Baseball should have a salary cap

KP · April 6th, 2006, 08:41 AM

The NFL does and the league is doing just fine.

The NBA does, they were the first, actually, and is thriving.

The NHL finally does.

Only MLB has refused.

The NFL has thrived on parity. Every year, virtually every team has a chance to win the Super Bowl. Only the teams with young QBs and/or bad head coaches are losing before the season starts.

The NBA has a couple teams head-and-shoulders above all the others, and that is mostly thanks to the "Larry Bird Clause" in the salary cap agreement.

The NHL? Well, I suppose it is a bit too early to tell if the new salary cap will be a positive for the sport. At least most teams know that they will be able to compete on an even financial playing field and not have teams "load up" for a one year title run.

Speaking of title runs, how many times have the Florida Marlins won the World Series only to immediately dump their star players due to "financial constraints"? Twice. A huge payroll doesn't mean a title....just ask George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees. At the other end of the spectrum is the Minnesota Twins. They are financially considered a "small market franchise" but have won the World Series twice. These titles can be mostly attributed to great management and, well, just plain good fortune. They did have some outstanding players, but the Twins are unable to keep them. Do you really think a Derek Jeter could have come up through the farm system and stayed with the team had he played the same way for Minnesota as he has for the Yankees? Loyalty only goes so far. Money is the major motivating factor for the large majority of MLB players. Johnny Damon knows about that.

Three of the four major sports in the United States have salary caps of some form. Two have been successful at it and the third will probably be. It's time for the fourth, America's Game, to follow suit.

nhannaford · April 6th, 2006, 03:47 PM

I would love to see it happen, but it won't. First off, the players union will NEVER go for it because they want the cash. And, secondly, the owners won't either. If they have to cut salaries, that means that they will have to cut ticket prices, concession prices, etc, there fore leaving them without alot of profits. Sure, it has been successful in the other 3 sports, but their salaries never got as high as the MLB.

It will never happen.

Rusty27 · April 6th, 2006, 04:56 PM

I don't know about lower ticket prices and lower profits. I'd say lower salaries,same ticket prices,equals way more money for the owners.
In hockey,the Lightning are already raising ticket prices for this years playoffs and for the 06-07 season. The cap in hockey has done nothing to lower ticket prices.

JGAC · April 6th, 2006, 05:09 PM

ah the age old discussion.

I dont see where you're going nick with lower salaries = cutting ticket/concession prices.

Mike · April 6th, 2006, 05:14 PM

Well I am here to tell you that it needs to be done, these players are getting out of control. Selig is stuck too much on pleasing the American People and demanding a steroid investigation when he should be looking at a way to lower ticket prices! All the other leagues in America have Salary Caps and screw the players union.

I would use the Yanks as an example of the price of baseball spinning out of control, saying that they should be winning all the championships each year with their $ 200 million pay scale, but they don't.

A salary cap would lower prices and keep these players in check, also bringing more parity to the league.

JGAC · April 6th, 2006, 05:18 PM

yea, it would allow them to spread the love.

I remember that table that sigg posted about the top salaries, in the top 20 or so there were a couple Yankees in there.

Mike · April 6th, 2006, 05:20 PM

Not only the players from the yanks but even Bonds is paid too much!! And as the years go by, players will demand even more and more or strike

Which to me is a complete crock of shit

If I go to a Rangers game and take my family, it would cost a minimum of $ 100 to $150 to pay for it (food, tickets, etc...). I am sure that someday they will charge you to take a crap there!!

Ishkur · April 7th, 2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhannaford

If they have to cut salaries, that means that they will have to cut ticket prices, concession prices, etc, there fore leaving them without alot of profits.

No.

Player salaries have absolutely no effect or bearing on ticket prices whatsoever. Ticket prices are set at what the market will bear, and are priced at the demand for them. Playoffs are the most expensive tickets of all, and players don't even get paid for them (standard players contracts only cover the regular season). If 2000 people want to watch a game in a 50,000 seat stadium, prices go down. If 5,000,000 people want to watch game 7 of the World Series, prices go up due to demand. Simple supply side economics All of this is independent of player salaries.

KP · April 7th, 2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGAC

yea, it would allow them to spread the love.

I remember that table that sigg posted about the top salaries, in the top 20 or so there were a couple Yankees in there.

I think the top three players in terms of salary are:

1. ARod $25
2. Jeter $20
3. Giambin $19

The salaries are to the best of my recollection....but I do remember reading yesterday that the Yanks had the top three...

Mike · April 7th, 2006, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishkur

No.

Player salaries have absolutely no effect or bearing on ticket prices whatsoever. Ticket prices are set at what the market will bear, and are priced at the demand for them. Playoffs are the most expensive tickets of all, and players don't even get paid for them (standard players contracts only cover the regular season). If 2000 people want to watch a game in a 50,000 seat stadium, prices go down. If 5,000,000 people want to watch game 7 of the World Series, prices go up due to demand. Simple supply side economics All of this is independent of player salaries.

I dont agree with you Ish, sure the salaries can have an affect on the price of tickets and concessions. Where are you getting your facts from. Sure the demand has something to do with it, but its not the stock market. The owners do everything in their power not to raise prices but you cannot tell me that is not a factor

nhannaford · April 7th, 2006, 09:38 PM

well if player's salaries go down and ticket prices dont.....Im boycotting red sox games......just going to them, not boycotting the TV.

Either way it wont happen. There needs to be a consensus between the players union and the owners, which will not come unless that salary cap hovers around the 110-130 mil mark.

Ishkur · April 9th, 2006, 10:29 AM

When's the last time you saw ticket prices go down?

The NHL slashed salaries across the board by 24% this year. How many teams actually lowered ticket prices?

No, owners are paying player's salaries what they are because they can afford to. They make more money through merchandising, licensing, advertising, TV/Radio/Newspaper/internet broadcast rights, promotional tie-ins, corporate sponsorship and city/state/federal tax breaks than they do through gate receipts. In fact, if anything, up to 10-30% of all premium seating in any stadium and arena are comp/VIP seats for dignitaries and corporate friends. Next time you go to a basketball game, count how many business suits are sitting on the floor.

All things considered, the gate and parking are almost a distant last line on the income leger, and by that point they equate to pure profit, but the beancounters are experts at squeezing every little dollar out of everything.

Wake up. You are Joe Fan. The owners don't care about you, because you don't have any money. You think they're wringing their hands over pissing off a bunch of "hardcore fans" distraught over having to pay $79 instead of $69 for upper level endzone seats? They have their hands in much bigger cookie jars than that.

April 6th, 2006, 08:41 AM	#1
KP Join Date: 07-08-2002 Posts: 1,988	Baseball should have a salary cap The NFL does and the league is doing just fine. The NBA does, they were the first, actually, and is thriving. The NHL finally does. Only MLB has refused. The NFL has thrived on parity. Every year, virtually every team has a chance to win the Super Bowl. Only the teams with young QBs and/or bad head coaches are losing before the season starts. The NBA has a couple teams head-and-shoulders above all the others, and that is mostly thanks to the "Larry Bird Clause" in the salary cap agreement. The NHL? Well, I suppose it is a bit too early to tell if the new salary cap will be a positive for the sport. At least most teams know that they will be able to compete on an even financial playing field and not have teams "load up" for a one year title run. Speaking of title runs, how many times have the Florida Marlins won the World Series only to immediately dump their star players due to "financial constraints"? Twice. A huge payroll doesn't mean a title....just ask George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees. At the other end of the spectrum is the Minnesota Twins. They are financially considered a "small market franchise" but have won the World Series twice. These titles can be mostly attributed to great management and, well, just plain good fortune. They did have some outstanding players, but the Twins are unable to keep them. Do you really think a Derek Jeter could have come up through the farm system and stayed with the team had he played the same way for Minnesota as he has for the Yankees? Loyalty only goes so far. Money is the major motivating factor for the large majority of MLB players. Johnny Damon knows about that. Three of the four major sports in the United States have salary caps of some form. Two have been successful at it and the third will probably be. It's time for the fourth, America's Game, to follow suit.

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April 6th, 2006, 03:47 PM	#2
nhannaford Join Date: 06-04-2004 Location: Raynham, MA Posts: 1,348	I would love to see it happen, but it won't. First off, the players union will NEVER go for it because they want the cash. And, secondly, the owners won't either. If they have to cut salaries, that means that they will have to cut ticket prices, concession prices, etc, there fore leaving them without alot of profits. Sure, it has been successful in the other 3 sports, but their salaries never got as high as the MLB. It will never happen.

April 6th, 2006, 04:56 PM	#3
Rusty27 Join Date: 07-15-2004 Location: Knoxville,Tenn. Posts: 27,494	I don't know about lower ticket prices and lower profits. I'd say lower salaries,same ticket prices,equals way more money for the owners. In hockey,the Lightning are already raising ticket prices for this years playoffs and for the 06-07 season. The cap in hockey has done nothing to lower ticket prices.

April 6th, 2006, 05:09 PM	#4
JGAC Join Date: 05-09-2003 Location: North End, Boston Posts: 6,079	ah the age old discussion. I dont see where you're going nick with lower salaries = cutting ticket/concession prices.

April 6th, 2006, 05:14 PM	#5
Mike Join Date: 07-08-2002 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 10,791	Well I am here to tell you that it needs to be done, these players are getting out of control. Selig is stuck too much on pleasing the American People and demanding a steroid investigation when he should be looking at a way to lower ticket prices! All the other leagues in America have Salary Caps and screw the players union. I would use the Yanks as an example of the price of baseball spinning out of control, saying that they should be winning all the championships each year with their $ 200 million pay scale, but they don't. A salary cap would lower prices and keep these players in check, also bringing more parity to the league.

April 6th, 2006, 05:18 PM	#6
JGAC Join Date: 05-09-2003 Location: North End, Boston Posts: 6,079	yea, it would allow them to spread the love. I remember that table that sigg posted about the top salaries, in the top 20 or so there were a couple Yankees in there.

April 6th, 2006, 05:20 PM	#7
Mike Join Date: 07-08-2002 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 10,791	Not only the players from the yanks but even Bonds is paid too much!! And as the years go by, players will demand even more and more or strike Which to me is a complete crock of shit If I go to a Rangers game and take my family, it would cost a minimum of $ 100 to $150 to pay for it (food, tickets, etc...). I am sure that someday they will charge you to take a crap there!!

April 7th, 2006, 09:38 PM	#11
nhannaford Join Date: 06-04-2004 Location: Raynham, MA Posts: 1,348	well if player's salaries go down and ticket prices dont.....Im boycotting red sox games......just going to them, not boycotting the TV. Either way it wont happen. There needs to be a consensus between the players union and the owners, which will not come unless that salary cap hovers around the 110-130 mil mark.

April 9th, 2006, 10:29 AM	#12
Ishkur Join Date: 12-27-2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 438	When's the last time you saw ticket prices go down? The NHL slashed salaries across the board by 24% this year. How many teams actually lowered ticket prices? No, owners are paying player's salaries what they are because they can afford to. They make more money through merchandising, licensing, advertising, TV/Radio/Newspaper/internet broadcast rights, promotional tie-ins, corporate sponsorship and city/state/federal tax breaks than they do through gate receipts. In fact, if anything, up to 10-30% of all premium seating in any stadium and arena are comp/VIP seats for dignitaries and corporate friends. Next time you go to a basketball game, count how many business suits are sitting on the floor. All things considered, the gate and parking are almost a distant last line on the income leger, and by that point they equate to pure profit, but the beancounters are experts at squeezing every little dollar out of everything. Wake up. You are Joe Fan. The owners don't care about you, because you don't have any money. You think they're wringing their hands over pissing off a bunch of "hardcore fans" distraught over having to pay $79 instead of $69 for upper level endzone seats? They have their hands in much bigger cookie jars than that.

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