Payroll, Placement, Baseball
This is payroll info from 2007 according to USA Today.
New York Yankees $ 189,639,045
Boston Red Sox $ 143,026,214
New York Mets $ 115,231,663
Los Angeles Angels $ 109,251,333
Chicago White Sox $ 108,671,833
Los Angeles Dodgers $ 108,454,524
Seattle Mariners $ 106,460,833
Chicago Cubs $ 99,670,332
Detroit Tigers $ 95,180,369
Baltimore Orioles $ 93,554,808
St. Louis Cardinals $ 90,286,823
San Francisco Giants $ 90,219,056
Philadelphia Phillies $ 89,428,213
Houston Astros $ 87,759,000
Atlanta Braves $ 87,290,833
Toronto Blue Jays $ 81,942,800
Oakland Athletics $ 79,366,940
Minnesota Twins $ 71,439,500
Milwaukee Brewers $ 70,986,500
Cincinnati Reds $ 68,904,980
Texas Rangers $ 68,318,675
Kansas City Royals $ 67,116,500
Cleveland Indians $ 61,673,267
San Diego Padres $ 58,110,567
Colorado Rockies $ 54,424,000
Arizona Diamondbacks $ 52,067,546
Pittsburgh Pirates $ 38,537,833
Washington Nationals $ 37,347,500
Florida Marlins $ 30,507,000
Tampa Bay Devil Rays $ 24,123,500
Next year, I will not be a Mets fan or a Yankee fan. I will pick a team in the bottom third, probably the Indians, and become an Indian fan. I don’t really see much of a difference anymore between the top teams. Just the best players that money can buy. Big corporate enterprises.
And speaking of same, I’m tired of a lot of other stuff relating to baseball. I’m tired of the incredible amount of product placements during the game. I’m tired of This Call to the Bullpen brought to you by… I’m tired of This Cold Splash (when a homer is hit); I’m sick and tired of every freakin’ inch of t.v. real estate being taken over by Geico, Ford, Chevy, and every other corporation that sticks its logo in my face.
I’m tired of announcers telling me about the Burger King Hotspot - which can be used for any at bat (oh how brilliant). The only thing that doesn’t tick me off, is when they tell you that this overhead view is brought to you by the blimp. I guess that’s okay ’cause it goes back to the beginning of time.
The day is coming when the graphic placements will be superimposed on the players. The day is coming when players will wear nascar like patches. The day is coming when you’ll just see ads running the bases.
I don’t want to see the runner’s lead off of first base brought to me by Viagra. I don’t want to see McDonald’s Player of the Game. And if I hear “this is our country,” one more time (which is an outrageous rip off by John Couger M. of This Land Is Your Land by Guthrie) - if they play this song one more time I’m going to have to stop watching baseball altogether.
So it’s decided. Next year, I will go with the Indians. The only team with a bearded manager. These are the new underdogs. These are the players with true grit. And if they make it to the playoffs next year, I will root for the Indians against the Mets and the Yanks.
Comments
Comment from nantz
Time: October 10, 2007, 1:27 pm
OK! Let’s go Indians!
I also feel for the Nationals at the bottom of the list and unloved/unwanted….
later-
N.
Comment from dave
Time: October 10, 2007, 2:18 pm
Les. You might remember, that when Pres. Bush was re-elected, I got so upset that I tossed my t.v. My replacement for following politics quickly turned to sports on the radio which lead me into football and then to baseball. And then to the purchase of a new t.v.
It may be too costly for me to follow politics this year. If for example Rudi or Mitt win, then I’m going to have to toss the t.v. out the window this time.
The closest to what are probably my own wacky views would be Ron Paul - but that would be like picking the Devil Rays to win the world series.
No - I think any way you look at it - I’m in trouble this year. At this point, I’m finding it hard to watch anything on t.v. except cartoons - so maybe I should just toss the thing and get it over with.
Comment from Craig Nisnewitz
Time: October 10, 2007, 4:42 pm
Well as to the Yankees and Mets their lack of performance proves that money can’t buy winning.
Both teams need new talent. As to Joe Torre he still got them several World Series wins and into the playoffs for the last 12 years. He should stay.
Comment from JeffK
Time: October 10, 2007, 4:55 pm
Dave,
When you get the urge to watch TV, just spend 10 minutes in front of someone else’s screen. You’ll be good for another 6 to 12 months.
Comment from Michael
Time: October 11, 2007, 12:39 pm
What’s wrong with cartoons? As long as they’re old ones, that is.
Comment from dave
Time: October 11, 2007, 2:06 pm
I’m actually a big fan of cartoons from the 40’s. Tex Avery in particular. But also the early work of Dave and Max Fleisher which if you haven’t seen (later they did popeye) - they are amazingly surreal.
Comment from Lester
Time: October 12, 2007, 2:24 am
Are you kidding? I used to drop acid and watch Betty Boop.
Comment from gb hill
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:02 am
Dave I’ve been enjoying your rant, photos, expertise for quite awhile now,:D even became a Mets fan because of you. (wife likes Yankees…yuk) And now your switching to the Cleveland Indians! Boy!!
Comment from al_d
Time: October 14, 2007, 8:23 pm
If professional baseball is such a source of consternation and misery for you (clearly, it’s both) - simply cease watching it as I have.
Your life will go on, remarkably undiminished, for having done so.
Comment from Lester
Time: October 10, 2007, 1:25 pm
Dave, you forget next year is the presidential election and you’re certain to get caught up in that competition, which may have slightly more significance than baseball. Of course, you can follow both baseball and politics by adopting Dennis Kucinich, another underdog from Ohio, along with the Indians for your rooting pleasure. I think the current Vegas odds of both Cleveland winning the World Series and Kucinich becoming president is greater than the odds of hitting the Mega Millions Jackpot. I’m sticking with New York next year and putting my money on a Mets/Hillary daily double.