contracting bad baseball teams?

[toyota24]

I was thinking about this today. The argument seems to be that the quality of player in MLB is diluted by an overabundance of clubs and thus thinner talent, pitching in particular. It would inevitably be unsuccessful small market teams getting canned. I don't think it's a bad idea, other than the fact that the Reds would be a prime candidate for contraction. If I had to pick six hopeless sad clubs, three from each league it would go as follows:
1. Kansas City- have stank forever and never seem to improve, despite proof in Oakland and Minnesota that small market teams can compete if they are smart. What great player would want to go to a town like KC anyway?
2. Tampa Bay- it's almost as if there are more Yankees fans than Rays fans in Tampa. They never get better despite having some nice players and even a real manager for awhile. Attendance is a factor as well.
3. Texas- another team that hasn't had a shot in a long time. They even tried signing big fas like A-Rod and some pitchers to no avail. MLB could do without this team.
4. Florida- 2 world titles in their short tenure as a big league club get them what? Crappy attendance and no hope of a new stadium. If they're not contracted they should at least pack up and go somewhere else.
5. Washington- Where do I start. This team played better when they were in Siberia (Montreal). I'll give them this much: They were at least smart enough to bilk the hapless Reds into taking two dinged up relievers for a couple of servicable everyday players.
6. THE REDS. I'm half joking, but any objective observer would consider us. We go through jobber, never will be manager over and over ad infinitum. They come in under the interim guise, dupe the fanbase into thinking they have some magic, and get to stay until the whole thing goes to excrement. The ownership is more than happy to oblige, getting a garbage skipper at a bargain basement price. We could demolish the stadium, sod the streets, and build a nice park. It could be called Rose Green to let future generations of Cincinnatians know that this was once a town where football was always secondary. We then build a fifty foot bronze statue of Pete Rose standing next to a second figure, half the size, of a kid Junior Griffey to signify that this city is the place where great tradition and baseball hopes go to be flushed down the crapper. Even better, get the state of Ohio to allow gambling and set up the Hit King Casino and New River Downs adult fun complex and money pit. Trust me, I've been to games in Detroit, and it's a heckuva fun day when football is sandwiched between stints at Greektown Casino. Baseball season is too long to sit through this farce year after year. The meaninglessness of September makes waiting for Bengals opening day even more painful. Is it time to take Mr Red, er......, uh,... I mean Gapper(another reminder of tradition being DOA in this organization) out behind the shed (in this case being the Freedom Center) and put him out of his protracted misery?
Disclaimer: I AM sort of only joking here.

[BFan71]

I understand the sort of joking here.
1. KC - I think a lot of people could use the same argument you used against KC for the Bengals a few years back. Need I say more?
2. TB - There are more Yankees fans. Band wagon/all star loving people live everywhere, but New Yorkers love to move to the Sunshine State, so the concentration is higher in TB. Also, Yanks spring training team is down there.
3. TX - see KC.
4. FL - You said it yourself, two titles in their short tenure. Amazing. Huizenga screwed them with the fire sale and they have recovered. Great year last year with the youngest team ever. Too bad Girardi didn't get along with Loria. The team shows promise, but you are right, the city and fans show them NO LOVE!
5. WA - another good argument for a salary cap!
6. Reds - I completely understand the pain you feel. Keep loving your team and know there is hope!

[34inXXIII]

The Pirates would be at much greater risk of being contracted than the Reds.

[Jom112]

I agree with the concept but my only issue is when this was a "hot" topic several years ago the two of the teams being mentioned were Minnesota and Milwaukee. Both teams now are legit playoff /world series contenders with good young talent (Relatively young in Minnesota's case).
Although KC is horrible with no real hope of success in the future, it does have a good past (When George Brett played). I would hate to see that go away. Same with Reds and the Big Red Machine.
I think if they put in a salary cap it would resolve some of the issues. It could even be a high salary cap say $130 Million or so. It wouldn't necessary save those franchises but it would level the playing field a bit, which might be all they need...

[toyota24]

The Pirates would be at much greater risk of being contracted than the Reds.

Yeah, I know. I was just throwing the Reds in out of frustration. You can't say they wouldn't be a realistic candidate, though, especially if attendance keeps dropping.

[toyota24]

I understand the sort of joking here.
1. KC - I think a lot of people could use the same argument you used against KC for the Bengals a few years back. Need I say more?
2. TB - There are more Yankees fans. Band wagon/all star loving people live everywhere, but New Yorkers love to move to the Sunshine State, so the concentration is higher in TB. Also, Yanks spring training team is down there.
3. TX - see KC.
4. FL - You said it yourself, two titles in their short tenure. Amazing. Huizenga screwed them with the fire sale and they have recovered. Great year last year with the youngest team ever. Too bad Girardi didn't get along with Loria. The team shows promise, but you are right, the city and fans show them NO LOVE!
5. WA - another good argument for a salary cap!
6. Reds - I completely understand the pain you feel. Keep loving your team and know there is hope!

I still worry about the Bengals. It seems silly, now that season tickets are sold out, but whenever talk of relocating a team to LA heats up I get a little protective. We've got one of their own at qb (imagine what a draw Carson would be in SoCal) and an owner with little sense of sentimentality for the fanbase (which not so long ago was vocal about hating his guts) or anything else not associated with the bottom line. It's highly unlikely, but if Mikey boy stood to gain enough, I wouldn't call it impossible. I'd say Jacksonville is the most likely candidate for relocation now, though, since they've been decent for a while and still don't consistently fill the stadium.

[David From Cincy]

I still worry about the Bengals. It seems silly, now that season tickets are sold out, but whenever talk of relocating a team to LA heats up I get a little protective. We've got one of their own at qb (imagine what a draw Carson would be in SoCal) and an owner with little sense of sentimentality for the fanbase (which not so long ago was vocal about hating his guts) or anything else not associated with the bottom line. It's highly unlikely, but if Mikey boy stood to gain enough, I wouldn't call it impossible. I'd say Jacksonville is the most likely candidate for relocation now, though, since they've been decent for a while and still don't consistently fill the stadium.
Bengals will not be leaving for LA so breathe a sigh of relief. Seriously do you really think a QB being a California boy would make them more at risk to be moved there? As a general rule a team that gets moved usually has an old stadium, low attendance, a bad team and no hope for those to change in the near future. Also throw in disgruntled owner as a possible risk to being moved. If I had to come up with 3 teams that would be moved to LA they would be as follows:
1. The Saints ( Owner wants to move. The team isn't exactly built for the future. Stadium issues.)
2. The Vikings (fighting for a new stadium)
3. The Jaguars (Well....does anyone really care?)

As for the Reds, I know you are half joking, but you have to realize that the Reds are one of the safest teams in regards to contraction. The Reds are a huge part of MLB history as we all know, and to a league where history is so important losing the Reds would be an unimaginable blow. The Reds could finish below .500 for the next 30 years and they would still be a Major League Baseball team. Teams that really need to worry about being contracted (and in reality I doubt any team will be contracted, the more logical decision is to move them) are as follows:
1. Devil Rays (soon to be renamed)
2. Marlins
3. Royals
4. Toronto
A Distant 5th: Rockies
Las Vegas wants a team extremely bad, and I wouldn't at all be surprised is they get one within the next 5-10 years.

[ThePekoSquad]

I agree with the concept but my only issue is when this was a "hot" topic several years ago the two of the teams being mentioned were Minnesota and Milwaukee. Both teams now are legit playoff /world series contenders with good young talent (Relatively young in Minnesota's case).
Although KC is horrible with no real hope of success in the future, it does have a good past (When George Brett played). I would hate to see that go away. Same with Reds and the Big Red Machine.
I think if they put in a salary cap it would resolve some of the issues. It could even be a high salary cap say $130 Million or so. It wouldn't necessary save those franchises but it would level the playing field a bit, which might be all they need...

Kansas City is slowly making the correct moves one year at a time. I mean Alex Gordon is up and he is going to be something special, along with Mark Teahan and Gil Meche, this team is trying to get on the right track.
Tampa Bay, has horrible management, but GREAT talent, withDavid Pryce being selected first overall to tag up with Scott Kazmir and James Sheidls and Al Reyes in the bullpen, along with Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, Delmon "Bat Throwing" Young, Rocco Baldelli, Carlos Pena and Ty Wigginton, it is a decent team.

The rockies, are overall bad, they have some good players in Hawpe, Helton and Holliday and Fuentes in the bullpen but that stadium is horrible.
Texas is in a rebuilding process, Millwood has been too injured to carry that line-up Hank Blayock is hurt, Mex Tex (Mark Tex) has been slumping and Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Sammy Sosa are the only reason why they have much wins as they do now, and Young is not even doing that great this year.
Washington hands down is the worst team in baseball for probably I dunno since Vlad left? They really have no good prospects, Sean Hill and Jason Bergmann are the only two players other than Chad Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman I would even want on my team. Austin Kearns is an OK player, Lopez is a ok type of player, Young is just having a breakout year, but will probably bust once he gets money and other than that I raelly cant even name anybody else off that team? Guzman, Logan, Langerhans, Church, Fick? Who else?
Washington bar none worst team in the bigs right now.

[Jom112]

I agree with the concept but my only issue is when this was a "hot" topic several years ago the two of the teams being mentioned were Minnesota and Milwaukee. Both teams now are legit playoff /world series contenders with good young talent (Relatively young in Minnesota's case).
Although KC is horrible with no real hope of success in the future, it does have a good past (When George Brett played). I would hate to see that go away. Same with Reds and the Big Red Machine.
I think if they put in a salary cap it would resolve some of the issues. It could even be a high salary cap say $130 Million or so. It wouldn't necessary save those franchises but it would level the playing field a bit, which might be all they need...

Kansas City is slowly making the correct moves one year at a time. I mean Alex Gordon is up and he is going to be something special, along with Mark Teahan and Gil Meche, this team is trying to get on the right track.
Tampa Bay, has horrible management, but GREAT talent, withDavid Pryce being selected first overall to tag up with Scott Kazmir and James Sheidls and Al Reyes in the bullpen, along with Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, Delmon "Bat Throwing" Young, Rocco Baldelli, Carlos Pena and Ty Wigginton, it is a decent team.

The rockies, are overall bad, they have some good players in Hawpe, Helton and Holliday and Fuentes in the bullpen but that stadium is horrible.
Texas is in a rebuilding process, Millwood has been too injured to carry that line-up Hank Blayock is hurt, Mex Tex (Mark Tex) has been slumping and Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Sammy Sosa are the only reason why they have much wins as they do now, and Young is not even doing that great this year.
Washington hands down is the worst team in baseball for probably I dunno since Vlad left? They really have no good prospects, Sean Hill and Jason Bergmann are the only two players other than Chad Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman I would even want on my team. Austin Kearns is an OK player, Lopez is a ok type of player, Young is just having a breakout year, but will probably bust once he gets money and other than that I raelly cant even name anybody else off that team? Guzman, Logan, Langerhans, Church, Fick? Who else?
Washington bar none worst team in the bigs right now.

Not sure why you responded to my post? Do you really think KC won't be bad for a while? Alex Gordon does have a lot of potential but he is struggling (Batting .236). You bash the Nationals but I would take Zimmerman over Gordon any day of the week. Plus KC has spent A LOT more for it's players than other teams that are horrible:
http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2007
KC - $ 67,116,500
Nationals - $ 37,347,500
Devil Rays - $ 24,123,500
And you think the Royals have been making correct moves lately? They overpaid for Gil Meche and they should have traded Mike Sweeney away for some young talent a long time ago. Teams that are making good moves are Cleveland, Arizona, San Diego, Milwaukee, Minnesota and Oakland. The Royals have a long long long long long long way to go...

[ThePekoSquad]

I agree with the concept but my only issue is when this was a "hot" topic several years ago the two of the teams being mentioned were Minnesota and Milwaukee. Both teams now are legit playoff /world series contenders with good young talent (Relatively young in Minnesota's case).
Although KC is horrible with no real hope of success in the future, it does have a good past (When George Brett played). I would hate to see that go away. Same with Reds and the Big Red Machine.
I think if they put in a salary cap it would resolve some of the issues. It could even be a high salary cap say $130 Million or so. It wouldn't necessary save those franchises but it would level the playing field a bit, which might be all they need...

Kansas City is slowly making the correct moves one year at a time. I mean Alex Gordon is up and he is going to be something special, along with Mark Teahan and Gil Meche, this team is trying to get on the right track.
Tampa Bay, has horrible management, but GREAT talent, withDavid Pryce being selected first overall to tag up with Scott Kazmir and James Sheidls and Al Reyes in the bullpen, along with Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, Delmon "Bat Throwing" Young, Rocco Baldelli, Carlos Pena and Ty Wigginton, it is a decent team.

The rockies, are overall bad, they have some good players in Hawpe, Helton and Holliday and Fuentes in the bullpen but that stadium is horrible.
Texas is in a rebuilding process, Millwood has been too injured to carry that line-up Hank Blayock is hurt, Mex Tex (Mark Tex) has been slumping and Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Sammy Sosa are the only reason why they have much wins as they do now, and Young is not even doing that great this year.
Washington hands down is the worst team in baseball for probably I dunno since Vlad left? They really have no good prospects, Sean Hill and Jason Bergmann are the only two players other than Chad Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman I would even want on my team. Austin Kearns is an OK player, Lopez is a ok type of player, Young is just having a breakout year, but will probably bust once he gets money and other than that I raelly cant even name anybody else off that team? Guzman, Logan, Langerhans, Church, Fick? Who else?
Washington bar none worst team in the bigs right now.

Not sure why you responded to my post? Do you really think KC won't be bad for a while? Alex Gordon does have a lot of potential but he is struggling (Batting .236). You bash the Nationals but I would take Zimmerman over Gordon any day of the week. Plus KC has spent A LOT more for it's players than other teams that are horrible:
http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2007
KC - $ 67,116,500
Nationals - $ 37,347,500
Devil Rays - $ 24,123,500
And you think the Royals have been making correct moves lately? They overpaid for Gil Meche and they should have traded Mike Sweeney away for some young talent a long time ago. Teams that are making good moves are Cleveland, Arizona, San Diego, Milwaukee, Minnesota and Oakland. The Royals have a long long long long long long way to go...


They might have overpaid for Gil Meche, but he actually is not doing bad at all this year. I was saying, they are makign right moves little by little and they won't be that bad within I dunno 2-3 years even though I see Washington just being plain out.. horrible for the next 10 years. Kansas City has a farm system, Washington does not.

[Hines86Ward]

It's a shame that the Pirates & Reds franchises are in the shape that they're in. Both clubs have a good history with solid fanbases supporting them....

[calell83]

The Pirates would be at much greater risk of being contracted than the Reds.

I dunno, forbes estimates the Nuttings(Sp?) pull in over 20 mil a year from the team...

Not that it matters, if they were contracted I dunno fi I would notice, except for the stadium lights being off....