It Could Be Worse, Dodger Fans

January 25, 2010 at 9:09 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

For months, we’ve been bemoaning the impact that the impending McCourt divorce is having on the team. We’ve been calling them “selfish”, “cheap”, or worse. Fans have been unhappy that Jamey Carroll seems to be the marquee acquisition of the winter, while other teams go out and get their Roy Halladays, John Lackeys, and Jason Bays. We’ve seen front office staff laid off, and we’ve seen elderly scouts have their salaries slashed.

We’re saying these things because the payroll is likely going to be “only” around $95 million. No one expects them to spend like the Yankees, of course, but is it so wrong to think they could spend like the Cubs or Phillies?

We think these things about how spending “only” $95 million is akin to playing 25 minimum-salary rookies, and then we read things like this from Pirates owner Bob Nutting:

Q: So, your expectation remains that, if this group becomes competitive, you will be able to someday spend at the level of the Brewers and Reds?

A: I think that’s expected. I think it’s rational. I think it’s where Pittsburgh needs to be.

Dodger fans dream about spending like the Cubs do. Pirates fans, deep in the darkest sections of their dreams, harbor hopes of one day spending at the level of the Brewers and Reds.

It really is two worlds out there.

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I answered some questions about the Dodger offseason thus far over at Razzball. Check it out!

5 Comments »

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What is the highest annual salary the Dodgers have ever had? Seems to me that they were around 120M at one point. Do you have the breakdowns for the past 10 seasons?

Comment by Bleacher Seats— January 25, 2010 #

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- 118 mil and change, that was, hmmm, three years ago
  
  Comment by bluetrain— January 25, 2010 #
  
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Not quite sure why that’s supposed to make us feel better.

Let’s not deflect from the McCourts’ ineptitude!

We are the #2 media market, by a WIDE margin, nearly double Chicago who is behind us at #3. Yet, last year, we were outspent by the likes of Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Anaheim and, understandably so, both New York teams. That’s JUST going to get worse this year, as we’re knocking off another $10-12M in payroll.

It’s true, Pittsburgh is getting hosed, but we’re getting MORE hosed, relatively speaking.

Comment by Nick— January 25, 2010 #

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- I agree with Nick, it’s not like we’re a victim of our environment. And after more than a dozen consecutive losing seasons, Pittsburgh shouldn’t be trusted to spend more than the Brewers and Reds, in my opinion.
  
  Comment by Trevor— January 25, 2010 #
  
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Ultimately I don’t care specifically how much the Dodgers spend on payroll, as long as they produce a competitive team and given the market and resources of drawing 3+ million fans each season, there’s every reason for fans to expect this team to be competitive every season.

Given Colletti’s track record with spending on free agents, trusting him to make decisions on big money contracts isn’t always a winning proposition.

Some of those teams listed above – Detroit, Houston, Chicago, the Angels with GMJ – had some bad contracts last season which helped push their payroll above the Dodgers. Many of the teams above the Dodgers last season in payroll began the off-season trying to find solutions to get off some bad contracts. And half of all the teams ahead of the Dodgers in payroll didn’t make the playoffs.

Comment by Scott— January 26, 2010 #

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