FanNation - The Republic of Sport

for the record, to Blue Jays fans such as myself the Red Sox are a completely equal evil empire...yes we play in the AL East and may be bitter, but that doesn't change anything....

I think the entire AL East, apart from TO and TB, are evil. Let's not forget Baltimore. Just because they haven't had any success, they are still evil. The Blue Jays are moving up on my list as well with their recent acquisitions. If it wasn't for Vernon Wells & Gustavo, I don't think I'd like a single player on that team... ok, I don't have beef with Halladay, but still. Frank Thomas? BJ Ryan? Burnett?

Chicago Al, I love the photo, I am in awe of the political incorrectness of it!

You do have to like Gustavo if for no other reason than he has his own cologne "CHACIN".

I note you are a White Sox fan. Keep your eye on Luis Terrero in the Sox outfield, I think he might get some AB's given their unsettled situation ( Podsednik, Anderson ). I saw him play a lot last year here in Triple A and thought he was outstanding. I think he might benefit from playing for Ozzie.

Geek: It's always too easy to blame the other guys. When Luchino made his EE comment, it sounded pretty silly and whiny from inside the heart of darkness down in NYC. Now, as you say, he's part of that team as well. Incompetence in running teams is what will really hurt baseball. The Royals, the Pirates, the Devil Rays, the Orioles, the Nationals, even the Brewers, have been down so long with no seeming vision in moving up. The Tigers did it. The Twins compete without a lot of money, so do the Athletics. As you write, saying the Yanks and now the Red Sox are the cause of baseball's problems is just dumb.

Geek & Artrhur: I, too, feel that baseball works. As Arthur outlined above, it often comes down to poor--or great--management. My disdain for the Yanks & BoSox (and Orioles) doesn't stem from their spending, but rather most of the players and, of course, I am jealous of the Yanks' perennial success. Most successful teams spend more money, and there is a significant difference between the top salary and the bottom salary last year (Yanks v. Marlins). Yet, the Marlins put together a team that was in the race for a better part of last year.

Al: Don't know if baseball actually 'works'; it certainly doesn't work for all teams. Not when the Pirates and Royals and D'Rays have been so bad for so long and when the Marlins produce good and some great young players and then sell them off because they're playing in the wrong place. But as you say, good management can overcome a lot and those with good management can compete. Look at how the Tigers have turned things around. So if that means it works, it works.

As Mr Steinbrenner used to point out before his health declined, some teams pocket the revenue sharing money instead of using it to field a competitive team.

These figures are taken from a Jim Salisbury piece in the Philly Inquirer Jan 28. The first figure is the amount of mony rec'd in revenue sharing for 06, the second figure the amount of payroll in 06.

D Rays 36 million / 35 million
Marlins 33 million / 15 million

Andrew Zimbalist thinks that the new CBA will aid in correcting this behavior, something to do with marginal tax rates, he loses me sometimes.

As for the Marlins, looks like they are getting closer to a new stadium. The failure to get a stadium built is what drove Huizenga & John Henry out of that market.

I don't know if html links work in the comment section, but chicago al's mention of the shocking success of the '06 Marlins has compelled me to link to my past <a href="http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/1288">blog post</a> on that very topic.

How's that for self-promotion?

If html linking works, we're about to find out when I click "Save Comment," NOW ...

Nope. Too bad.

it's a cut and paste job. easy to do. anything to get more people reading the Cow.

Howard, I found your post about the 06 Marlins, Yes they were a great and grossly underreported ( is that a word? time for bed ) story last season

I think you're right about the Loria / The Producers metaphor. Tough to argue you can't field a competitive team without a new stadium if you actually field a competitive team.

What's the latest on Johnson and Sanchez, I've read there are health concerns with both. When are the pitch counters going to start bleeting that they were abused? Remember the heat Arnsberg took over Burnett when he blew out his arm?

Geek, your reference to young ailing pitching arms opens the door to some more self-promotion, my post analyzing whatever happened to the top prospects of 2000. As Art says, copy and paste:

http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/1311

What we learn is that it's statistically impossible for the young Marlins to avoid arm woes; it's incredibly commonplace. Somebody, maybe more than one, will go under the knife in the next year or two. The Marlins, however, have, as they say, "stockpiled" young arms, so they may be able to keep their mojo (a closer would be nice, though).

All I've read is that Sanchez is throwing off a mound, now, and Johnson is feeling Ok but hasn't started throwing yet. But you mention Burnett. I remember he was "fine," too, just a little elbow pain, but hey! he's still throwing 97! Ehh! Not fine. He's a freak, by the way -- he threw 9, hitting 98 mph in the ninth, and after the game they discovered his elbow tendon was completely severed. Is that even medically possible?

Howard, I agree, the pitch counting community....lies, damn lies & statistics. It is the nature of pitching, they get hurt and hurt often.

Yes the Marlins are stockpiling young power arms, contrary to what some of the stat analysis community thinks, by in large a pitchers ceiling is only so high if they can't bring the heat. I still believe tools are important.

Larry Beinfest is the most underrated GM in baseball.

Do you think the new stadium is a go? Your new governor is a supporter.