Stars. % of Team's Payrolls

[Wolf Hopper]

From Gammons Sunday column:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1580116

Consider these facts, going back to 1985:

No team has won the World Series and had one (star) player making more than 15 percent of its payroll; technically Kevin Appier was 15.8 percent of Anaheim's 2002 payroll and Cecil Fielder was 15 percent of the '96 Yankees, but each were acquired in deals dumping salaries, and Anaheim saved money in the Appier-Mo Vaughn swap.

There have been 193 teams with (star) players who made more than 15 percent of their teams' payrolls. Of those 193, 61 had winning records, and of those, 15 made the postseason. Of those 15, two -- the '87 Cardinals with Ozzie Smith making 16.6 percent of their payroll, and the 2002 Giants with Bonds at 23.8 percent -- made the World Series. The '95 Mariners, with Griffey making 19.7 percent of payroll, was the only other team that won a playoff series.

The last 10 world champions:

Year, team	Highest-paid player	Pct. of payroll
2002 Angels	Kevin Appier		15.8
2001 D-Backs	Randy Johnson		13.7
2000 Yankees	Bernie Williams		10.8
1999 Yankees	Bernie Williams		10.7
1998 Yankees	Bernie Williams		11.2
1997 Marlins	Alex Fernandez		13.3
1996 Yankees	Cecil Fielder*		15
1995 Braves	Greg Maddux		11.7
1993 Blue Jays	Joe Carter		10.6
1992 Blue Jays	Jack Morris		 9
1991 Twins	Kirby Puckett		13.4

*Acquired on July 31 from Tigers for Ruben Sierra, who was making $6.2 million.

Then look where one "star" player took teams. Teams since 1985 with highest percentage of payroll invested in one player:

Year, team 	Player		Pct.	Record
1997 A's	Jose Canseco	57.1	65-97
1992 Red Sox	Frank Viola	50.8	73-89
1999 Marlins	Alex Fernandez	42.6	64-98
1987 Pirates	Steve Kemp	40.4	80-82
1995 Twins	Kirby Puckett	40.4	56-88
1999 White Sox	Frank Thomas	39.1	75-86
1998 Marlins	Alex Fernandez	36.6	54-108
1996 Tigers	Ruben Sierra	34.5	53-109
1995 Tigers	Cecil Fielder	32.2	60-84
1999 Padres	Tony Gwynn	31.8	61-101

And people wonder why Pat Gillick's Mariners lost Randy Johnson, Junior Griffey and Alex Rodriguez and have won the most games in the 21st century?

This further emphasizes the truths Gillick and others have held self-evident for a generation. Farm systems and talented non-arbitration players make veteran players affordable. The depth of a roster is extremely important, from the lineup to the pitching staff to the bench. Contracts of more than three years to players over 30 are foolhardy.

And throw this in: Going back to 1985, the World Series winners spent an average of 45 percent on pitching.

[Wolf Hopper]

Reading this, there was nothing shocking to me. It all makes sense and backs up what I always believed, expect this line:

Going back to 1985, the World Series winners spent an average of 45 percent on pitching.

I would have thought that number to be higher - - esp. considering that highest-paid player on these lists is often a pitcher.

[pathogan]

...the railsplitter once said, lies damn lies and statistics

quoting the 98 marlins is a joke, considering they dumped everyone they could, the 87 bucs were a last place team, period, and the 99 Marlins as well...it still doesnt address the basic imbalance,just grist for the mill for the protestant ethic types of MLB{work hard, do your homework, and you too, can compete with the adults. Hogwash]Manipulated numbers, as Shakespeare said, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing...{can you tell who didnt have a good night sleep }

[SmedIndy]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

Reading this, there was nothing shocking to me. It all makes sense and backs up what I always believed, expect this line:



I would have thought that number to be higher - - esp. considering that highest-paid player on these lists is often a pitcher.

But smart teams stock their staffs with cheaper pitchers. Look at the Angels with Webber, Donnelley, Lackey, et. al.

[sweaver]

Pitchers are also usually about 45% of the players on a roster. If you carry 11 pitchers out of 25 roster spots, that's 44%.

[Wolf Hopper]

Originally Posted by sweaver

Pitchers are also usually about 45% of the players on a roster. If you carry 11 pitchers out of 25 roster spots, that's 44%.

What was that line about the game being 75% pitching?

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

What was that line about the game being 75% pitching?

Probably the same patootie that said "Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical." Perhaps Yogi was prescient of the Steinbrenner school of accounting?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Originally Posted by Wolf Hopper

What was that line about the game being 75% pitching?

Baseball is 35% pitching, 8% defense, 43% offense, 4% managing and 10% pure luck, on average.