BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Shakin: More boom or recession for baseball?

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Monday, December 08, 2008

Shakin: More boom or recession for baseball?

Reporting from Las Vegas—It’s the symbolism, stupid.

As Americans lose their jobs and homes at a frequency unseen in decades, baseball convenes Monday for its annual holiday shopping spree in Las Vegas.

The setting, according to the hotel website: “Contentment and opulence are the hallmarks of your Bellagio hotel luxury experience.” The pitch, according to baseball executives from the commissioner on down: Believe us, times are tough.

The retort is the same one Congress used on the auto executives that flew to Washington in private jets: It’s hard to believe you amid all that luxury.

It’s not the economy. It’s the symbolism.

The General Motors boss could have walked to Washington, and his company still would be suffering. Baseball could hold the winter meetings in a dorm at UNLV, and the Angels still could make Mark Teixeira a millionaire 150 times over.

Teixeira hasn’t signed. Neither has CC Sabathia, or Manny Ramirez, or Francisco Rodriguez, or Rafael Furcal, or more than 150 other free agents.

Yet any evidence that the economy is dampening salaries appears strictly anecdotal, at least so far.

Tripon Posted: December 08, 2008 at 02:48 AM | 9 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: general

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. BeanoCook Posted: December 08, 2008 at 03:08 AM (#3022575)

Yet any evidence that the economy is dampening salaries appears strictly anecdotal, at least so far.

This clown obviously hasn't heard that CC was offered a pittance by the Yankees. In any other year, CC would be raking in 10-yr $300 million. Times are very tough indeed.

2. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: December 08, 2008 at 04:12 AM (#3022617)

When I read #1, I thought it was somebody parodying Beano.

3. BeanoCook Posted: December 08, 2008 at 04:33 AM (#3022632)

When I read #1, I thought it was somebody parodying Beano.

I figured I would have fun with my CC contract predictions. I started making my predictions in July and Aug, well before the financial system went into full, unprecedented meltdown. That shaved several dozen million off CCs contract.

4. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: December 08, 2008 at 04:58 AM (#3022643)

I think it probably did. I certainly expected him to get at least $200 million. He still may, though; it's only the beginning of December, and if the Angels offer him $140 million, which they certainly could, the Yankees might blow them out.

5. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: December 08, 2008 at 05:11 AM (#3022647)

I don't doubt CC will still get several brazillion dollars

6. J. Michael Neal Posted: December 08, 2008 at 06:09 AM (#3022664)

I don't doubt CC will still get several brazillion dollars

There's are only man boobs. He'll just put on a t-shirt.

7. jyjjy Posted: December 08, 2008 at 09:40 AM (#3022702)

I don't understand how the economic meltdown would have a negative effect on baseball salaries. Historically entertainment industries including sports have been immune or even helped by overall economic troubles as people look for distraction from their problems.
Honestly this seems a bit like a handy excuse for the owners to have another go at salary collusion.

8. BeanoCook Posted: December 08, 2008 at 09:52 AM (#3022705)

I don't understand how the economic meltdown would have a negative effect on baseball salaries.

Well I can say that a typical baseball team can operate at a loss by drawing off of lines of credit. The bet here is that few teams want to even attempt to run into the red in 2009 for fear there will be no line of credit there and the owners would have to put up even more cash into the operation if a bank isn't willing to finance the losses.

If credit were as easy as it was in 2005, CC would certainly have several more teams willing to dance at 5/140.

9. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: December 08, 2008 at 12:30 PM (#3022713)

Historically entertainment industries including sports have been immune or even helped by overall economic troubles as people look for distraction from their problems.

The cost of attending games has outpaced inflation for some time. It will be much more expensive to go to a ball game in 2009 than it was (in real dollars) in prior recessions. Plus, I would think that luxury boxes, which have become a much bigger source of club income, will be harder to sell as businesses cut down on entertainment costs.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Monday, December 08, 2008

Shakin: More boom or recession for baseball?

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics