2009.09.30
Harping on the tarps
For tomorrow: There's a frost warning out for tonight so we might as well wrap up the regular baseball season. For Major League Baseball, attendance overall this year dropped 6.5 percent. The great recession is being blamed for the overall loss and probably contributed to the Orioles 3.3 percent decline. Bad baseball explains the Nationals' 22.8 percent slide.
Here in the Roanoke Valley, though, stats on attendance fared better for the debut season of the Salem Red Sox. During the off season, fans are sure to debate whether to keep the controversial tarps or remove them.
They don't bother us. How about you?
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The Orioles and Nationals have management that won't go out there and get good players. They are too cheap! Of the 8 teams headed to the playoffs, 6 are also among the highest MLB payrolls as well (only the inept Mets have a high payroll and little success to show for it).
Put a decent product out there at a decent price and people will come to see it. Just ask the Salem Red Sox and the VT Hokies (and then as the UVA wahoos).
Comment by Bob H — September 30, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Bob H, As a lifelong Pirates fan I agree mostly with what you write, though, the Nationals' problems run deeper than their onfield "talent." You can't win pennants on the cheap. The Orioles also have the disadvantage of playing in a division that includes two of the biggest spenders: Yankees and Red Sox.
The teams in the largest media markets have the cash to spend. What do you think about a revenue sharing plan, similar to what helped to level the NFL field?
Comment by Luanne T. — September 30, 2009 @ 2:21 pm
Luanne,
You have hit it on the head. The NFL does great because of a level playing field and salary cap. College football does great because teams have the same number of scholarships to give. Fans have to believe their teams can have a chance. In the old days, Texas, Ohio State, and other big schools could stockpile scholarships. Small schools didn't have a chance. A Virginia Tech could never have beaten a Nebraska.
Baseball is doing poorly because of free agency. Minnesota or some other small-market team might get lucky and do well for one year. Big-spending teams like the Orioles and Cubs might do poorly. But overall, in the long run, big market, big-spending teams will do better than small market teams with a small budget. Six of the teams in the playoffs this year are all big spenders. Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Cardinals.
Ironically, free-market capitalism, while great in real life, is disastrous in a closed circuit league of sports teams.
Comment by Suzie — September 30, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
Luanne,
The luxury tax goes a long ways towards being a revenue sharing plan even if it isn't one. The Pirates make money even though they have had a (record) 17 consecutive losing seasons.
The system works. The Pirates do develop decent young players. The problem is that then they cash in on them and sell them (insert Jason Bey here) for a ham sandwich.
The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the WS last year. It can be done with less payroll. But it can't be done with a management that wants to sell off its best players to the big boys.
Comment by Bob H — September 30, 2009 @ 3:33 pm