Does money =results?
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.
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Not to mention the fact...
Balance, balance and more balance
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.
Money's not the point
I...
The Cubs...
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.

by 




















