Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw

[packerzrule]

must be nice to have 2 of the best pitchers locked into multi year deals



bastids

 

[Davis_Mike]

Oakland, Tampa Bay and other small market teams have done pretty well. Being in a small market is not an excuse for losing any more than being in a large market area is a guarantee for winning.

The bold part is not exactly true. Sure there are a few small market teams that do well, but they are the exception to the rule. The reality is that small market teams have a narrow window to be competitive & then that window closes till another window opens in 5 or so years. There is very little margin for error when it comes to decisions made by those organization's management. Bad decisions can cripple the small market teams for many years. On the other hand, large market teams can consistently make bad decisions & remain competitive because they can spend their way out of those decisions. It's just not an even playing field.

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

Yeah, I'd say they have a pretty legit gripe about not being able to keep Fielder. His last season in the national league saw him hit 38 HR's, 120 RBI's and hit for a .299 average. You think they wanted to let him walk in FA? A guy who was a cornerstone of their offense and a former 1st round pick? You just don't replace talent like that from year to year.

Same goes for the starting pitching, which is now in a shambles. They had to watch as their failed attempts to keep Grienke and CC both went south. They gutted their entire farm system to bring those two guys in and other than Segura, they have little else to show for those players who are now elsewhere.

But, I don't blame them for making those deals when they did as they knew it was a Win now situation because the playing field in MLB is so slanted towards the large markets.

Tampa Bay will probably have to watch as their ace pitcher either gets traded this season, or walks in FA in two years to the highest bidder. They don't have the assets to pay him what he will command in the market, and they've already signed their one big contract with Longoria. Can't afford to pay them both.

Sure but my point is simply that none of this really has to do with market size.

Mark Attanasio is making a fortune off the Brewers! I recognize few teams can spend what the Yankees or Dodgers will this upcoming season but Fielder isn't in Milwaukee because their owner decided he would rather keep $200M; not because the team couldn't afford his services.

 

[evolver115]

Sure but my point is simply that none of this really has to do with market size.

Mark Attanasio is making a fortune off the Brewers! I recognize few teams can spend what the Yankees or Dodgers will this upcoming season but Fielder isn't in Milwaukee because their owner decided he would rather keep $200M; not because the team couldn't afford his services.

Which is why it needs a cap, and subsequently, a cap floor.

And what you say isn't 100% true about market size and the abundance of assets it ultimately gives to the mlb franchises that reside in them. Most of baseball is within a relative equal distribution of market size. The exception to the latter are cities with team's like the Dodgers, Angels, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, White Sox and even the Nationals.

Those cities practically double and triple the viewing market compared to the rest of baseball. And within a system that lacks control on spending, they do indirectly effect the FA market, both within the game, and internationally. They have an abundance of assets because of broadcasting revenue and gate revenue that cities like Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, etc. just do not have.

^^^That is from '09 to '11. You can see how having that expanded viewership market like NY and LA can indirectly impact the cities that are at the bottom of the graph, and it is because they are free to spend to whatever amount they want.

It is true that Attanasio could spend beyond his market size. He is a very rich man. But it isn't good business because his assets aren't being replenished directly from the business he would be spending it on. The Brewers would be in the red, and he would be losing money on them. He's not going to do that.

 

[Silas]

Tom ‏@Haudricourt 13m
Dodgers sign Clayton Kershaw to $215 million deal. Mark Attanasio paid $223 million for entire #Brewers franchise. Can you say "disparity?"

Kershaw is worth more than the Brewers franchise!

A ton of money for one player, let alone a pitcher, but that's what you get in the Brave New World of big money and big spending in sports.

 

[Microwahevo]

No-no for Kershaw

He's my favorite pitcher in the game and glad he finally got a no hitter. Awesome performance!!

 

[navamind]

one of the least shocking no-hitters of all-time. Dude's just a fantastic pitcher.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

The man is worth every Penny.

 

[CatsTopPac]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't have happened to a more deserving and great guy. Fuck yeah, so happy for him. And only 4 games back from the top spot!!!!!

 

[Darkstone42]

That was probably one of the best pitching performances ever, too. It was distinct even among no-hitters in terms of the level of dominance he showed.

There is no pitcher in baseball in Kershaw's class. He is his own class, and it is above elite.

 

[hokiehi21]

That entire stat line is just absurd. 15 K's on just 107 pitches? 6 pitches in the 9th?

And how sick does Hanley feel

 

[da55bums]

one of the least shocking no-hitters of all-time. Dude's just a fantastic pitcher.

second that.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Kershaw isn't elite, just simply the best. Jmo though.

 

[steveringo]

That entire stat line is just absurd. 15 K's on just 107 pitches? 6 pitches in the 9th?

And how sick does Hanley feel

If that was the only base runner, then yeah, he probably didn't sleep last night....

He owes Kershaw a Benz.

 

[LucklessPadresFan]

He's my favorite pitcher in the game and glad he finally got a no hitter. Awesome performance!!

The Giants are struggling right now and maybe the Dodgers can use this to put a string of wins together and take over first. On paper, they are the best team in the division and were my pick in the NL to go to the WS.

 

[Sportsguy9695]

this guy is a beast

 

[gvsulaker82]

Against a good offense as well with lots of extra base power. Very impressive. Greinke next?

 

[Darkstone42]

The Most Perfect Non-Perfect Game | FanGraphs Baseball

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Kershaw isn't elite, just simply the best. Jmo though.

Am I understanding your post wrong or are you joking?

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Am I understanding your post wrong or are you joking?

Well, what I intended it to mean was Kershaw is pretty much in a class of his own right now. Simply the best pitcher in the game right now. I don't look forward to seeing him ( even though I'll probably be at the game) pitch against KC next week.