MLB Payroll

[SFlonghorngirl]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Complete MLB Opening Day payrolls from <a href="https://twitter.com/AP">@AP</a> <a href="http://t.co/wdSubeIpgx">pic.twitter.com/wdSubeIpgx</a></p>— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="

https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/statuses/448820307118137345">March 26, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
WS prediction: Detroit Tigers vs St. Louis Cardinals

 

[Juan]

The Astros are a big sad. They are a disaster. The only interesting thing for this year, like the last several seasons, is the draft.

The most positive thing to be said is that they are piling up talent in the minors. But even this is causing issues, ex> http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/system-discourages-teams-like-astros-from-promoting-top-prospects-to-majors-031914

I would have not thought we could get a worst owner than Drayton McLane but this new guy is pushing the boundaries of reason.

They are so bad that they have turned me into a soccer fan, since that season overlaps with baseball.

At least the local soccer team is good.

 

[Topstarr]

Houston you have to spend money to make a game out of it.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

The Astros are a big sad. They are a disaster. The only interesting thing for this year, like the last several seasons, is the draft.The most positive thing to be said is that they are piling up talent in the minors. But even this is causing issues, ex> http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/system-discourages-teams-like-astros-from-promoting-top-prospects-to-majors-031914

I would have not thought we could get a worst owner than Drayton McLane but this new guy is pushing the boundaries of reason.

They are so bad that they have turned me into a soccer fan, since that season overlaps with baseball.

At least the local soccer team is good.

Do you follow Champions League? I'm a huge Messi/Barca fan.

 

[Juan]

I tune into Stoke to see Jeff Cameron.

But, yeah, the Barca style is hard to beat.

 

[Juan]

Houston you have to spend money to make a game out of it.

They actually do have a plan. The new GM is from the Cardinals who arguably have had best minor system for the last decade. Or more.

The new front office is full on into advanced metrics, which is the opposite of the regime under McLane. But it takes time.

In addition, they have a horrible television deal. Their new regional sports network has imploded and is actually in Chapter 11 right now. A majority of locals cannot even see them on TV (or the Rockets or the Dynamo). I currently have to watch the Rockets (who are very fun to watch this season) on my computer using a bootleg site. The whole situation is a mess. And, of course, some lawsuits are flying around (the new owner has sued the old owner for fraud, among other claims).

But, anyway, to the point, it would make no sense for them to pile money into free agents with this team now. They did spend a little on FAs compared to last season. I think the primary reason they did this was too keep the players association off their asses, and to maybe some of the media too. But it would be near impossible to make them competitive for this season. The debate among Astros fans right now is whether they will lose 100 games again, or not. (not how many will they win).

Maybe in a year or more likely two years, once this generation of young players are up, will we see them spend. Hopefully the TV contract will be ironed out by then. because, until then, they are at a competitive disadvantage. Even so, this team going forward will be made up of home-grown players rather than FAs. They are taking the Cardinal model and trying to improve on it.

 

[UTPhil2006]

The Astros are a big sad. They are a disaster. The only interesting thing for this year, like the last several seasons, is the draft.The most positive thing to be said is that they are piling up talent in the minors. But even this is causing issues, ex> http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/system-discourages-teams-like-astros-from-promoting-top-prospects-to-majors-031914

I would have not thought we could get a worst owner than Drayton McLane but this new guy is pushing the boundaries of reason.

They are so bad that they have turned me into a soccer fan, since that season overlaps with baseball.

At least the local soccer team is good.

Lots of bad takes here. Luhnow is running the show, not Crane, and is doing it well. Crane will undoubtedly spend the money--when it's time. That time will likely begin next year. Expect a 20-30 MM increase next year when the team can realistically field a competitive team.

This team will not be as bad as years past. Like the GM said a couple years ago, you're going to have to bear with me for a few years.. this year appears to be the last of those. The talent is in place already. Just got to give them time to grow. This isnt the NBA/NFL where a draft pick immediately changes everything. You have to plan 3-5 years in the future.. just ask the Ray's who did it the right way and have been a solid team for about 5-6 years now.

 

[Juan]

Forbes is just out with its baseball team valuations --

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/03/26/baseball-team-values-2014-led-by-new-york-yankees-at-2-5-billion/

The Astros were one of three teams that fell in value, with a valuation of $530 million on revenues of $186 million in 2013. They set operating income at $55.9 million. The drop was due to the RSN (Comcast Sports Net) which paid them only $29 million of the $56 million due in rights fees.

Crane paid McLane $610 million in 2011. The original price was $680 million but he got $70 million knocked off for agreeing to move to the (hated) AL.