Gonzalezes for a whole lot less money. It’s appropriate to spend huge sums on players who provide that added differential that truly makes them superstars.
posted by John Rosenthal @ 9:49 AM
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