What's the deal, Baseball?

What's the deal, Baseball?

You know, I love baseball, it was the first sport I ever watched in person, it was the first sport I ever played, and I just wonder where it is heading. We are still going through the whole “steroid scandal” and attendance is up, as well as profits. The sport itself is growing in popularity, even with the issues that it has.

Baseball is just entering it’s “Winter Meetings” phase. This is the part of the year where rumors are flying rampant, this person is getting traded, this Free Agent is getting signed, it really helps to pump up the fans for the upcoming year. We’ve already had some big signings, like Torii Hunter leaving the Twins and signing with the Angels for 90 Million. This is the soon to be 33 year old Hunter. Then there are rumors of Johan Santana being traded. Why would the Twins trade the best pitcher in baseball? Simple….they can’t afford him. Who can? The Yankees or Red Sox, and maybe the Angels. This is the thing that really bothers me about baseball. Santana is arguably one of the best pitchers of this generation, and he won’t be able to play for the team he came up with because they just don’t have the money. To me, it’s pretty sad that this is what baseball has come down to. If you are a good high priced player, your options are severely limited on who you can play for, unless you are willing to take less than “Market Value.”

Does this bother anyone else? Will we ever see the Pirates, Royals, Devil Rays, Reds, or any other small market teams make it to the World Series? Sure, I know Colorado made it this year, but that team is about to be gutted. Matsui is already gone for more money, and how long can they hold on to players like Holliday, Atkins, Tulowitzki, and others when they are available for Free Agency? Those players will all end up on higher market teams that can pay them more money.

The small market teams that make it far in the playoffs still have players like those listed above that haven’t been able to hit the free agency market. When they do, they are gone. I can’t blame them either. Would you take 50% less income just to be loyal? Not many would.

Baseball needs to come together on the framework of a salary cap. I know it can’t be instituted immediately, but let’s at least work on something here. We already have a penalty that teams have to pay if they go over a certain amount, and that’s a good start, but we need more. The NFL has a salary cap, and look at the competitive balance you get out of it. Every team has the same beginning point, some strike out in the draft, but that’s just life…at least they have the same funds to get something done.

The Yankees $199 million payroll in 2007 was higher than the bottom 5 teams…combined! Something needs to be done, and it needs to happen soon or else everyone will keep seeing their favorite players end up in a different market. It’s sickening to have to view your team as a “Minor League” for the big boys.

I have no doubt that baseball can make it out of the “Steroid Era”, but I have many reservations that it can survive the “Outspend them” Era.