Baseball Needs A Salary Cap or Something

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Originally posted by Unchainme
Exactly The only reason I watched last year is because Houston was in it, And I like Houston. Had it been something like Yankees-Braves, Would have never even paid attention.

Didn't even watch an inning......

[POJO_Risin]

And the two of you wouldn't be in the minority...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Yes, sound management is a must, and bad trades/signings will fuck you, regardless of who you are....

BUT, with money to burn, you can afford to make mistakes and get away with it...

The small market teams cannot afford to make mistake signings like Derek Bell or Pat Meares, or sign Kendall for 60 million bones....

[POJO_Risin]

I don't disagree with you in the least Va...I said as much...

but as a small market team...you have to make damn sure if you are going to spend money on names you can afford...that they are quality players...

both Meares and Bell were known idiots...

and Kendall for 60 million...lmfao...NOBODY would have done that...

[ALinChainz]

Yankees hit with $34 million luxury tax, Red Sox to pay $4 million

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer


December 21, 2005

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox got extra bills Wednesday.

The Yankees were hit with a $34 million luxury tax and the Red Sox were told they owe $4 million to the commissioner's office.

Baseball's biggest rivals, both eliminated in the first round of the postseason, were the only teams to exceed the payroll threshold established in baseball's labor contract, according to figures sent to teams by the commissioner's office.

The Yankees owe $34,053,787 following tax payments of $25,964,060 last year and $3,148,962 in 2003.

Boston must pay $4,156,476, up from $3,148,962 last year.

Because they exceeded the payroll threshold for the third time under the labor contract that began after the 2002 season, the Yankees were taxed at a 40 percent rate on the amount above $128 million. Boston, which topped the threshold for the second time, was taxed at a 30 percent rate.

Checks for the competitive-balance tax, as it is formally known, are due at the commissioner's office by Jan. 31.

Under the labor contract, the Yankees and Red Sox will be the only teams subject to the luxury tax next year and both will pay at a 40 percent rate on the amount over the threshold, which rises to $136.5 million. The collective bargaining agreement expires next December, meaning the sides could negotiate new rules for 2007 and beyond.

Using 40-man rosters, the average annual values of contracts and including benefits, the Yankees' payroll finished at $213.1 million, followed by Boston at $141.9 million, the New York Mets at $119.2 million, the Los Angeles Angels at $115.9 million and Seattle at $111.9 million.

Also Wednesday, the Major League Baseball Players Association said salaries resumed their climb this year after a rare one-season drop.

The average salary rose 7.2 percent to $2,479,125, according to the union's annual study. The increase was the steepest since a 7.3 percent rise in 2002 and followed a 2.5 percent decrease last year -- only the third drop since the union began tracking salaries in 1967.

The Yankees had the highest average salary for the seventh straight season, setting a record at $7,391,168. For the second year in a row, Pittsburgh was the only team with an average below $1 million, finishing at $963,674.

In its first season in Washington, the Nationals averaged $1.91 million, up from $1.23 million in the team's final season as the Montreal Expos. The Florida Marlins dropped their average from $2.12 million to $1.87 million and are likely to have the lowest average next year after shedding nearly all of their veteran players since the end of the season.

The union study was based on the 904 players on Aug. 31 rosters and disabled lists.

Third basemen were the highest-paid players at an average of $5.7 million, followed by outfielders ($4.7 million), first basemen ($4.3 million), designated hitter ($3.9 million), starting pitchers ($3.8 million), catchers ($4.1 million), shortstops ($3.5 million), second basemen ($2.9 million) and relief pitchers ($1.3 million).

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Aot9VNsG3Yx8VXIevvWPY5c5nYcB?slug=ap-luxurytax&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Bob_R]

The Kansas City Royals signed Reggie Sanders. This small market team is sure making moves this winter to improve themselves.

[cheek]

communism does not work, a salary cap means everyone can have the same helping of dogshit. You don't understand the sport if you think you can buy a championship. The Yankees who you are crying about haven't won since 2000. The core of the recent Yankee dynasty came from thier farm system anyway! (Jeter, Bernie, Pettite, Rivera..etc.) so your blame stienbrenner shit doesn't wash in the real world. Owners who live in small towns are gonna feel it in the pockectbook, thay can relocate if it's money they seek Charlotte and Lasvegas for example are dying for MLB baseball. By the way The Mets have just as much cash and suck.. but according to you we should start planning the parade

[Bob_R]

Originally posted by cheek
communism does not work, a salary cap means everyone can have the same helping of dogshit. You don't understand the sport if you think you can buy a championship. The Yankees who you are crying about haven't won since 2000. The core of the recent Yankee dynasty came from thier farm system anyway! (Jeter, Bernie, Pettite, Rivera..etc.) so your blame stienbrenner shit doesn't wash in the real world. Owners who live in small towns are gonna feel it in the pockectbook, thay can relocate if it's money they seek Charlotte and Lasvegas for example are dying for MLB baseball. By the way The Mets have just as much cash and suck.. but according to you we should start planning the parade

Nice post.

I could never understand people bitching about 'buying' a championship. That is a total crock of shit.

Small market teams have no excuse for not being successful.

[POJO_Risin]

Now that's horseshit...

yeah...you generally can't "buy" a fucking title...

but when you have a good solid nucleus of players...

having an extra 100 million to spend certainly doesn't hurt.

I agree to a certain extent that you can't strictly "buy" a title (although the 1997 Marlins go against that trend)

but what put the Yanks over was the $$$ they could use to shore up the other positions.

As Va said...having money...makes player fuckups throughout the year...and covering for injuries...a lot easier...

The METS???? They haven't had sound management...since...well...1985...and even then...

[POJO_Risin]

Let me ask you Fanatic...do the Yankees have a better or worse chance to win the Series with Damon?

How many other teams could afford to pay him what the Yankees did?

Again...they had a whole...and they filled it...because they could when nobody else could...they purposely waited on Damon knowing he priced himself far to high to go anywhere but 4 or 5 places...

So the Yanks wait...

Will it win them the series?

No...but it helps knowing that you are more than likely a playoff team...from year to year...

I do agree that a nucleus of homegrown talent is important...I've preached that from the start...and made similar posts to the ones just made...

but like I said...$$$ makes life grand...and when you are talking about 120-130 million dollars more than 80% of the other clubs...

that stands to reason as a bit of an advantage...

Oh...and if the Mets have as much money as the Yankees...i can safely say they don't use it in a similar way. No offense...but the Mets aren't exactly sitting on a 200 million dollar payroll...

And I don't know what their TV contract is...I know it's decent...

but no way is it Yankee money...

[Bob_R]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Let me ask you Fanatic...do the Yankees have a better or worse chance to win the Series with Damon?

How many other teams could afford to pay him what the Yankees did?

Again...they had a whole...and they filled it...because they could when nobody else could...they purposely waited on Damon knowing he priced himself far to high to go anywhere but 4 or 5 places...

So the Yanks wait...

Will it win them the series?

No...but it helps knowing that you are more than likely a playoff team...from year to year...

I do agree that a nucleus of homegrown talent is important...I've preached that from the start...and made similar posts to the ones just made...

but like I said...$$$ makes life grand...and when you are talking about 120-130 million dollars more than 80% of the other clubs...

that stands to reason as a bit of an advantage...

Oh...and if the Mets have as much money as the Yankees...i can safely say they don't use it in a similar way. No offense...but the Mets aren't exactly sitting on a 200 million dollar payroll...

And I don't know what their TV contract is...I know it's decent...

but no way is it Yankee money...

1) The Yankees have a better chance to win the series with Damon.

2) Not sure how many other teams could afford to pay him what the Yankees did. If someone really wanted him they had their chance.

3 & 4) Steinbrenner is a terrific businessman.

5) We'll find out

6) And if they don't make the playoffs everyone will talk about the $$. You can't have it both ways. Saying they buy championships and then rejoicing when $$ doesn't get it done.

7) Yes. Homegrown talent does help. Jeter, Rivera, Petitte, Posada all homegrown and links to the recent dynasty.

8 & 9) See 3 & 4

10) I don't think the Mets have as much money as the Yanks. The Mets suck regardless.

11) I don't know either

12) Agreed. No way it's Yankee money. See 3,4,8, & 9

[POJO_Risin]

2...if someone really wanted him...they had to overpay him...Boston didn't even want to do that...and nobody else could afford it..

3 + 4...So...you really think it's Steinbrenner that told them to WAIT? you and I both know that's probably not true.

6. You CAN have it both ways. You aren't from a different planet. The Yankees make so much money...THAT IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY! WE all know that Torre's a good manager as well. Again...you can choose to see what I'm saying...or not...that's up to you. The Yankees are always better when the stars of their team are homegrown...however...what makes them a playoff team every year is that while teams are picking up Steve Karsay 5 years past his prime...and Scott Hatteberg...the Yankees are picking up Damon and Dotel and Farnsworth...their supplement players are STARS...and they can outbid everyone for them...the problem they have now is that their farm system is barren...so it's hard for them to add to their team when they need to...and they don't have many people who are going to make the big club...but that's a different story...

8 + 9...You don't have to be brilliant owning the Yankees...just there...

The Mets aren't worth discussing...

[Bob_R]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
2...if someone really wanted him...they had to overpay him...Boston didn't even want to do that...and nobody else could afford it..

3 + 4...So...you really think it's Steinbrenner that told them to WAIT? you and I both know that's probably not true.

6. You CAN have it both ways. You aren't from a different planet. The Yankees make so much money...THAT IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY! WE all know that Torre's a good manager as well. Again...you can choose to see what I'm saying...or not...that's up to you. The Yankees are always better when the stars of their team are homegrown...however...what makes them a playoff team every year is that while teams are picking up Steve Karsay 5 years past his prime...and Scott Hatteberg...the Yankees are picking up Damon and Dotel and Farnsworth...their supplement players are STARS...and they can outbid everyone for them...the problem they have now is that their farm system is barren...so it's hard for them to add to their team when they need to...and they don't have many people who are going to make the big club...but that's a different story...

8 + 9...You don't have to be brilliant owning the Yankees...just there...

The Mets aren't worth discussing...

Money does help Pojo. I realize that. Just like it helps in other aspects of life besides baseball.

Don't know if Steinbrenner told them to wait on Damon but he sure as hell has to approve the $$ and the years of a players contract. He's alot more behind the scenes and less vocal than say in the 70's and 80's. Has he made mistakes? Sure we all do.

All he wants is success and he does everything he can to make his team that way. Nothing wrong with that.

You'd love it if he owned the Indians. Yes or No?

[POJO_Risin]

He tried to own the Indians pre-Yankees...in 72 or 73...I think...maybe 74...

but they wouldn't let him buy the team...

would I like it if he owned the Indians?...would they have been successful...or as successful?

doubtful...

Steiney got a couple of things when he bought the Yankees...

1. the heritage...

2. the market...

Would he have been better than some of the rummies that owned the Indians post 1955?

No doubt...

but my guess is he wouldn't have wanted the Tribe very long because of the money constraints...

I'm not saying that money's technically an issue here Fanatic...under the current structure...

I'm saying that I have no problem with the Yankees doing what they do...under the current structure...I WOULD...if I owned them...

I WILL say that the current structure lends itself to the Yankees success...

and in doing so over the years...has caused strikes, lockouts...and the general disillusionment of baseball as a national sport...

now it is intensely regionalized...

which in the long and the short...hurts the game...

not blaming the Yanks for it...like many do...

blaming Selig...