Isn't the Padres miserly condition a relatively recent development having to do with the previous owner's divorce? I can't say I've ever paid too much attention but I've never noticed the Padres being lumped into the small market crowd (I'm actually kind of shocked to find out they're the fourth smallest market) prior to the last couple of years, they always seemed like just a middle of the road franchise. Checking Cot's, they had payrolls in the range of $55 to $70 million for the five years prior to 2009- that's obviously not Yankee level spending but it seems fairly respectable.

(I'm actually kind of shocked to find out they're the fourth smallest market)

The SD market is surrounded by, clockwise starting to the east: desert, Mexico, ocean, Angels/Dodgers territory.

At least they can corner the chupacabra and kraken market.

In the Posnanski piece on team spending that's also on the Newsblog, he writes:

According to the Forbes numbers, every team in baseball, except the Florida Marlins (who are a WHOLE other story) spent at least 80% of their revenue on on baseball operations last year. There were differences in how much teams spent, sure. The percentages ranged from the Detroit Tigers (who spent 116% of their revenue — they lost almost $30 million in 2009), to the Marlins (who spent just 68% — the San Diego Padres are next at 80%).

If that's the case, and Forbes lits SDP as the fifth highest operating income in the league last year ($32.1 million before "interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization") where is Moorad losing money?

He brought Paramount's accountants in.

I'd like to see them capitalize better on the "Mexico" part of that equation.

Maybe the Padres can get sponsored by one of those mass-murdering hundred-million-dollar drug cartels that are participating in that civil war over there now.

According to the Forbes numbers, every team in baseball, except the Florida Marlins (who are a WHOLE other story)

Woohoo! We're number FUN!

Maybe the Padres can get sponsored by one of those mass-murdering hundred-million-dollar drug cartels that are participating in that civil war over there now.

"And Sinalo-ha means goodbye!"

I've always been surprised that San Diego isn't bigger in the Caribbean. One would think there would a natural, almost spiritual bond connecting Padres and the Dominicans.

The SD market is surrounded by, clockwise starting to the east: desert, Mexico, ocean, Angels/Dodgers territory.

Never thought about it that way. For some reason I guess I just always assumed it was a pretty good market.

Never thought about it that way. For some reason I guess I just always assumed it was a pretty good market.

The point made about geography is a good one. In addition, here in SD we have:

a ton of transplants--both from the rest of the USA and internationally
a large military population
a myriad of outdoor recreational opportunities 24/7/365

Lucchino marketed in Mexico; the Pads played a couple of games down there during the Caminiti/Finley years. The current marketing plan focuses heavily on the military; they wear the "fatigue" jerseys every Sunday at home.

I'd like to see them capitalize better on the "Mexico" part of that equation.

BORDER AGENT NAVIN JOHNSON: So, where are you folks going tonight?

DRIVER OF VAN FULL OF 47 ILLEGALS: We're going to a Padres game.

PASSENGER: I'll vouch for that.

NAVIN: OK, as long as we have a voucher!

Never thought about it that way. For some reason I guess I just always assumed it was a pretty good market.

It's 28th in TV households, but 17th in population (3.05M) between Minn. and StL.

So, it's small, but not Milwaukee (35th/39th) or KC (32nd/29th) small.

Probably similar to Pittsburgh (23rd/22nd), though maybe richer.

Isn't the Padres miserly condition a relatively recent development having to do with the previous owner's divorce?

By and large yes. The team enjoyed unprecedented success, for the Padres, in its first few years in Petco and only cut salary once the Moores began divorce proceedings.

If that's the case, and Forbes lits SDP as the fifth highest operating income in the league last year ($32.1 million before "interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization") where is Moorad losing money?

On the "interest" part. My understanding is there is a large debt service for the park despite the fact it was partially publically funded.

I've always been surprised that San Diego isn't bigger in the Caribbean. One would think there would a natural, almost spiritual bond connecting Padres and the Dominicans.

Why wouuld one think that?

Never thought about it that way. For some reason I guess I just always assumed it was a pretty good market.

It's a great market to live in; it's a horrible market for generating media-related income.

17th in population (3.05M)

Yes, and as robinred pointed out an exceptionally high percentage of that population is transient (military who are not Padres fans but fans of their hometown teams) and transplants (who, at least seemingly, do not tranfer their team loyalties to their new hometown). Of course the locals won't go to the games either unless the team is winning.

I've always been surprised that San Diego isn't bigger in the Caribbean. One would think there would a natural, almost spiritual bond connecting Padres and the Dominicans.

Nice one.

I'd like to see them capitalize better on the "Mexico" part of that equation.

Saturday's game celebrated Mexico's bicentennial, and began with the Mexican national anthem.