Over the past two weeks, there were a number of sweeps that were unexpected. The first was the New York Mets taking four games from the New York Yankees. This was after a press conference where Jeff Wilpon said to Mariano Rivera that we probably won’t be seeing you at the World Series.
After that sweep, the Mets found themselves victims of a sweep against the Florida Marlins, the worst team in baseball. They even roughed up Matt Harvey. Yes, it was Buster Olney who said that the Mets were the worst team in baseball without Matt Harvey. It’s hard to understand why Onley would say that considering that the Marlins have won 16 of their first 59 games this season.
I thought that the most ominous sweep though occurred in the American League West. That’s where the Houston Astros took four games against the California Angels. Yes, the team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball losing four games in a row to a team that has one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.
If you look closer at this sweep, you have to wonder if the California Angels are just another team that is paying the price of getting into the free agent market. Of course, 60 games have passed now and anything could happen. One big winning streak by the Angels could change everything.
Yet here was a team that took Albert Pujols last year and finished in third place. Now they have Josh Hamilton and not only are they in third place again but they have been swept by the Houston Astros.
Look at the Los Angels Dodgers, the rivals of the Angels in the National League West. A payroll of $230 million and they’re in last place. Many would argue that injuries hurt this team but still, $230 million and nothing to show for it so far.
Then you have the Florida Marlins, who last year grabbed several players that included Jose Reyes and White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. The Marlins would finish in last place and Loria would dismantle the team a year later, making a profit of $520 million. Those players would go to the Toronto Blue Jays and this year, they are in last place in the American League East.
You can also make an argument that the free agency bug has hurt teams in the long run as well. Look at the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees. Phillies payroll is high, Doc Halliday is out, and if the Phillies don’t finish well, Cliff Lee will be dealt. As far as the Yankees are concerned, you can look to A-Rod and see that management didn’t even get into the free agent market, leaving Kyle Lohse on the shelf until the Milwaukee Brewers picked him up.
Now look at the teams that are winning. The San Francisco Giants only had one free agent, Barry Zito. WIth a big contract, he only had one good year, which was last year. The rest of the Giants are homegrown with great stars that started out as prospects such as Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval.
Other teams that are winning without playing a big role in the free agent market. The Cincinnati Reds. The Pittsburgh Pirates. The Oakland A’s. The Baltimore Orioles. The Atlanta Braves. Arizona Diamondbacks. And the Tampa Bay Rays. Then you have the St. Louis Cardinals continue to win without Albert Pujols. The Texas Rangers winning without Josh Hamilton.
Even when you look at teams like the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals, the majority of the players are prospects. Key free agents were Prince Fielder and Jason Werth.
In the end, the owners of all the teams have to look at the facts. Winning teams are built on prospects which mean that managers are going to have the responsibility of developing those players. Look at the jobs that have been done by Dusty Baker, Clint Hurdle. Bob Melvin, and of course, Bruce Bochy.
Fans should be happy with these changes. The fact is that one prospect can start a change for the better. Look at Matt Harvey of the Mets. He has the capability of turning this team around just like Buster Posey did for the Giants.
Most of all, baseball will be competitive again. The small market teams will be out there competing for the top spots. The best part of all this is that the biggest victim who can be hurt by this will be Scott Boras.
Rick Holman
After that sweep, the Mets found themselves victims of a sweep against the Florida Marlins, the worst team in baseball. They even roughed up Matt Harvey. Yes, it was Buster Olney who said that the Mets were the worst team in baseball without Matt Harvey. It’s hard to understand why Onley would say that considering that the Marlins have won 16 of their first 59 games this season.
I thought that the most ominous sweep though occurred in the American League West. That’s where the Houston Astros took four games against the California Angels. Yes, the team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball losing four games in a row to a team that has one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.
If you look closer at this sweep, you have to wonder if the California Angels are just another team that is paying the price of getting into the free agent market. Of course, 60 games have passed now and anything could happen. One big winning streak by the Angels could change everything.
Yet here was a team that took Albert Pujols last year and finished in third place. Now they have Josh Hamilton and not only are they in third place again but they have been swept by the Houston Astros.
Look at the Los Angels Dodgers, the rivals of the Angels in the National League West. A payroll of $230 million and they’re in last place. Many would argue that injuries hurt this team but still, $230 million and nothing to show for it so far.
Then you have the Florida Marlins, who last year grabbed several players that included Jose Reyes and White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle. The Marlins would finish in last place and Loria would dismantle the team a year later, making a profit of $520 million. Those players would go to the Toronto Blue Jays and this year, they are in last place in the American League East.
You can also make an argument that the free agency bug has hurt teams in the long run as well. Look at the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees. Phillies payroll is high, Doc Halliday is out, and if the Phillies don’t finish well, Cliff Lee will be dealt. As far as the Yankees are concerned, you can look to A-Rod and see that management didn’t even get into the free agent market, leaving Kyle Lohse on the shelf until the Milwaukee Brewers picked him up.
Now look at the teams that are winning. The San Francisco Giants only had one free agent, Barry Zito. WIth a big contract, he only had one good year, which was last year. The rest of the Giants are homegrown with great stars that started out as prospects such as Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval.
Other teams that are winning without playing a big role in the free agent market. The Cincinnati Reds. The Pittsburgh Pirates. The Oakland A’s. The Baltimore Orioles. The Atlanta Braves. Arizona Diamondbacks. And the Tampa Bay Rays. Then you have the St. Louis Cardinals continue to win without Albert Pujols. The Texas Rangers winning without Josh Hamilton.
Even when you look at teams like the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Nationals, the majority of the players are prospects. Key free agents were Prince Fielder and Jason Werth.
In the end, the owners of all the teams have to look at the facts. Winning teams are built on prospects which mean that managers are going to have the responsibility of developing those players. Look at the jobs that have been done by Dusty Baker, Clint Hurdle. Bob Melvin, and of course, Bruce Bochy.
Fans should be happy with these changes. The fact is that one prospect can start a change for the better. Look at Matt Harvey of the Mets. He has the capability of turning this team around just like Buster Posey did for the Giants.
Most of all, baseball will be competitive again. The small market teams will be out there competing for the top spots. The best part of all this is that the biggest victim who can be hurt by this will be Scott Boras.
Rick Holman