No one will argue that Philadelphia is anything but a big market...but for years, the Phillies were a low budget team, with expected results and always a hope for a better next year. When ownership changed, in the late 70s, results changed, and by the 80s, they were a high budget team and competitive, if not contender.
Baltimore or DC + Baltimore are considered small markets, because of the size of the core, although the Capitals market penetration reaches at least to the Tennessee - Virginia border, and both the O's and the Nats, (Ravens and the Washington Football Team), reach into South Central Pennsylvania.
When it comes to sports, market size is determined by Neilsen ratings, but team spending is determined by the amount of money the ownership is willing to spend on talent, hence Budget.
It remains to be seen how long or successful the Orioles will be, as their draft built talent reach free agency eligibility. Will the notoriously cheap owners pay to retain their home grown talent, or just be content to be a development team, supplying talent for the big spenders?
As usual, you nailed it, It is all about the budgets set by the owner.
Albert Bell made Peter Angelos go to the cheap side. "Once bitten, twice shy". The courts will decide which of his sons takes over.
Even the Yankees trimmed their payroll a few years ago. The Redsox did as well.
The Dodgers live in la la land, literally.
Huge payrolls don't guarantee anything. You don't even need a top ten payroll. World Champion teams like Atlanta (2021), Houston (2017), and Kansas (2015) prove that. Cleveland is in the lower third in salaries, but they are on top of the AL Central. Tampa is also in this lower third in salaries, they are in a wild card spot. Milwaukee and Minnesota are in the hunt and they both have payrolls below that league average.
My Orioles have the lowest payroll in all of Major League Baseball and they are in the playoff hunt!
Many teams are very selective as to who gets the big money. Over 30 is an age that worries teams, it's not new. The Orioles got Frank Robinson because the Reds thought he was getting old.
I fully expect and hope the Orioles will keep trading stars. In fact, I doubt they will keep them through their arbitration years. As long as the birds get value in those trades. The Orioles have invested heavily in scouting and finally embraced analytics.
Personally I don't like analytics or that geeks that spout them. However, analytics are vital to modern GMs. We lost Buck because he would not embrace analytics, he has now. Earl Weaver was a pioneer of analytics with his index cards. As a fan I can follow the game my way.
I don't expect the Orioles to make the playoffs this year. I only hope my birds keep improving and stay competitive. In a year or two, who knows? Anything can happen in a short series, I'm thinking 1966. Please don't mention what happened in 1969. Although it does prove my point. As does 1983!
The big money Padres and Soto left 12 men on base. The Nats won 4-3! I'm loving it!
Thanks Boris, I always enjoy your posts!
