The only cap that needs to be involved in baseball.
Credit: Timothy Sexton | ©Timothy Sexton
The Baseball Salary Cap: How This Decade Has Proven There is No Need
The idea of a salary cap in Major League Baseball is one that has been hotly debated for some time now. The argument in favor is that the richest owners can afford to buy a champion by outbidding for the best talent. Commissioner Bud Selig has been a strong support of a salary cap. It must never be forgotten, however, that Bud Selig came to the position of Baseball Commissioner from the sphere of ownership. Bud Selig, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, has certain biases on topics that might not necessarily be in the interests of all baseball, but rather for baseball's owners.
It has become an issue of integrity for Selig. At least, that's what he says. A salary cap would serve to create equality and fairness. He is on record as declaring that the real rivalry in baseball isn't between teams, but between rich teams and less rich teams. Naturally, the idea of baseball parity always comes back to George Steinbrenner and the Yankees. Every article on the subject of a salary cap or parity has to include a figure on the payroll of the Yankees. Well, you won't see that figure here. The figure you will see is that the Yankees are a dry run. They haven't won a World Series since the 90s and actually got knocked out by the lowly Detroit Tigers. The Tigers! One of those poster teams for parity. Their recent history of miserable failure has been blamed on their lack of resources and inability to sign the big money stars. And yet they humiliated the loaded Yankees in the playoffs. What gives?
Let's do a Disney version of the potential benefits of a salary cap. First, it would supposedly level the playing field, ensuring that more teams could afford to sign big name players. In turn, this could create more competition and fans in cities like Kansas City and Milwaukee and Arlington would have a more realistic hope of seeing their beloved team still playing in October. No longer would Major League Baseball be dominated by the New York Yankees and other super rich teams.
It has become an issue of integrity for Selig. At least, that's what he says. A salary cap would serve to create equality and fairness. He is on record as declaring that the real rivalry in baseball isn't between teams, but between rich teams and less rich teams. Naturally, the idea of baseball parity always comes back to George Steinbrenner and the Yankees. Every article on the subject of a salary cap or parity has to include a figure on the payroll of the Yankees. Well, you won't see that figure here. The figure you will see is that the Yankees are a dry run. They haven't won a World Series since the 90s and actually got knocked out by the lowly Detroit Tigers. The Tigers! One of those poster teams for parity. Their recent history of miserable failure has been blamed on their lack of resources and inability to sign the big money stars. And yet they humiliated the loaded Yankees in the playoffs. What gives?
Let's do a Disney version of the potential benefits of a salary cap. First, it would supposedly level the playing field, ensuring that more teams could afford to sign big name players. In turn, this could create more competition and fans in cities like Kansas City and Milwaukee and Arlington would have a more realistic hope of seeing their beloved team still playing in October. No longer would Major League Baseball be dominated by the New York Yankees and other super rich teams.
Comments
Chris
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/12/2009
biast much? at least your willing to admit that your biast in your article. ("My Beloved Yankees") However you did forget that the Rockies in 07 made it far, only to burn out in 08, the Indians in 07 were ONE game away from teh world series then burned out in 08 and 09 while the yankees (who in 07 were knocked out by the indians) have made it to the playoffs almost every year.
Jason Chavez
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/05/2009
Anyone who calls the Florida Marlins Miami shouldn't be writing about baseball. Why does the NFL salary cap work so well?? Would want to copy a successful model, that would be stupid.
Paul
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/16/2009
The yanks may not have won it since the 90's, but it's a fact that they are in the playoffs almost every year. At least a heck of alot more than many other smaller market teams, with lower salaries.
The yanks will always have to contend with the hot teams, but the hot teams die out. The Dbacks were hot, and then they died out. The same is true about the Marlins, and Twins. On the other hand the Yankees are consistently in the playoffs, with rare exception. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/salaries
The Marlins were originally a deal concocted by crooked businessman and enemy of the First Amendment Wayne Huizenga. Since I live in Florida and wish to have absolutely no connection whatever to the evil Huizenga I have always and will always refer to them as the Miami Marlins.
I agree, well-written. One minor thing, the Marlins are just termed as the Florida Marlins, not the Miami Marlins. Not a big deal. I'll uprate/digg this article.
Good Article. I gave you a digg.
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