Payroll and the World Series

Devon Young sends along a link to this article noting that the high Dodgers payroll has little to do with their winning:

Much of the Dodgers’ sky-high payroll, though, comes from players making minimal contributions in the playoffs — or less. Andre Ethier saw just 34 at-bats all season, and made $17.5 million. Injuries turned Adrian Gonzalez into a non-factor this year, he wasn’t healthy enough to make the playoff roster, and he made $22.4 million. Scott Kazmir didn’t throw a pitch all season, and he made $17.7 million. Injuries limited Brandon McCarthy to 92 ? innings pitched (and kept him off the playoff roster), yet he banked $11.5 million.

Think those are bad? The Dodgers cut Sergio Romo, and were left to cover the $1.8 million left on his deal as he played for the Rays. Matt Kemp collected $3.75 million in Dodgers checks this year, and he’s a Brave. The Dodgers dumped Cuban import Hector Olivera on Atlanta too; two years later he’d been suspended for domestic violence and washed out of the league, landing with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters… and somehow the Dodgers owed him $4.7 million too. And while Carl Crawford was by all accounts a good citizen and well-liked teammate, his legs failed him, so the Dodgers paid him $21.9 million this season while he enjoyed retirement.

Of course, those bad contracts likely would have hamstrung most teams from adding a piece or two for the stretch run. The Dodgers, like the Cubs, are making the most of great analytics and a large bank roll.

Devon also drew up this chart, showing how the World Series opponents ranked in MLB payroll since 1990:

 

2017 – Dodgers (2nd) vs  ….. either Yankees (4th) or Astros (13th)

2016 – Cubs (8th) beat Indians (17th)

2015 – Royals (12th) beat Mets (22nd)

2014 – Giants (5th) beat Royals (19th)

2013 – Red Sox (3rd) beat Cardinals (10th)

2012 – Giants (8th) beat Tigers (5th)

2011 – Cardinals (11th) beat Rangers (14th)

2010 – Giants (9th) beat Rangers (28th)

2009 – Yankees (1st) beat Phillies (7th)

2008 – Phillies (12th) beat Rays (29th)

2007 – Red Sox (2nd) beat Rockies (25th)

2006 – Cardinals (11th) beat Tigers (14th)

2005 – White Sox (13th) beat Astros (12th)

2004 – Red Sox (2nd) beat Cardinals (9th)

2003 – Marlins (24th) beat Yankees (1st)

2002 – Angels (16th) beat Giants (10th)

2001 – Diamondbacks (8th) beat Yankees (1st)

2000 – Yankees (1st) beat Mets (7th)

1999 – Yankees (1st) beat Braves (6th)

1998 – Yankees (2nd) beat Padres (14th)

1997 – Marlins (8th) beat Indians (4th)

1996 – Yankees (2nd) beat Braves (3rd)

1995 – Braves (3rd) beat Indians(8th)

1994 – (no World Series)

1993 – Blue Jays (1st) beat Phillies (19th)

1992 – Blue Jays (1st) beat Braves (8th)

1991 – Twins (13th) beat Braves (19th)

1990 – Reds (22nd) beat A’s (10th)

The higher payroll team usually wins. Note, however, that having a high payroll doesn’t guarantee you a spot in the World Series.  There are 11 teams in this list who were in the bottom half of the league in payroll, and two of those won the World Series.  In contrast, the highest salary team made the World Series just five teams, and none since 2009.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2l5lwHD