Jacob Shearman Shearman 1
English II
May 1, 2010
Prater 5
Payroll and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is a great association that is filled with many talented players around the world. Every player in the MLB range with talent, and the better you are, the more money you recieve. This has become a big problem in the league for many reasons. It effects the small market teams who can't afford the star players. First, the small market teams, such as the Royals, Padres and Pirates; have very little chance at having a successful season. Second, the compettitvness of the games are decreased very largley. Last, the big market teams get all of the great players.
First, the competitivness between teams has dramatically decreased. All of the big market teams, such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs; are to talented for the small market teams. Peter Gross, of the Milawkee Journal, says "When I watch the Yankees play a scrub team like the Pirates, I just get bored because it's always a blowout." This quote is very true, according to statbaseball.com, the top big market teams beat the top small market teams 85 percent of the time they play. Now, with all these blowouts going on, fans tend to get bored and stop watching.
Second, the small market teams statistically have very little chance to win a championship, or even make the playoffs. Teams like the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are considered small market teams. According to About.com/baseball, these teams just mentioned have only made the playoffs 5 times in the last 20 years combined. On the other hand, the highest payroll in baseball, the Yankees have made the playoffs 16 times out of the last 20 years. One team more than triples four other teams combined. An ESPN baseball analysist, said "The first time we see a small market team win the world series, is when we will see pigs...