Contraction?

Over the last decade the men pulling the strings behind Major League Baseball’s curtain have caused more damage than good, but the one time they failed to act, was the time they should have.  Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the good of everyone, and in 2002, they had the chance to do this by contracting two teams from the league.  I didn’t agree with the idea of dismantling the Twins then, and it’s become lucid that they should’ve had their scope set on another city all along, but the concept is sound, and it’s clear it should be revisited.

It would be devastating to the cities that lost their teams.  Those fans shouldn’t be punished because of the greed that Bud Selig and company displayed by deploying a second set of franchises before allowing the effects of the first pair adequate time to come to light.  But it has become clear that the league’s talent level has been stretched past its breaking point, and the economic structure is in an incurable state of disparity. 

The league did see attendance at an all-time last season, but the teams that perennially play in front of sold out crowds skew the curve to a point that allows the league to wear this badge of honor while several clubs are floundering on the shore, fighting to survive.  As a whole, the league is healthy, but it could thrive if they would trim the fat from the edges.

The elimination of a pair of teams would allow the league to address a number of problems that plagued the sport in 2002, and to date, continue to do so.  A few guys at the minor league level would lose their jobs, but these are the 50 or so 30-something life-time minor leaguers that have no business wearing a jersey in the first place.  Most are kept around because they are local legends, or to fill out the roster.  Over the years AAA baseball has become somewhat of a graveyard for marginal players that just don’t have what it takes to succeed in the show for whatever reason. 

With the talent pool being bigger, the existing teams could fill out their rosters with higher caliber players, essentially leading to a better product all around.  The Expansion of the 90’s didn’t just water down the talent pool, it diluted it.  There are several players wearing Major League jersey’s when they should be suiting up for their Double A affiliate in some backwater town.  This is what allows average players to be paid top dollar, just ask Gil Meche how that worked out for him.

Economically speaking, Bud Selig introduced the idea of revenue sharing to alleviate some of the problems, but as a whole, this system has failed.  Several teams have proven that they can’t survive, and the truth is, they shouldn’t.  The Marlins may have won two World Series over the last decade, but they don’t have the fan base to keep their franchise afloat.  They know that their richer counterparts will continue pouring money into their account, so what motivation is there to try to get better?  Even when they are winning they don’t come out.

Do you honestly think that the players enjoy playing in front of empty seats?  In no way am I suggesting that this is answer to everything that is wrong with the sport, it will do nothing to ail the scars that were put on the game over the last few years, in fact, a more competitive talent pool might actually breed more motivation to cheat.  Contracts would shrink because teams wouldn’t be so starved for help, but from an economic perspective, it’s the right move.

Don’t think for a second that because Selig stuffed the issue in the back of his filing cabinet that it’s dead.  Back in 2002 after the idea was nixed, he continued to state that contraction was inevitable.  All 30 teams supported the idea, because on paper it’s an ideal way to fix 90% of the problems that ail the game.  The problem is, nobody agreed to be the team to go, besides Minnesota. 

So if two teams had to go, who would they be?

The Marlins
Not so likely, considering that Selig hand picked his pal, Jeffery Loria, to run the team after he refused to allow Baseball to contract his team in Montreal.  So why would he agree now? 

The A’s
They don’t make much money, they lease their building, it’s the perfect fit, right?  Not actually, Billy Beane has turned this team into the standard that all low-budget teams should strive for.  Watching them put George Steinbrenner into cardiac arrest throughout the front end of the decade with their miniscule payroll was like a modern version of David vs Goliath.  Well, besides the fact that David lost each time.  Relocation, or a new stadium, would likely be enough to breath life back into their bank account.

Devil Rays
They are in ideal stadium situation, so contraction will never happen.  Which is good, because The Devil Rays actually want to win, and may be a few years away from competiting in the AL East.  Will they ever be able to sustain success without the huge revenue coming in?  I fear that even if they continue to gather young talent through the draft they will constantly have to purge it as soon as it ripens… like the Marlins. 

There aren’t many candidates that actually fit the profile of low income, short lease, but of those who do, which ones would actually be willing to be the team that dissolves?  Do you support contraction, would it be good for the game?  In an ideal world, what two teams would go?  Mine would be the Marlins and the Pirates, and the Devil Rays would switch leagues… and relocate.