Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez's 2008 salary: $28 million
The 2008 Florida Marlins roster salaries total: $21.8 million.
And how does A-Rod respond:
"The Marlins? It's amazing," Rodriguez said. "And they still seem to find a way to be very competitive. They have a great pool of talent; they made some unbelievable trades, so they have great personnel people. To win two championships in 11 years, that's really admirable, and I'm very proud of that organization, being from Miami."
(Why does everything that comes out of his mouth annoy me so? Why is it so "amazing"? Like it was a big mystery. Man, what he says is always so...so...placating and deflecting and...full of shit. I think those are the words I'm looking for.)
Anyway, what's this all proof of? That money doesn't buy championships.
Hear that one, Steinbrenners and A-Rod? You can bank on that this year, too.
The flip side is that NOT spending money is also a way to belittle your franchise as a brand and make it an unattractive destination for any possible big-time free agents. Marlins' fans have owner Jeffery Loria, former owner of the Montreal Expos, to blame for the present state of their financially strapped team.
After dumping the Expos at MLB's doorstep, Loria brought his cheapass ways and horrible front office personnel from his days in Montreal with him to Florida. He bizarrely canned 2006 Manager of the Year Joe Girardi and this past off-season got rid of megastar Miguel Cabrera to Detroit for prospects. And that just scratches the surface of getting rid of or not retaining the services of key players.
Given Loria's lack of commitment to stars, you have to think that Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla will be trade bait sooner vs. later.
Finally, I don't think a new ballpark (slated to open in 2011) is going to solve his cheapness and bad general management ways, either.
Sorry about that Marlins fans.
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