Baseball has delivered strong results to the TV networks that carry it, Maury Brown writes for Forbes. Strong regional results are not matched at the national level, however. Clubs whose broadcasts rank number one in prime time in their market are the Tigers, Cardinals, Pirates, Reds, Indians, Brewers, Orioles, Royals, Mariners, Rred Sox, Giants, and Diamondbacks.
Here are a few National League notes:
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said yesterday that the team may not be able to field a contender over the next two seasons, in an interview with Angelo Cataldi of the 94WIP Morning Show (via CBS Philly). His comments certainly seem to represent some movement from earlier statements. “We may have to step backwards to step forwards and that’s also part of the plan here, is to understand that — listen, we may not be a contender in ’15 and ’16,” said Amaro. “… We’re going to have to make changes to get better.” The Phils’ head baseball man indicated that a shift in thinking was in play. “We’re going to have to find creative ways to do it,” Amaro said. “I mean, obviously we’re going to be hopeful that we can do some things internally. We’re looking into the Cuban market, we’re looking into a variety of different ways to improve the club. And it may be through trades. It may be through signings.”
- The Phillies need to sign Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo, opines Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com. The chance to add a younger player who could deliver surplus value if he works out is well worth the risk of $35MM-$50MM (or even more), argues Seidman.
- When the Marlins added Jarred Cosart by trade, the club not only bolstered its rotation for the foreseeable future but picked up a player in Enrique Hernandez who is expected to compete for a big league role, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Hernandez could have a chance to become the team’s starting second baseman next year, Frisary explains. The deal also solidifies the club’s commitment to Casey McGehee at third base, with prospect Colin Moran no longer in line behind him. And Miami’s intentions regarding Giancarlo Stanton are clearer than ever, as without Jake Marisnick behind him the club clearly wants to extend its star.
- In an interesting piece for the New York Daily News, Andy Martino examines how player perception can be skewed. Martino questions whether he and others might have preferred Ike Davis to Lucas Duda as the Mets first baseman based upon differences in the players’ demeanor and other matters that did not necessarily translate to the field. The latter, of course, has thrived this years since the former was dealt away.
Is Amaro waking up?
The first change should be Amaro’s termination.
Clap
Is there a worse GM out there than Amaro?
Nope.
Kevin Towers and Amaro are both pretty bad.
But at least Kevin Towers made some deals, while Amaro is just sitting there doing who knows what. He definitely isn’t “rebuilding” or attempting too. I think he’s just seeing how many mistakes he can make before he gets the boot!
Amaro’s comments are confounding. If they really aren’t going to contend, and if he knows that, what was he thinking the last few weeks? What’s the point of asking for the moon when you know all you are doing is triage? Sell what you can for as best a price you can get, clear some salary, start new. Even Hamels should have been marketed aggressively–particularly because they next few years he’s not going to be on a competitive team.
From what I’ve read ownership has been as culpable as Amaro. But maybe all the bad press over the last few weeks caused a reassessment for them and they gave Amaro new marching orders.
This. I know it sounds silly, but they could have (and still can this offseason to a degree) borrowed from the Marlins plan and just traded every possible asset. Everyone excoriates the Marlins, but they’re a .500 team with a $44MM payroll. Add this mentality to the Phillies payroll and it shouldn’t be hard for them to compete in 2016.
always liked duda better
he has always had an OBP above 300 and even last year his OPS was in the top 20% or 30% of MLB hitters
Rred Sox
thrived this years
At the end of 2015 the big TV contract kicks in with Comcast this will leave two years of dread,in time,with or with out Raj. fans can expects big moves and big signings by the Phillies and the rebuilding may not be as bad a people think.
Payroll is not the Phillies problem.
But payroll can cure a lot of problems.
Or it can lead to the exact situation that the Phillies are in currently
Sure or it can lead to a few championships Via the Yankees 27?
The Yankees won 22 World Series titles between 1923-1978 because of payroll?
Actually yes, maybe not payroll, but definitely money.There was no draft, the Yankees just purchased all the best players. Weren’t the KC athletics known as the yankee farm team? Wasn’t babe ruth a salary dump?
Couldn’t tell ya, I wasn’t around back then.
If the most recent Yankees teams have proved anything it is that just throwing money at problems doesn’t work. The great teams of the 90s and early 2000s had a core that the Yankees developed. You can’t solve all of your money throw free agency. You have to have a core to build around, then use free agency to fill the gaps
Still though? Looks like market corrections have sent Cashman towards the side of analytical decision-making. You can see it in the pickup of McCarthy and Headley. But then again, not so much with Tanaka or even Prado.
Free Agency isn’t what it used to be. Every team that is going to contend for a “few championships” is going to do so through building a team. Not throwing money at aging veterans. The same way the Phillies did when they were the best team in baseball for a few years.
The Phillies have the 3rd highest payroll in all of baseball. Tops in their division by nearly $50MM, I’m really not sure why anyone would think a new TV contract is going to solve anything for the Phillies.
Aren’t the Phillies proof that payroll can actually cause a lot of problems?
Of course spending $$ in the absence of any intelligence in running the team won’t work. But $$ are an advantage, among other qualities. If it weren’t, owners wouldn’t waste potential profit by allowing $100 million to be spent on payrolls.
The TV deal does not create some sudden, massive revenue boost that will vault the club into a new echelon of spending. I’d say it keeps the Phillies’ position essentially constant — still one of the larger-budget teams (so long as they can keep drawing, at least).
link to mlbtraderumors.com
The Phillies deal goes up a few % each year. So it starts off in the maybe $65m-$75m a year range. It’s an increase over what they’re currently getting, but not “let’s throw money around at random” mode. By the end of the contract it’ll be in the $125m-$130m a year range.
This is correct. Tried to make a similar comment but it disappeared.
The TV deal will more or less keep them positioned where they are currently in terms of spending capacity, not vault them past the Dodgers and Yankees. And attendance decline (plus other lost revenue due to lack of interest) could put a dent in that.
Maybe Martino can now see the light with his love affair with Harvey. Andy, I know he’s interesting, but even you have to see he’s got an ego problem and it’s not always the team’s fault.
Harvey is just a side show right now. The key is what he looks like next Spring. If he does come back 100%, Met fans will have to learn to live with a prima donna like Harvey who knows how to get things done. If he isn’t the same pitcher, he will be the one who must change.
Kind of a Ross Perot type simplified answer on how to improve.
go outbid all the other teams for cuban players. easy-peasy!
Why wasn’t he doing this earlier while his team was about to creak and slow with age; painting himself with moves that painted him into an ever shrinking corner?
Doesn’t this strategy kind of understate how easy it is to get the best cuban talent?
I think he’s been out of ideas for a while and is just grasping at straws. Stick a fork in him, cuz he’s done.
The Marlins/Astros trade is going to end up being Kike for Moran. Cosart and Marisnick aren’t that good. If Kike ends up being the superU that he could be, Fish win this one, unless Moran wakes up.
Worst nickname in professional sports.
Hamels can block the Cubs as they’re on his no trade list. If that wasn’t the case the Cubs could put a deal together WITHOUT their top-3 guys who are top-15, maybe all top-10 prospects in Bryant, Russell, and Baez and instead make a deal around Jorge Soler and other prospects they have in the top-100.
I doubt the Cubs could swing a deal for Hamels without including 1 of their top 3 unless they’re willing to part with 3-4 other top 100 or just outside prospects. Something like Alcantara, Soler, Edwards and McKinney plus a mid-level. Not gonna be cheap to acquire a pitcher like Hamels with 4+ years of control at a known price that could be below market value in a year or 2.
The Marlins have also only made the playoffs twice in their existence and like every team in Florida their attendance is always last/bottom in the league. Not exactly the greatest example for a properly run organization.
Bryant is the #1 prospect in the league and Hamels isn’t a massive steal on his contract. I’d be surprised if they were able to get Russell for him.
While our owner is awful, we have won two World Series and we’ve only existed for 21 years. That’s pretty solid.
You can keep Hamels. There is no way a team would give up 3-4 prospects for Hamels.
The team has 4-5 years before they can even consider themselves possible Wild Card contenders, and that’s likely being generous. By then, the Phillies are going to wish they traded Hamels for players who could help at that time.
And the Phillies are going to be championship contenders while Hamels is still under contract? Didn’t think so? Why not get something that could help you the next time they’re good, instead of keep a great player while the rest of the team is bad?