Yankees budget bitching - the flipside

[Jaggie]

The Brewers have publicly stated they are cutting their payroll to an astounding $30 million next year. That is a rediculous amount for a team that benefits as much as any team from the revenue sharing deal, not to mention that the Milwaukee taxpayers just spent a ton of money to build them a new park. Why do the Yankees get yelled at for spending their own money when the Brewers (and other teams) are happy to let Steinbrenner foot their bills for them?

You may wanna do an analysis of the two markets before coming to these conclusions you fucking moron. The Yankees couldn't survive without small-market teams like the Brewers. America wouldn't be that interested in a league made up of a bunch of teams from NYC, Chicago, L.A., and Houston.

[Jaggie]

Originally posted by The Ace of Aces
You may wanna do an analysis of the two markets before coming to these conclusions you fucking moron. The Yankees couldn't survive without small-market teams like the Brewers. America wouldn't be that interested in a league made up of a bunch of teams from NYC, Chicago, L.A., and Houston.

That still gives the Brewers no fucking right to cut their payroll down to 30 million. They built a new ballpark at the expense of their taxpayers, which itself brings in new revenue, and their ownership still finds it ok to barely field a team. If I was from Milwaukee it would make me sick.

[sppunk]

I think you're missing the big picture. They have to cut their payroll becaue they've not had a good team, which translates to loss of revenue, which translates to less money to go around. They've been caught in the situation baseball is destined to fail by - no salary cap at all and a "luxury tax" that is a fucking joke.

But, it's nice to see teams with limited payrolls like the Marlins and A's and Angels and Royals kick teams ass. And, look at the Texas Rangers - who have the third highest payroll - and how they finish in last place.

[Jaggie]

Originally posted by sppunk
I think you're missing the big picture. They have to cut their payroll becaue they've not had a good team, which translates to loss of revenue, which translates to less money to go around. They've been caught in the situation baseball is destined to fail by - no salary cap at all and a "luxury tax" that is a fucking joke.

But, it's nice to see teams with limited payrolls like the Marlins and A's and Angels and Royals kick teams ass. And, look at the Texas Rangers - who have the third highest payroll - and how they finish in last place.

I agree with your points here. It was nice to see the Marlins win, if for no other reason than to show that just because you spend 160 mil doesn't mean you're guaranteed a World Series. Although I'm a Yankees fan, I'm not a fan of Steinbrenner's bad spending techniques. Giving Jeter the paycheck he got is fine by me. But insisting on bringing in players, usually against the advice of his baseball people, has gotten Steinbrenner into trouble lately. Giambi is a great ballplayer, but a big part of me would still love Tino out there on first. Also, I think although Schilling is a great pitcher, it would be a real detriment to the Yanks in the long run to give up Soriano. He's a great young talent, and one bad postseason should not be his ticket out. Give him a year or two with Donny Baseball and see how he does. It took patience with Jeter, Pettitte, Posada and Rivera and look what kind of players they are now.

About the Brewers, their individual decline is not the fault of a loss of revenue, or a lack of a salary cap. Let the Yanks spend all they want, the Marlins have shown it doesn't mean that much. What the league really needs is to have tighter regulation of how the small market teams use the money they receive from revenue sharing. What the Brewers are doing here is a lot like a single mother who takes her welfare check and buys herself some beer. The Brewers need to be held accountable just as the Yankees have (luxury tax). If the Brewers took their money and reinvested it into their team they would see results. They have a great new balpark, a pretty large city, and some good players to build a team around (who they are looking to trade). Instead of pocketing the money, the owners should spend it on some talent, even if it means debt for a few years. If they turn it around and get a winning team, their investment will pay off 10x in the long run.

[Jaggie]

Also, for some reason I find it funny that you would quote George Will in your sig. He's a good guy though.

[sppunk]

Yeah, the money doesn't mean a championship - thankfully - but the Brewers still can't afford to pay a salary even with the shared revenue. They simply don't make enough to support what they have, and the help from MLB and other teams can't make up for it. The league is going two ways quickly, just like America: The rich are getting richer (well, just the Yanks) and everyone else is slashing their payroll. The Rangers are cutting there's by at least $50 million, and are trying to ditch PayRod, too. It's a jacked up system that has this all a mess, and since the owners and players can never agree on anything to remedy it, there's no signs of it getting better.

[Irrelevant]

Originally posted by Jaggie

That still gives the Brewers no fucking right to cut their payroll down to 30 million. They built a new ballpark at the expense of their taxpayers, which itself brings in new revenue, and their ownership still finds it ok to barely field a team. If I was from Milwaukee it would make me sick.

ridiculous! how dare they! with them not spending that money it might be spent on useless things like "cancer research" and "feeding starving people" instead of important things like giving rich athletes more money!

[Jaggie]

Originally posted by Irrelevant


ridiculous! how dare they! with them not spending that money it might be spent on useless things like "cancer research" and "feeding starving people" instead of important things like giving rich athletes more money!

Honestly, that's a completely ignorant response.

[Jaggie]

Originally posted by sppunk
Yeah, the money doesn't mean a championship - thankfully - but the Brewers still can't afford to pay a salary even with the shared revenue. They simply don't make enough to support what they have, and the help from MLB and other teams can't make up for it. The league is going two ways quickly, just like America: The rich are getting richer (well, just the Yanks) and everyone else is slashing their payroll. The Rangers are cutting there's by at least $50 million, and are trying to ditch PayRod, too. It's a jacked up system that has this all a mess, and since the owners and players can never agree on anything to remedy it, there's no signs of it getting better.

I looked up a few figures and the Brewers were turning a $16 million dollar profit (after payroll is figured) anually, even before the new park was built. As a result of the new park they have incurred upwards of $100 million in debt, of which they pay $8-$10 million against yearly. They also receive $15 million every year in revenue sharing (likely to go up again this year). So even after addressing payroll and their debt payments they are still turning over $20 million in profit a year. $30 million (current goal for payroll) is a lot different than $50 million (adjusted if profit is applied to payroll). This still allows their debt to be paid off over the planned course of 10 years or so, as well as putting a competetive team on the field to appease the fans that helped pay for their ballpark. I understand the fiscal differences between a market like New York and Milwaukee, but I think these small market owners are crying foul and making out like bandits.

[Irrelevant]

Originally posted by Jaggie


Honestly, that's a completely ignorant response.

stop throwing your money and time away on a game where men hit a ball and run before some guy catches it.

[sppunk]

Originally posted by Jaggie


I looked up a few figures and the Brewers were turning a $16 million dollar profit (after payroll is figured) anually, even before the new park was built. As a result of the new park they have incurred upwards of $100 million in debt, of which they pay $8-$10 million against yearly. They also receive $15 million every year in revenue sharing (likely to go up again this year). So even after addressing payroll and their debt payments they are still turning over $20 million in profit a year. $30 million (current goal for payroll) is a lot different than $50 million (adjusted if profit is applied to payroll). This still allows their debt to be paid off over the planned course of 10 years or so, as well as putting a competetive team on the field to appease the fans that helped pay for their ballpark. I understand the fiscal differences between a market like New York and Milwaukee, but I think these small market owners are crying foul and making out like bandits.

Interesting. I meant to make this point earlier but forgot; The Brewers are going to cut payroll, but really, does that mean they are automatically going to be less competitive? They've sucked for some time now, even paying as much as they have. Cutting that payroll won't hurt their on-the-field performance becaue it's been so weak to begin with.

And you also have to remember that Bud Selig runs the Brewers, so the team is destined to fail and struggle and spare us all to death. If it weren't for the Wild Card playoff system, Selig would easily be targeted as the worst commissioner in the history of the MLB.

[Jaggie]

Originally posted by sppunk


Interesting. I meant to make this point earlier but forgot; The Brewers are going to cut payroll, but really, does that mean they are automatically going to be less competitive? They've sucked for some time now, even paying as much as they have. Cutting that payroll won't hurt their on-the-field performance becaue it's been so weak to begin with.

And you also have to remember that Bud Selig runs the Brewers, so the team is destined to fail and struggle and spare us all to death. If it weren't for the Wild Card playoff system, Selig would easily be targeted as the worst commissioner in the history of the MLB.

Your first point is a good one. But if I was from Milwaukee, I'd be pissed if they let the few good players we had walk, not to mention not go after any free agents or other talent.

Although I think Selig is a slug, he actually doesn't own the Brewers anymore. He set it up in a blind trust. But you're right in that his role as commissioner is corrupted by his previous ownership of the Brewers.