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Let's take a trip to the "yeah right" files with this entry. Boston Red Sox owner John Henry has again picked up the torch crying for a salary cap yet again. Pot, this is the kettle. The Red Sox payroll is the fourth-highest in Major League Baseball at $133,390,035. Henry's problem is that he was outspent by his arch rival: the New York Yankees. In fact, Henry said that the Yankees spent like Congress.For history's sake, Henry presented a salary cap five years ago (which was sour grapes in the wake of losing A-Roid to the Yankees) -- obviously this proposal never took hold. I just find it humorous that the owner of the Red Sox is calling for a salary cap. This is a team that is spending a veritable ton of money, and is succeeding. Let's take a look at the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds, the Oakland A's. All of these teams are considered "small market" teams. One would think that one of their owners would be yelling for a cap -- and that isn't the case.
I'm not sure if I am sold on the idea of a salary cap in MLB. Why were the Tampa Bay Rays such a feel-good story a year ago? Because they took their small-market label, tiny (in comparison) payroll and beat the likes of the Yanks and the Sox. Perhaps it is elitist or naive of yours truly, but I would rather have my beloved Reds win the championship through old fashioned hard work and hustle... the Pete Rose way (issue your 'you bet' comments below).
I'm not saying that any of the higher-paid teams lack desire; in fact, both teams need more Dustin Pedroias and Derek Jeters and less A-Roids, rent-a-players, and Roger Clemens (yes, I know that he doesn't play anymore, just making a point).
Baseball has always been called America's Game -- perhaps it is time that the underdogs toppled the big guys, which couldn't happen if there was a salary cap. Said salary cap will never happen, not when there are teams pulling in massive amounts of money. Message to the Pittsburghs, Cincinnatis, and Oaklands? Put a product on the field that people want to see, then the money and the championships will come.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-20-2009 @ 5:46PM
jim brown said...
I'd love to see the Reds win it too. A couple more ideas for baseball with the 104 anonymous steroid users receiving no punishment : 1) fire the current Commish, and 2) give the job to Charlie Hustle, for some well-deserved sanctions, I'd wager.
2-20-2009 @ 6:03PM
Kent said...
Good article....didn't realize MLB hadn't imposed a salary cap system yet as the NFL, NHA and NBA have. The MLB should impose their own caps if the MLPA doesn't agree to one. We already have seen that teams like the Yankees or Red Sox can't buy the WS title. They ought to put all that high-salary budgets to work developing their farm teams like the old days anyway.
2-20-2009 @ 6:03PM
Stephanie said...
I agree that it is nice to see the "small market" teams win, but I have been arguing for years that baseball needs a salary cap. That means that every team has a fair chance. I mean, the Astros could have had an amazing team many times, but Drayton Mclane won't dish out enough money to get the best players. Having a salary cap would make every game between any teams more interesting, instead of usually having one team outshine the other by a long shot. Just take a look at one example: Teixeira signing a $180 mil contract with the Yankees. Proof enough that the MLB needs a salary cap!
2-20-2009 @ 8:19PM
Daryl said...
Grownups who play games for a living have no business being paid millions of dollars, when there are people in third world countries who are starving. Stop the insanity. Support the Third Position Army. Put the greedy industrialists and market manipulators on trial LIVE ON THE INTERNET!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9vTJLIA8M
2-20-2009 @ 11:00PM
guerro said...
The reason why smaller market teams are doing so well these days, and why they don't want a salary cap is because of the luxury tax. The Yankees and Red Cox are spending a ton of money on players and are paying huge luxury taxes to the league. The money is then split up and given to the smaller market clubs. What they do with the money, I don't know. Boston would like to see a cap because they are tired of being in a spending battle with the Yankees. One they know they cannot win because the owner, who just happens to also own the New York Times, is watching his financial situation (because of the ailing and almost dead NYT) go in the toilet. A salary cap would tie his hands and keep his costs down (relatively speaking) while keeping the Yankees within view. Steinbrenner and the Yankees don't want the cap because they have $$ to burn and don't want to be held back. The Yankees are more than able to pay luxury tax and will continue to do so.