12/21/24
December 15, 2003
MLB revenue sharing, or how to succeed by being a moron ...: The Phillies, playing in the league's sixth-largest media market, pocketed a cool $8.8M last season. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who rank 26th on this list, paid in $8M. Bone up on your revenue sharing information in this article, and decide — should this system be altered to run on market size and not the stupidity of those owning a team? Much love to Redbird Nation.
Quinten McCracken Ain't he gotta brudda named Phil?
posted by lilnemo at 08:53 PM on December 15, 2003
Interesting figures. But can the market be calculated only on TV numbers? I guess those are pretty representative of overall population... The stupidity of the Phils does seem to be behind them though. They've been making smart moves for a few years and will be the NL East favorites this season. The fact that the 6th largest market has housed a bad team with low attendance and doesn't really seem to have a diehard fan base is more of a long term failure of several ownership groups. Put a guy like Mark Cuban in a market like that and you'd be looking at one hell of a team. But things are looking up for the Phils. Too bad the same can't be said for other teams, large and small market.
posted by Bernreuther at 10:17 AM on December 16, 2003
I read through some more articles from the archives in 2002 that were written soon after that numbers one... now I wish I had an accurate timeline (or just a better search function there) to find out what has changed since then since I really never gave any developments in 02-03 as much attention as I am now. It's unbelievable how corrupt and stupid Selig is. And it's unbelievable that nobody in baseball has risen up to get him booted.
posted by Bernreuther at 11:15 AM on December 16, 2003
And it's unbelievable that nobody in baseball has risen up to get him booted. Bernie, who's gonna do it? The commisioner position was never meant to be a sop to the union, it always has existed to be sympathetic to the owners. The commishes who have gone against ownership didn't last (see Vincent, Faye and Giamatti, Bart). Very few owners dislike him (although supposedly a few powerful ones such as Steinbrenner and Colangelo aren't his biggest fans). His own stupidity and corruption will be tolerated by other owners as long as he pleads poverty in the face of the union. Also Fraze, to answer your question...I don't thing the system should be changed...if an owner wants to be stupid (or as the economist in me wants to say..."take a low-cost leader approach") then they should be allowed to. MLB made the rules, of course some owners are going to exploit loopholes, and dumbass fans who continue to follow a crap team get what they deserve (or can afford!)
posted by vito90 at 02:47 PM on December 16, 2003
dumbass fans who continue to follow a crap team get what they deserve Some of us are just playing the hand we were dealt, asshole. It's intriguing, though, that the team executives (in Milwaukee) cry "losses!" and cut payroll, when all of these links seem to suggest that the Brewers do quite well.
posted by rocketman at 03:30 PM on December 16, 2003
BTW vito, I'm not really mad. Apologies if I gave that impression.
posted by rocketman at 03:55 PM on December 16, 2003
Some of us are just playing the hand we were dealt That's what Selig, many other owners, the union, the cable networks, the stadium concessions, G.W. Bush, and Microsoft are counting on you saying, and why they will continue on as before without concern for the product they deliver.
posted by vito90 at 03:58 PM on December 16, 2003
But if I like the product they deliver, what's the big deal? Sure, it would be nice to see the Brewers get to the playoffs, maybe someday win a WS title, but I'm comfortable with their perennial loser role. I'll say this about being a Brewers fan: it's a treat when they win.
posted by rocketman at 04:12 PM on December 16, 2003
If you like the product they deliver, it's kind of a moot point. In fact you should be happy that you can always walk up at game time and get a reasonably priced general admission ticket. But if your owner gets your city to build you a stadium, charges you $7 for a watered down beer, inflates ticket prices annually, doesn't sign good free agents or attempt to win a pennant, and pockets the revenue sharing money (whose purpose is to help field a more competitive team), then you and your city should demand better.
posted by vito90 at 04:21 PM on December 16, 2003
Well, vito, I think that a majority of owners would rise up against Bud if they were as well informed as the people that write those articles. Bud and a few others are pocketing their money. They're all losing money because of his rules. The outward cry of poverty and anti-union stance is good, but that must be all they're seeing. And they apparently figured out that even someone fair (more fair to the players than they'd desire) would still put more money in their pockets.
posted by Bernreuther at 04:27 PM on December 16, 2003
See, and our beer is only four bucks per 12oz bottle - sure it's Miller, but truly: there are worse beers out there. You can get Leinenkugel's there, which is nice. vito, I'm realistic. The Brewers will never be in a position like Steinbrenner's Yankees. Maybe someday they'll pull a "Minnesota Twins" and make the playoffs with young talent, and then lose all the talent to free agency the next year. That's okay. When your team is down like mine is, that'd be a hell of a ride.
posted by rocketman at 04:29 PM on December 16, 2003
Rocketman, that will never happen with the inept management they've got in there. And I don't mean corrupt Selig and his tightwaddedness. So far they've shown themselves to be horrible judges of talent and wasteful when they actually do spend money on contracts...
posted by Bernreuther at 09:36 PM on December 16, 2003
*plugs ears* La la la la!!! Not listening!!!! I can't hear you!!!! La la la!!!
posted by rocketman at 07:27 AM on December 17, 2003
Wondeful. I see that the Mariner's profitability (2nd most profitable of teams, ahead of the Yankees even) has translated into Raul Ibanez and Quinten McCracken, upon whose back a dynasty will not be built. Good link Fraze.