Does money =results?

by qccub on Oct 7, 2007 11:23 AM CDT Comment 5 comments

Now that the 2007 season has come to an abrupt and painful end, speculation has begun on what the Cubs will do next season. The club certainly spent a lot of money to bring in new players for this past season, and in many cases that spending paid off (Lilly, Soriano). I'm not saying that spending money isn't important; but I don't think it is the only way to achieve success. Take a look at the four playoff teams in the National League this season and their payroll:

Chicago Cubs- $99.6 mil
Philadelphia Phillies- $89.4 mil
Colorado Rockies- $54.4 mil
Arizona Diamondbacks- $52 mil

Obviously, just spending money does not automatically equate to success. Carlos Marmol is probably one of the lowest paid players on the team, but I doubt we would have made it to the playoffs without him. Why have teams like Arizona and Colorado been able to advance, while higher priced teams like the Cubs and Phillies have not? What is the missing ingredient? Is it better scouting, better development at the minor league level? What can the Cubs add next year that doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money, but will help us be more successful?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Not to mention the fact...

... that Cleveland's about to eliminate the team with the highest payroll, the Yankees. Not sure what Cleveland's payroll is, but it can't be anywhere close to NYY's.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Oct 7, 2007 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

Balance, balance and more balance

that's what winning teams have. Balance allows you to win games in multiple ways and can get you through difficult times when you are not playing your best.

The Cubs desperately need to create balance with their offense (juggle lineup, add OBP) that will allow them to scrape runs when the big guys are not producing.

The 1 & 2 guys in the order make a team go, and until the Cubs find the right formula there, they will continue to be hot and cold and a club the advanced scouts can better prepare the opposition for.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 7, 2007 12:28 PM CDT reply actions

Money's not the point

It's very easy to just say look at this team they don't spend a lot of money. The underlying reason they don't have large payrolls is because they have developed talent. We have done okay on this but we can improve greatly in our decisions on talent and make our farm system instead of paying to fill holes each year.

"You would never guess that a little innocent walk like that could lead to two runs" -- Dusty Baker

by KyCubsFan on Oct 7, 2007 12:58 PM CDT reply actions

I...

...wouldn't include the Phillies with the Cubs. While they lost, they have 3 homegrown players (Rollins, Utley, Howard) that are better than any position player the Cubs farm system has developed since Palmeiro.

by jolietconvict on Oct 7, 2007 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

The Cubs...

...have a high payrolls, but not the highest. Not by a long shot. (Hell, they're not even the highest payroll in Chicago -- that's the White Sox.)

The problem is that you're looking for answers where they don't exist. What just happened is that the Cubs lost three games. Yes, it sucks. Yes, it ends the season. But what it doesn't do is tell us anything more about this team than the other other 77 losses -- or 85 wins -- the Cubs had this year. It's a broken record, but -- small sample sizes can distort, can tell you things that just aren't true.

Everyone wants answers; everyone wants something to blame. But I just don't think that's productive. What happened is simple -- for three games, the Diamondbacks outplayed us. It happens. These games stick out a lot more than our other losses, because they're more DECISIVE -- but they aren't more MEANINGFUL. It's a hard truth, it really is.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Oct 7, 2007 1:29 PM CDT reply actions