Looking at the Astros payroll situation.

Going into this year, they are going to have a payroll of around $ 25 mil.  Well, as you know, there are some INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS who make about and around that amount themselves.

How this can be any kind of good for baseball, I do not know.  I do know there are about 20 players that fit this bill, and here they are.


Alex Rodriguez, $29M

Johan Santana, $25.5M
Cliff Lee, $25M
Mark Teixeira, $23.25M
C.C. Sabathia, $23M
Prince Fielder, $23M
Joe Mauer, $23M
Tim Lincecum, $22.25M
Adrian Gonzalez, $21.86M
[Miguel Cabrera], $21M
Vernon Wells, $21M
Carl Crawford, $20.86M
Matt Cain, $20.83M
Cole Hamels, $20.5M
[Matt Kemp], $20.25M
Felix Hernandez, $20.2M
Justin Verlander, $20.1M
Roy Halladay, $20M
Ryan Howard, $20M
Barry Zito, $20M



Wow.  Just, wow.

As a lifelong Stros fan, I'm loving it. They're investing correctly, in draft picks and scouting. Their goal is to duplicate what Tampa is doing. 



I'll take some lean years if we can duplicate the Tampa model. They rely on developing their own talent, and when a guy is about to become expensive, they ship the guy off.  As a result, they don't get stuck with bad, long term contracts. 

So is the problem the Astros rebuilding for the future and having a small payroll?

Or is the real problem all the $20+ million salaries of players who are obviously not deserving of them?

The Astros know they suck, so why not build for 2-3 yars down the road?

So is the problem the Astros rebuilding for the future and having a small payroll?

Or is the real problem all the $20+ million salaries of players who are obviously not deserving of them?

The Astros know they suck, so why not build for 2-3 yars down the road?

To me, the problem and answer is,.......both.  I think by going on the super cheap, they are in a way disrupting the competitive balance of the game.  But, at the same time, as player salaries have gotten well out of hand, it has forced some teams, the ones owned by folks with only shallow pockets, to go the super cheap route.

If only there was ever even a ghost of a chance to put both a floor AND ceiling on team payrolls........

To me, the problem and answer is,.......both.  I think by going on the super cheap, they are in a way disrupting the competitive balance of the game.

You could also say the outrageous salaries are disrupting the competitive balance of the game.
When some teams have $100 million+ per year in TV deals, and the other team has $20 million, its hard for all teams to be on the same playing field.

And now the small market teams cant even spend more in the draft because that has been taken away from them.  That was their ONE advantage in getting talent and now its gone.

Sure players salaries are totally out of line but that alone doesn't disrupt the balance of the game.  Owners that decide to operate on the cheap can also be put at fault.  I don't buy that porbra cita mi act some put on.  The fact of the matter is if some owners spent more to become more competitive the value of TV contracts for them would increase.  If you think and behave like a small market team you'll always be a small market team.  Not every small market team has the luxury of Billy Beane as a GM.  That being said, $20M salaries are a joke.  There is no baseball player alive worth $20M a year.

You could also say the outrageous salaries are disrupting the competitive balance of the game.
When some teams have $100 million+ per year in TV deals, and the other team has $20 million, its hard for all teams to be on the same playing field.

And now the small market teams cant even spend more in the draft because that has been taken away from them.  That was their ONE advantage in getting talent and now its gone.

Agreed.   That is why I would make changes that would put all teams financials on fairly level footing, if I were king for a day.  This will never happen, but it would be my dream for the game anyway.  And that is with me standing behind a team that has gained the most money wise over the past year or so.

Payroll is irrelevant if you dont have fans coming to games...  THe only thing i ask is for when you get better to spend at least some money...  I cant stand these rebuilding teams that all they do is rebuild...  and those teams are the ones i have problems with...  I think there should be an incentive for teams to increase there payroll...

I am going to change my word irrelevant to neccessary...

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The Cardinals are competitive and their TV deal is $14 million a year

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