My Facebook Thoughts

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Buy Me Some Players And Crackerjacks....

Last night the Colorado Rockies won their spot in the World Series.
Last night the New York Yankees were home playing Mahjong while sipping on some green tea.
Last night the Boston Red Sox were on the losing side of the field.
Last night the Cleveland Indians were playing baseball and winning.
Last night the Chicago Cubs were packed away in boxes until next February.
(I include them because it has been 100 years since they won a World Series.)

It's fun to give the Yankees and Red Sox a hard time because they are the top two spenders in baseball. While the Rockies and the Indians are not. The Yankees and Red Sox feel that they have to buy the best players to assure a World Series victory. I was crunching the numbers this morning and here is what I found.

The Yankees last championship was in 2000. Since then the Yankees have spent $1.1 billion on players with no championships.

The Colorado Rockies have only been in existence since 1993. Their total payroll in that time frame has been $708 million. They are in their first World Series this year.

The Chicago Cubs since 1988 (that's as far back as my payroll sources go) have spent $1.02 billion.

This year alone the Boston Red Sox paid $51 million just for the rights to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. His salary this year is $6 million. In total, that's $57 million for one player. He was the losing pitcher last night by the way.

In contrast, the entire 2007 payroll for the Rockies was $54 million. The Indians 2007 payroll was $61 million. Together that comes to $115 million. The Red Sox' total payroll was $143 million.

In conclusion. It is clear that money cannot always buy a championship, the Cubs will never win another championship, and I have too much time on my hands.

(Payroll source USA TODAY)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it true that the White Sox are still paying Julio Cruz? Talk about wasting money.

Anonymous said...

Daisuke Matsuzaka... $57 million.
Red Sox' payroll... $143 million.
Cubs getting swept in the playoffs... priceless!

Mark Ploch said...

Julio Cruz? That's all you got!