Small Market Baseball

Long ago when my Cincinnati Reds were struggling to get to .500 (I know they are back to doing that again), I tried to figure out how the "small market" teams could compete year in and year out if they were as smart as the big dollar franchises. Not just jump into the top because they score a few great young players at the right time but, year in and year out. I do things like this when I am going to or from work during my few moments of solitude each day.

Anyway what I came up with was the "contract" league concept. Since baseball has so many numbers and if any sport can determine a players value with numbers it would be baseball. What I would do is have the teams give whatever, say 55% of the gross to the MLBPA. They would distribute the money based on the numbers, seniority, etc.

The teams would then have a limited number of "contract years" that they could sign players with. So team A and team B are just competing for the player based on contract years that they can offer (local endorsements will always give NY/LA and advantage), playing time, etc., but not dollars. That say a team can only have 75 contract years among their 25 man roster. Guaranteed money and how missed seasons due to injury are worked out is up to the MLBPA.

There was an SOM tie in when I started typing this. But, a few interruptions and getting back to what I am supposed to be doing has made me, for the moment, forget what that was. But, I typed this so I am sharing.

Good luck and may HAL not mess up much.

I wish MLB would do something to give all teams even footing. My team, the Colorado Rockies, have never won their division in their entire existence. When two teams in their division (Dodgers and Giants) can and do spend twice the money on salaries how is that remotely fair?

As a result, my favorite sport growing up has taken a distant second to football. Also, I rarely go to MLB games even though I live 30 minutes away from Coors Field.

As a lifelong Bucco fan I have seen very few good seasons, and almost all of themy have been recent. I was only a toddler in the early 90s after all.

It is not fair, but unfortunately I don't see it changing in my lifetime.

That being said I couldn't dream of not rooting for the Pirates so hopefully they can keep finding gems in the draft and internationally (minus the legal issues I'm a big Kang fan) and stay competitive at least for a while longer.

As a result, my favorite sport growing up has taken a distant second to football. Also, I rarely go to MLB games even though I live 30 minutes away from Coors Field.

To me MLB is far and above my favorite sport. I watch the MLB channel for at least a little bit almost every day. NCAA football is 2nd. The NFL and all other sports are just background noise to me. I can take 'em or leave 'em. Oh, and its been many years since I attended an MLB game in person.