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April 3, 2012I continue to chuckle when I see pundits get angry about the NFL colluding and forcing the Cowboys and Redskins to pay for their players the way the contracts were originally designed. In the end, I take some umbrage with the use of the word “punishment” when the NFL just forced the Redskins to pay for Haynesworth’s deal over the course of a couple years. A punishment would have been adding on a penalty on top of it in my point of view. Regardless, to think that there’s something wrong with this collusion in professional sports is laughable when looking at Major League Baseball. In the end, the Cowboys and Redskins tried to use their deep pockets to gain an advantage over other teams. They tried to buy their way out of bad contracts they signed. In Major League Baseball there is no need for such shenanigans. Baseball could use a bit more collusion if anything.
Before you accuse me, I am not defending MLB owners. These guys make their own beds. Nobody forces teams to sign guys to ten year deals for fractions of billions of dollars. In many cases these deals seem to strike themselves without multiple bidders. Maybe it just goes to show the power of baseball agents. No matter. I am not defending baseball owners. I couldn’t care less what’s best for them and their checking accounts except where it impacts me as a Cleveland Indians fan. In this case the Dolans aren’t an ownership group with funny money.
On Twitter this morning I used the yacht analogy even though I can’t stand that. In my soul, I really think sports leagues should be profitable and owners shouldn’t have to deficit spend to fill their roster. During the NFL labor talks there was a Grantland post that compared NFL franchises to yachts or other types of status symbols that shouldn’t be expected to make money. I wholeheartedly disagree with that notion in the NFL where they’ve got the hard cap and the best revenue sharing model. But in Major League Baseball as a fan of the Indians the yacht example works all too well.
The Dolans don’t have the proper profile to own a baseball franchise if you’re a fan of the Indians. Right or wrong from a business standpoint, as a fan there’s just no doubt you’d rather have an ownership group that can deficit spend their way into a Prince Fielder, or at least a C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee when they’re due to become free agents. The Dolans are like a guy who stretched himself financially to buy a yacht and then closed up the helipad because he couldn’t afford it. If you can’t afford to helicopter yourself on and off of your yacht then you shouldn’t buy one that big, right?
It isn’t a perfect example because the yacht also comes with a boat club membership and the boat club needs to get their business in order…
See? The analogies get away from you if you try to take them too far.
I don’t hate the Dolans. Just FYI, I also don’t completely buy the Forbes estimates that paint them as one of the most profitable teams. I think that logic and math was deeply flawed. I think they can win doing it their way in Major League Baseball, but it is undoubtedly more difficult. It is also undoubtedly unfair to see small market teams do big things to excite the fanbase while your team attempts to grind it out. But the whole system isn’t really based on fairness and they seemingly like it that way. MLB was the major sport that breezed right through its labor negotiations this year as the NFL and NBA fought loud, public battles.
There is no clean summary to this. I with MLB had more collusion like the NFL. I don’t think 10 year deals are good for anyone but MLB players even if it feels good for fans initially. MLB owners don’t have anyone to blame but themselves. I don’t completely blame the Dolans, and despite my platitudes about how things “should” be, I’d gladly take an owner who was willing to spend without any care about deficits or good business sense.
Despite all that, I’m still really excited for the Indians this year. It’s Tribe time!
24 Comments
I would have less of a problem with the Dolans if they held the front office more accountable for poor personnel decisions (especially the draft) instead of promoting everyone all of the time. The Ubaldo trade is going to be a bust – think Shaponetti will get their feet held to the fire for it? Doubt it.
Are you familiar with the definition of collusion?
The problem is, MLB, as a whole, is making ridiculous amounts of money, not NFL money, but they’re still buying the yacht with the helipad. It’s just that the revenue is nowhere near equally dispersed, especially as TV money becomes more and more important. You could actually argue that MLB owners have done a damn good job of collusion. Estimates show that MLB players earn a smaller portion of overall revenue that NFL, NBA, and NHL players, who are all guaranteed a certain percentage of revenue under their CBAs. Throw in the anti-trust exemption, and MLB has it made. In a game where franchises are worth $2 B, players should be getting 10 years and $200 million deals, it’s just that they can’t/shouldn’t be done in somewhere between 1/3 – 1/2 of MLB cities. I’m glad for Cincinnati that they signed their star, but it’s probably going to work out like Helton in Colorado. He’ll be worth it for the first half of the deal, and in the second half, he won’t be worth that much but his bat will still be good enough to keep in the lineup. Meanwhile they’re going to have to be near-perfect to find enough talent in the payroll room they have left to actually be any good – and the Rockies have only broken 85 wins twice, and have averaged 77 wins/year since the beginning of the Helton extension.
Definition of COLLUSIONA deceitful agreement or compact between two or more persons, for the one party to bring an action against the other for some evil purpose, as to defraud a third party of his right Cowell. A secret arrangement between two or more persons, whose interests are apparently conflicting, to make use of the forms and proceedings of law in order to defraud a third person, or to obtain that which justice would not give them, by deceiving a court or it officers. Baldwin v. New York, 45 Barb. (N. Y.) 359; Belt v. Blackburn, 28 Md. 235; Railroad Co. v. Gay. 8G Tex. 571, 26 S. W. 599, 25 L. R. A. 52; Balch v. Beach, 119 Wis. 77, 95 N. W. 132.Read more: COLLUSION | Definition of COLLUSION (Black’s Law Dictionary)
If the Jimenez trade is a bust, and we are far from knowing the answer to that one, people will be held accountable. And the Indians did hold people accountable for the draft, they shook up the department, and Brad Grant has seemingly done a pretty good job since he took over.
Hey Craig, what do you make of the Reds signing Joey Votto for $200+ million/10 years, given that they are a smaller market than the Indians and the Tribe’s FO always hides behind the “we are a small market and can’t spend money” excuse? It was discussed on the radio today and its somewhat apt to this article.
Like Joey Votto, A-Rod, and Prince Fielder, I too make a percentage of a billion dollars. .006%!
Collusion means something wholly different in a sport where they already have monopoly protections and operate under a labor agreement with a players union. I understand where you’re coming from, but I suspect you understand what I am saying as well. The NFL legalized collusion with a salary cap in a way.
Yeah. I think I covered it.
We’ll have to see how this season goes for Jimenez right now the trade is a wash for me. Pomeranz and White haven’t done anything except get busted for DUIs which is an off the field problem. At least, to date, Jimenez’s issues have been strictly on the field.
I’m also going to cut Antonetti a break because at least he tried to do something. Unlike the Browns who are like watching grass grow Antonetti at least tried. I’d rather have a proactive GM who takes a risk on occassion then one who waits every twelve months before doing something.
I don’t see the Votto signing anywhere in your article.
Not directly, but I said this… ”
I don’t think 10 year deals are good for anyone but MLB players even if it feels good for fans initially.”
They took Mirabelli off drafts in 2008 and things have improved since then (Chisenhall, Kipnis, Promeranz, White, Phelps)
If you don’t like the Ubaldo deal, then you are already crediting their drafting ability – as the two guys they gave up were draft picks.
The issue for the Tribe is that they haven’t developed a hitter like Votto. Pitchers are riskier propositions, and I have no problem if they don’t want to offer those huge deals to guys like Sabathia and Lee.
The issue for the Tribe is that they haven’t developed a hitter like Votto. Pitchers are riskier propositions, and I have no problem if they don’t want to offer those huge deals to guys like Sabathia and Lee.
well, the Indians did do a restructure of their scouting department and put Bud Grant in charge of the draft from 2008 moving forward.
you beat me to it. thanks.
I guess the question is if you think the Indians should give such a contract to one of our guys?
should Asdrubel be inked to a 10yr/$150mil contract? or should that contract go to Choo if he rebounds?
then look to other small market places like Minnesota to see what happens if that player gets hurt.
Talking about yachts, my wife’s childhood friend married very, very well. This couple invited us down to the Keys and took us out on this yacht they rented. The thing holds 12,000 gallons of gas.
Considering the price of gas that gives you some perspective on how much money these folks can throw around just to fill up their toys. Amazing.
Wait, you mean the Twins wish they could undo the contract of hoetown hero Joe Mauer? But I thought that’s what the Tribe should look to do.
Hafner’s 4-year deal only projects out to $142 million / 10 years. That worked out great.
Hafner’s 3 years before his extension >> Votto’s 3 years before his extension
i’d feel bad for their fans if it didn’t benefit us 🙂
i mean, they didn’t even get the initial few years of feeling good about the contract (just like us with Hafner really)
I think we should have kept one of our TWO LEFT-HANDED CY YOUNG WINNING PITCHERS. I hope that’s clear.