252 Million??? The whole team sold for less than that just 3-4 years ago!!

There are only a handful of teams in the league that can compete with those numbers. The next strike (and I think there will definitely be one) will not be because of the players, it will be because of the owners (and who can blame them??).

Rodriguez is an awesome player, no doubt about it. He has all the tools - power, speed, great glove, etc.....

BUT A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS??!!??

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 13, 2000

Answers

I'm in the wrong field. (pun intended)

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), December 13, 2000.

Welcome to the era of $92 bleacher seats, $12 hot dogs (mustard extra), and $21 cups of beer.

-- I'm Here, I'm There, (I'm Everywhere,@So.Beware), December 13, 2000.

I'm interested as to why you would place blame on a future cessation of play on the owners shoulders, Deano.

Major League Baseball must take a page from the NBA economic playbook. Revenue sharing and salary caps must be implemented if baseball is to thrive in the 21st Century. NBA players are hardly hurting due to salary restrictions. The 8th-12th players on every team are making much more money today than prior to the salary cap. Star players, though not able to sell themselves on a truly open market are nonetheless earning sizeable wages.

The Major League Player's Association is a body which knows no compromise, nor is it interested in the well-being of ALL its members. The minimum salary is ridiculously low. This is a direct failing of the Association to look out for its core membership in deference to a few dozen stars.

Sports leagues are monopolies and do not operate as simply loose confederations of individual enterprises. Truly weak markets should be allowed to fail, IMO. But expansion will be with us for the foreseeable future and there are only so many cities capable of generating big bucks for its teams. Some measure of competitive balance is crucial and this requires closing the economic gap between teams with seemingly unlimited purses and small market teams on tight budgets.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 13, 2000.

I think you nailed it Ain't.

Unfortunately it will (probably) price most of the fans right outa the park.

Another sad day for baseball......too many, too often.....

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 13, 2000.

Rich

We posted at the same time.

I think it will be the owners simply because the majority of the markets cannot compete with dollar figures like that. That contract alone is worth more than many of the franchises playing today. When they're not able to sign the top players, the fans will stop showing up and it's downhill from there.

Markets like Pittsburgh and Minneapolis come to mind....

Just an opinion.......

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 13, 2000.

Rich

Haven't they attempted salary cap in MLB before?? It would be best for the game no doubt, and I would certainly love to see it happen. I just don't hold much hope for it......

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 13, 2000.

I'm Here I'm There, how much do they charge for the mustard?

-- Dr. Pibb (dr.pibb@zdnetonebox.com), December 13, 2000.

Not that I'm aware of, Deano, unless you refer to collusion and/or the reserve clause. Neither were true salary caps, of course. The reserve clause was struck down at the beginning of the 1970's - Curt Flood was the sacrificial lamb.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 13, 2000.

From what I've read, Flood challenged the reserve clause with full awareness of the consequences. The word "lamb" doesn't really fit. (Rich, I realize you meant no offense to the man.)

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), December 13, 2000.

It makes me absolutely sick that people can be this greedy.

If I were into baseball, this would certainly keep me out of the ballpark.

And this goes also for basketball players, football players, etc. The priorities in this country are seriously &*$#@'d up!

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), December 13, 2000.

I agree whole-heartedly, David. He knew and offered himself up for slaughter, hence my (mis)use of the term. Perhaps Flood did not realize the extent to which the owners would seek & gain retribution. It has been far too long since I've read up on that case. A good topic for me to revisit in the near future.

Todays players owe a debt of gratitude to the man. He and Marvin Miller blazed a mighty wide trail.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 13, 2000.

Cin, the employer is the final arbiter of worth with regards to employees. I could go to my supervisor and tell him I want a $5/hour raise or I'll go work for the guy across the street. It's up to him to decide on my value to his company.

I'm forever a free agent in my chosen field of work. Players in professional sports work under contract. When the contract is up then and only then can they sell their services to the highest bidder - if that is their desire.

Rodriguez has to believe the Rangers can afford his salary or they would not have tendered the offer, just as I believe my employer can afford the measely pittance he pays me. Time will tell whether the owner of the Rangers made a wise decision.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), December 13, 2000.

Rich

I think you're right. It may have been brought up at the owner's talks in the past but never went any further than that. I think it (salary caps) would be best for the competitive nature of the game though. When you have one guy on one team making as much as the annual payroll of a whole team (Rodriguez 25.2M vs Minnesota approx 28M) it just can't be good for the game. The smaller markets will eventually suffer.

Hey, ya can't blame it on Rodriguez though. How can you fault a guy for signing a contract like that when it's OFFERED to him? Yes, time will tell just how wise a decision it was.

I have Curt Flood's 2nd or 3rd year card (I can't remember offhand). Definitely a great player and cleared a lot of roadblocks outa the way for today's players. They did a good piece on him recently on ESPN.

As big a fan as I am of baseball, I'm somewhat disappointed at where the game is headed.....it was so different when I was a kid.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), December 14, 2000.

the bitch of it was the WAY the little snotnose left!....couldn't wait to bash managment....oh well,

WELCOME TO THE GRIFFEY CURSE, you little spoiled SH*T!

All the money in the world doesn't make the grass greener, little boy!

-- (moss@covered.seattle-ite), December 14, 2000.