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Monday, January 09, 2006

BoB.com: An interview with Mariners President, Chuck Armstrong

BizBall: Forbes wrote an article in April this year entitled, “Best-Kept Secret”, which went on to mention that the Mariners have been the most profitable of all the clubs the last five years, with an average revenue of $163 million. The operating income of the Mariners for 2004 was $10.8 million. By comparison, the Yankees had an operating loss of $37.8 million for the same period.

Running the club is a business, and even when there are profits in hand, at what point do the Mariners say, “We’re not going any higher,” in relation to player payroll when weighed against the need to be competitive in a free-agent market?

Armstrong: We do that all the time. We set a budget and we don’t exceed that budget. We don’t necessarily have to spend up to it if we don’t find values. Right now, with the signing of Washburn and what we anticipate we’re going to be paying our other guys in arbitration and putting together our roster, we’re right up against our 2006 player payroll budget.

Maury Brown Posted: January 09, 2006 at 05:29 PM | 10 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: business, mariners

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1. TOLAXOR Posted: January 09, 2006 at 07:14 PM (#1812678)

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! THEY CAPTURED CHUCK ARMSTRONG'S SOUL WITH ONE OF THOSE "CAMERA" THINGIES!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 09, 2006 at 07:27 PM (#1812702)

BizBall: Forbes wrote an article in April this year entitled, “Best-Kept Secret”, which went on to mention that the Mariners have been the most profitable of all the clubs the last five years, with an average revenue of $163 million. The operating income of the Mariners for 2004 was $10.8 million. By comparison, the Yankees had an operating loss of $37.8 million for the same period.

Running the club is a business, and even when there are profits in hand, at what point do the Mariners say, “We’re not going any higher,” in relation to player payroll when weighed against the need to be competitive in a free-agent market?

Armstrong: We do that all the time. We set a budget and we don’t exceed that budget. We don’t necessarily have to spend up to it if we don’t find values. Right now, with the signing of Washburn and what we anticipate we’re going to be paying our other guys in arbitration and putting together our roster, we’re right up against our 2006 player payroll budget.

Translation: We have money to burn, and we intend on doing that.

3. villainx Posted: January 09, 2006 at 07:34 PM (#1812709)

Pretty good interview.

4. Maury Brown Posted: January 09, 2006 at 08:17 PM (#1812777)

What surpised me was this:<blockquote>

BizBall: Have there been any considerations to changing the field dimensions to make Safeco more of a hitter-friendly ballpark at any point?

Armstrong: Yes.

(further down)

I told the baseball guys, “You tell me if you want to change the dimensions.” Thus far, they have felt that we are better off leaving the dimensions as they are—most of us think it is a fair park. They have the ability, if they want to change the dimensions, to make those recommendations and then we can change them and advise Major League Baseball. But so far, they don’t like the cheap home runs and they think it helps us to have these dimensions. Clearly, one reason we went after Carl Everett was because we need to get more left-handed pop. Left-handed hitters love it here. I think it’s the favorite park for Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmiero, Mo Vaughn loved it, and David Ortiz. A lot of left-handed, pull-hitting power hitters like hitting here.

5. Halofan Posted: January 09, 2006 at 09:43 PM (#1812966)

Washburn's there, no chance of moving those fences in for four years.

6. Maury Brown Posted: January 09, 2006 at 09:52 PM (#1812984)

Armstrong said more left hand pop.

7. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 09, 2006 at 10:26 PM (#1813082)

I told the baseball guys, “You tell me if you want to change the dimensions.” Thus far, they have felt that we are better off leaving the dimensions as they are

How much of that has to do with Ichiro?

8. vortex of dissipation Posted: January 09, 2006 at 11:20 PM (#1813204)

Not one question about his son being the Stanford Tree several years back...

9. Maury Brown Posted: January 09, 2006 at 11:45 PM (#1813244)

Not one question about his son being the Stanford Tree several years back...

It crossed my mind. Seriously.

10. PepTech Posted: January 10, 2006 at 05:21 PM (#1814250)

Armstrong said more left hand pop.

Heh heh. Heh heh. He said, "left hand pop".

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Monday, January 09, 2006

BoB.com: An interview with Mariners President, Chuck Armstrong

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