Posted
by Joel Mathis
October 7, 2006 at 5:20 a.m.
Royals, you're on notice
![][1]Hi there, Royals. You're on notice.I know I said a few months ago that I don't care, that I'm not paying attention. And it was true. But then you hired Dayton Moore from Atlanta, and I -- dammit! -- started to feel some hope. Now something has happened this weekend, and I think it's important I share my feelings with you.For years, you've told us that, as a small-market team, there's little chance of competing in the Big Leagues. Not like those Yankees, who bought their World Series wins. That has actually been bought by a lot of people, including me. Poor Royals!Screw that.Following their sweep of the Twins, the Oakland As - small-market team! - are in the American League Championship. They're awaiting the winner of the series between the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers -- small market team!So the ALCS might be... small-market team versus small-market team. Granted, both teams have higher payrolls than the Royals -- but all that tells me, Royals, is that you're cheap. Neither of those teams is spending anywhere near the $200 million or so the Yankees (who are imploding) spend on payroll.So: It's clear that small-market teams can be successful. In the case of the As and the Twins, it's even proven that you can do it for an extended period of time.That excuse doesn't cut it, anymore, Royals. You're on notice. Time to get it together. [1]: http://www.coolaprons.com/royalsap.jpg
and 1 others
Comments
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JohnB (anonymous) says…
I have read your post twice, and you indeed seem to be right, if the absence of commentary is any indication. So I don't know if this little note proves you wrong or if it's the exception that proves you are right.
Anyway:
Money is not the cure-all for baseball, but it sure doesn't hurt. It is a rare year when the Yankees are not either in or are in some way affecting the playoffs. As for my beloved Astros, they historically had one of the smallest payrolls in baseball until their current owner, Drayton McClain, came along about 20 years ago. He's by no means a Steinbrenner, but his deals with Roger Clemons show that he's willing to set up contracts that are extraordinarily generous to the player if, in return, his team gets a good quality player. Clemons' ERA was below 2.50 this past season. And Houston is supportive of the 'Stros, but it's the size of KC, give or take. Funny how consistent winning helps attendance.
So. While money is no cure-all, it definitely is a cure-some. The Astros have always had strong pitching, something that, I gather, is a weakness of the Royals. They could do worse, then, than to go out and find a couple of good pitchers.
lazz (anonymous) says…
JohnB, I don't really disagree with your comment, but I can't let "[houston is] the size of KC, give or take" slide past ...
Yeah, give or take about 3 or 4 million. Houston metro is about 5 1/2 mill. houston itself is more than 2, which is more than all of Kansas City metro, and KC itself is less than 400K.
A small bit of history lost in the "small market" discussion: When the Royals were brought into the league, all involved recognized that KC was probably too small. That's why the sports complex was designed as it was, with massive highway access and parking, and why the stadium was designed with the latest in artificial turf. They recognized KC had to attract its fans from a 3- to 4-hour drive's radius, and certainly something in the neighborhood of an hour for a great many, so highway access had to be superb, and the chance of rainouts minimal (hence, quick-drain artificial turf.)
This small-market/big-market stuff isn't new.
Anyway, Joel, i totally agree with you. And I think the Royals do, too. I don' thave any sense that the new GM will allow the words "small market" to remain in the Royals' vocabulary.
and the huge-market, huge-payroll has its downside, too. The Yankees were crushed by pressure and expectations, and the Tigers were playing like kids having fun.
Maybe that'll be the Royals for the next few years, too.
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
As a Cubs fan all I have to say is this: Get used to it. Sit back, enjoy a few beers, and maybe they'll get lucky and win.
It's no use giving them stern warnings, it doesn't matter who they trade or what manager they fire (even though they did pretty good when Dusty Baker was holding the reins). Hell, it doesn't even matter if they pack the stadium EVERY time while entire sections of seats are empty across town at the Champions' place and your players are paid quite well even though they always lose.
Your team is a bunch of losers, so is mine. Shit happens. There's been something rotten in the state of baseball since the strike, anyway.
alm77 (anonymous) says…
Ummmmmmmm, Joel said "dammit".....
:0
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
ooooh, busted!!!
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
See. I told you. I'm a regular sailor, I am.
palavestric (anonymous) says…
The small market big market thing was made up so baseball owners could blackmail cities into building new "mallparks". The Royals had the highest payroll in the big leagues in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Google it.