The stage is set for the 2014 Division Series: \u00a0The Kansas City Royals will face the Baltimore Orioles in the American League and the San Francisco Giants will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League. \u00a0\u00a0Of the\u00a0four contenders, only the SF Giants have a top 10 payroll.* \u00a0 Ten teams made the playoffs and half of them did not have top 10 payrolls (the other four in the top 10 were the Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels). \u00a0Based on the numbers, the top paying Los Angeles Dodgers should have faced the New York Yankees in\u00a0the World Series. \u00a0Instead, the $241 million Dodger payroll was ousted in the NL Division Series and the $203 million Yankee payroll failed to make the postseason.<\/p>\n
The 2014 season is not an anomaly by any stretch. \u00a0In the past 14 seasons, the World Series winner had a top 10 payroll 8 times and the #1 payroll won the whole thing twice (New York Yankees in 2000 and 2009). \u00a0So paying the top salaries in the big leagues nets a championship around 13% of the time. \u00a0So what explains victories by low paying teams\u00a0with fractional salaries of major market teams? \u00a0How do the 2003 Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins) with a $40 million payroll beat a New York Yankee squad with a $140 million payroll? \u00a0How does a 2010 Texas Ranger squad with a $55 million payroll advance past the Yankee $206 million payroll?<\/p>\n
The answer seems to fall in the hands of youth. \u00a0The 2003 Marlins found talent in a\u00a0young pitcher named Josh Beckett who found his groove on the biggest stage. \u00a0The future Cy Young winer made $1.7 million that year – he would go on to make as much as $17 million. CJ Wilson powered the Texas Rangers in 2010 and made $3.1 million. \u00a0He would go on to make $16 million with the 2014 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he would fail to make it out of the first inning of the ALDS game 3.<\/p>\n
Youth and talent seem to emerge when the spotlight is shining brightest. \u00a0Take the Nationals Bryce Harper. \u00a0His post-season batting average increased by 20 points and his home-run production exploded from one every 7+ games to more than one per game! \u00a0He makes $900,000. \u00a0On the other side of the coin, you have a guy like Clayton Kershaw who will make $30 million per year and was probably the best pitcher during the regular season. \u00a0He hasn’t won a postseason game in his career.<\/p>\n
Money, although not dispositive, seems to have an impact on the ability of talent. \u00a0And the pressure that comes with money can potentially tip the wrong way. \u00a0As pitcher Barry Zito had an ERA of 2.75 coupled with 23 wins and just 5 losses in 2002, the year he made $295,000. \u00a0HE would go on to make as much as $20 million and would never see an ERA under 4.00 ever again.<\/p>\n
Baseball is probably the most individual of all the team sports. And while a batter stands on his own at the plate, the team chemistry seems to have an ever lasting presence throughout the game. \u00a0Easy going teams that lack drama seem to persevere. \u00a0The 2004 Red Sox had the #2 salary in MLB. \u00a0But they were the self proclaimed “idiots” and somehow found a way to relieve the pressure of the moment when they were down 3-0 to the Yanks. \u00a0Despite big salaries, the team seemed to lack big heads. \u00a0They were a team when it counted and proved it as they would go on to win four in a row against the Yanks and another 4 to sweep the Cardinals.<\/p>\n
So how will the 2014 season end? \u00a0The statistics point to the San Francisco Giants. \u00a0But we like the Orioles – because like us, they offer the best bang for the buck! \u00a0Looking forward to another extraordinary post season.<\/p>\n
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* Source: USA Today at\u00a0http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/sports\/mlb\/salaries\/2014\/team\/all\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The stage is set for the 2014 Division Series: \u00a0The Kansas City Royals will face the Baltimore Orioles in the American League and the San Francisco Giants will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League. \u00a0\u00a0Of the\u00a0four … Continue Reading