I made a rough graph in Excel and the result is above. By itself, it is not all that telling, so I'll narrate: The blue dots represents each team (lined up on the bottom) and their payroll as a percentage of the top payroll in the league, the Yankees ($209 Million). The red dots are winning percentages as of Thursday night.
That's right kids, No correlation! Zippo! You want an even crazier stat? The top four teams in payroll—New York Yankees, Detroit, New York Mets, and Boston—have an average winning percentage of .484, or about 19-21. The bottom four—Pittsburgh, Oakland, Tampa Bay, and Florida—have an average of .549 - about 22-18. Yep. Three games back.
Yes, I know I'm using Detroit's 16-25 record to my statistical advantage. But isn't it interesting that among the top four teams, NONE of them are in first place? Heck, two of them are in last. How about the fact that two of the bottom four are in first in their respective divisions—not to mention Oakland, who are just half a game behind Anaheim? Does that statistic make it any more clear?
Barry Zito is a great example of how money is being squandered away by rich ballclubs that don't know what they seem to be getting. There's nothing like making eight figures a year and sitting in the bullpen every day (he has since returned to the rotation, of course). Or even Johan Santana, who until last week did not have a home win.
What a great sport baseball is. I can tell money affects performance so much.
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4 months ago
I don't know if the last sentence or two was sarcasm but, it is a great sport. Secondly, i absolutely love the fact that these teams are beating the teams with money. I hope this helps the Yankee's realize there should be a salary cap. Only thing wrong in baseball in my opinion.
4 months ago
This article is really interesting... it is great that the teams with less money are doing better than teams like the yankees.
4 months ago
Great article.... but I think mostly everybody knows that both the Yankees and the Tigers will eventually play ball the way many predicted them to play this year. The Rays and Royals and Marlins will fade because they are all still young and lack a winning attitude. Great piece though.
4 months ago
Just to clarify, the last sentence is sarcastic, but the second-to-last isn't. Baseball is great.
4 months ago
Let me open by saying that if that is your real name, I hope you learned how to fight at an early age.
Second, your article rings true. Money cannot buy you happiness. All it does is raise expectations and put enormous pressure on teams.
I do beleive that the top salary teams - Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Tigers et al will all be there in September...and that is what this is all about....filling the seats for 81 games and then some.
4 months ago
As a Tigers fan...I can guarantee you guys the Tigers wouldn't even be close to .500 at the end of the year. They would have to go 79-41 the rest of the way to have a shot at the playoffs.
from 4 months ago
Kyle,
79- 41 to have a shot at the playoffs!?!? 95 wins will not be needed to make the playoffs in the AL Central this year, in fact I would bet that the Central winner will only need 88 or so to make the playoffs. 72-49 is not unrealistic, it isn't even .600 baseball. Gotta keep the faith,
4 months ago
Unfortunately I think this is something of a statistical anomaly. For example, D. Navarro on the Rays is hitting .372 (career average of .257). Their bullpen is also pitching out of its mind right now, which won't last...They have too much youth on the team. This can be said for a lot of other teams (O's, Marlins, Nationals). Those teams won't be in it at the end. I think the exception to this is Arizona, who I believe will again compete for the NL Championship.
Overall, good article though. Solid use of excel as well.
4 months ago
its to early in the season to count out the Yankees...look at the trail blazers in basketball. they had a hot start and cooled down. the rays and marlins DO NOT have the talent to keep it up. just watch one month from now those teams will be on the decline down like the orioles a couple of years ago, they started off hot and slowed down
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