Love Letters: Small market teams need to get smarter
Insider | Short Hops | Love Letters
As the man sings, if we weren't all crazy, we'd all go insane ...
From: John Kearns
Am I going crazy, or did one of your 'Love Letters' just suggest that Joe Randa is on steroids?
Hate to break it to you, John, but I think I hear the cuckoo clock calling your name.
From: Brandon
Scott, Being a Pirates fan and baseball fan for years, I wonder just when the Pirates will be back in the hunt -- but I didn't like your comments about how the Pirates fans have short tempers. So what would you do if you had to sit through 13 going onto 14 losing seasons!
I'd have a very short temper.
From: Chris Campbell
I'm from Pittsburgh and will always support the Buccos, but let me tell you that you hit the nail on the head with this article. It is very frustrating to follow your favorite team when you know that if they played the season a hundred times, they might play in October once. Anyway, just wanted to let you know that articles like this are appreciated in Pittsburgh. It's almost like MLB doesn't care about the current state of small market clubs.
Thanks, I didn't get to the Pittsburgh camp this spring and wanted to make sure to feature them early in the season.
From: Steven Harrington
I couldn't disagree more with your Pittsburgh Pirates column. If the A's and Twins can compete, then the Pirates -- who play in a stadium that produces much more revenue -- can, too. Clearly, (GM David) Littlefield and, before him, (Cam) Bonifay are responsible for the Pirates hopelessness.
Here are some of their moves: 1) Aramis Ramirez for Bobby Hill and Matt Bruback. 2) Jason Schmidt for Ryan Vogelsong and Armando Rios. 3) Never gave Bronson Arroyo a chance. 4) Attempted to throw Mike Gonzalez into the (Jeff) Suppan trade before luckily getting him back because of an injury. 5) Getting little for Kris Benson. 6) Signing bad players such as Pat Meares, Doug Strange, Randall Simon and Chris Stynes. Trading a prospect for a 40-year-old catcher. 7) Choosing low-upside starters such as Bullington and Maholm in the draft instead of impact hitters like BJ Upton and Ian Stewart. The list could go on, but what's the point. (Owner Kevin) McClatchy must love it when writers blame the economics of baseball for his team's troubles. It absolves him of all responsibility. The Angels won the series when they were being operated as a small-market team, the Marlins won with a tiny budget and the A's and Twins have been good for extended period of time. Even the Red Sox won with retreads such as Millar, Ortiz, Mueller, Bellhorn, Arroyo etc. The Pirates could have signed any of these players at one time. They went the Randall Simons and a cast of low-OBP players instead. The Pirates can compete if they are smart. But that's a big if.
As I was saying in the column, Steven, because of the economics in baseball, teams like Pittsburgh have little room to make mistakes -- especially compared to big spenders such as the Yankees and Red Sox. The Pirates have made way too many of them -- and I don't think you've missed one.
From: Michael Muntean
You need not bother with typing this same piece every spring, fans of baseball in cities like Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee know the drill. We watch as our teams are built with "Popsicle sticks and chewing gum" with little or no chance of competing. All this while Beltran, Johnson, and Renteria flock to the cash. It is almost comical when you consider a successful season for small market teams is if they play .500. This is truly sad.
Soon some small market team's new ballpark is going to be called Elmer's Glue Park.
From: Kevin
How tired is Los Angeles owner Frank McCourt's act? This guy is deny, deny, deny in terms of his financial situation (or lack there of), yet he continues to lie to the fans and is 'outraged' by such accusations. I remember hearing the post-Beltre-exodus promise that payroll would be at least $100 million when they got through with the offseason changes. Needless to say, I was fuming when I saw the reported payroll of $81 mil on this site. Seems like he had more than enough to re-sign Beltre. And have you seen what he did to Dodger Stadium? It looks like a series of internet pop-up ads and by 2006, it may become the first ballpark with the stands literally on the foul lines with all the seats squeezed into the stadium. This guy is a joke. Its too bad Fox wasn't selling when Arte Moreno (Angels owner) was buying.
I don't think you're giving Mr. McCourt enough credit. Why, the Dodgers keep going the way they're going, McCourt is going to install box seats ringing the field, smack in the middle of the warning track, and figure Hollywood stars like Jack Nicholson will pay huge dollars. Baseball is in trouble in Los Angeles with this guy.
From: Max Humbert
Why bring down the big market teams to the level of Pittsburgh, etc.? If they cannot place a winning team in 10-15 years, it is time for a change. Put the top eight losers in a super minor league. Give them choice draft picks etc. The winner goes into MLB postseason. It is tiring to hear the whining about money. This is a free market and the players will never go for a cap. George will share $100 million this year, what else can he do? Other owners are now joining the spending spree because they now know that generates profits.
Some small market teams are in a super minor league as it is. Look at the way Kansas City keeps feeding talent to the contenders.
From: Scott Nelson
How could you pen a story, "Some teams really don't have a chance" and fail to mention the Rookies (oops) I mean Rockies?
You mean the Rockies are still in the majors?
From: Joseph Almeida
As I put on my 2004 World Series champions hat every morning to go to work, I still find it to be a dream that will end one night and realize it was just a dream. I still remember that last out like it was still 10/27/04 as my eyes just filled up with tears automatically, and I grabbed my son who turned seven months that day. I ran to his room, hugged him with tears in my eyes and told him I loved him, that the curse was over and I said Bradon, come see this as I ran with my son into my living room. For a strange, brief second he opened his eyes wide, looked at the TV and smiled. Then he went back to sleep as I placed him back in the crib.
Joseph, he would have loved the pre-game ceremonies on Monday when Johnny Pesky raised the world champions flag and the Sox got their rings.
