Texsox

Nashville seems to be the front runner for a spot but there will be two. Charlotte? Oakland? San Antonio? Schaumburg? Montreal? Mexico City? Salt Lake City? Portland? Obviously I would love to see a third Texas team but that seems unlikely. A return to Montreal or Oakland seems unlikely since franchises failed there already. But one was decades ago. Charlotte seems like a solid choice of they find a suitable investment group.

@hogan873 after watching a How to Drink episode on YT I picked up some seasonal Christmas beers. I'm doing it with a couple other people so we can share the "oh my God these are horrible" while checking them off.

I turn down everything in September to November to get school and coaching settled. I picked up a stand up/ improv gig last night and have then lined up once a month until May. Planning our dinner trip and Lake Superior and living above the freezing line also help.

I'm over that chapter. Let him advise. Let him play video games with JR. All I'm interested in are wins and losses. I'm not going to like or dislike the team based on TLRs involvement. JR could do everything most posters here want but if the team is still losing 90+ games, I'm not buying in. Be competitive and I really don't care how they get there (without cheating).

Rarely is anyone 100% right or 100% wrong. I have no problem with anyone receiving input and suggestions from anyone. The top owners and front office staff will filter accordingly.

Wow, you really don't like team owners.

https://www.nba.com/news/chicago-bulls-ring-of-honor Rodman? All the others were obvious choices. But Rodman? I still think if him more as a Piston and rent a player. But it gets people talking.

I'll admit I was pumped to get Kimbrel. I thought we had the best 8/9 inning guys in all of baseball. It was that over the top excess that WS teams had. I'm hoping Liam hooks up with a top four team. Maybe as the set up guy. Watching him get a ring would be nice.

X2

I've always accepted the accidents at birth. It's the folks that have a choice and choose wrong that I can't understand.

You're home is valued at $400,000. Therefore you can afford a $50,000 a year landscaper. Not a perfect analogy, but close. What number is closer to what they can spend is annual revenue. And I'm certain that shows they could spend more.

I think a cap is more likely than a floor.

I'm with you 100% on this. The only upside to the league that I can think of is it could hamper the Dodgers for a decade after he's gone. All the cost, none of the benefit. This may also quicken the pace to a min/max salary situation in baseball.

How many people wanted Tim Anderson locked up in a mega contract? Face of the franchise. Solid SS. I'm trying to think of a player that's left that we wished we had locked up for another five years. So I get avoiding the mega deal a little bit but damn we've overpaid for crap performance over and over again. How many closers have we wasted millions on since Billy Botch? And that is just further evidence that our front office is horrible. I wouldn't trust them with my checkbook on a nine figure deal.

I believe he pays taxes in each state based on the number games played there. It's the "Michael Jordan" rule. https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/sports/how-michael-jordans-jock-tax-brought-millions-to-state-budgets

Yep. And plug any loopholes.

I don't believe I said anywhere that we don't need new management. I agree with your assessment, the money has not been spent wisely.

Not really a rant. I was curious about the spending. I was expecting to prove how cheap the club has always been. I was also looking at combined marketplace spending and wondering if that offers some useful information. For me it is a small bit to make me feel slightly less pessimistic. I'm clutching at straws to enjoy this rebuilding process. If I can convince myself that the club will increase payroll again then there can be some hope in a rebuild. But I'm certain others will crush that ?

Pieces? Then I'm in with you. More likely it will be a piece plus a couple more. The cupboard is bare. Give me four B+ over an A and three Ds. But when that one prime piece you are wanting is a ten time All Star I'll be eating these words. Lol

That has been my slight defense of Hahn. To have as many players have dog years as we did was hard to predict. They play average we are a playoff team. The improve and we're a step away. Instead moving trucks are loading up.

I'm always in favor of numbers over potential with young players.

2005 through 2023 based on a couple unofficial sites that aggregated the numbers. 13 times above MLB average, six times below Top 5 payroll four times, bottom 5 twice. Average position over those years 13.33 so slightly above average. Lowest payrolls from 2014 until 2019 where they were in the bottom third of all teams every year. Highest from 2006 until 2013 where they averages just over 6th highest. 2022 rank 7th 2023 rank 10th My hunch is (barring a change in ownership) we're about to go through a three to five year stretch of bottom 10 payrolls followed by increasing spending. When they go cheap, they go really cheap. Will we ever return to a top 5 payroll? I don't thing so based on the new market conditions. While I was surprised that we've spent in the past as much as we did, I just can't see it happening again. What does it say about JR caring about winning? Maybe be stopped in 2014? Maybe he'll open the wallet when there is a window.

https://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm Maybe it's accurate. Yes, there are years of very low spending but there are also years of high spending. I think the problem isn't how much but on whom.

Haven't we had payrolls in the top ten many years and even as high as fifth?

Let's lose a hundred by 4-1 instead of 6-1. The games are over quicker. With the draft rules in place winning 75 won't be bad. Overall they are making small moves but nothing too stupid. We didn't expect a big splash signing. Project 2026 has commenced.