T.E.F.R.A.

by Mick 08' on Sep 2, 2007 8:36 AM EDT

Just a random thought here. After watching the Cleveland Indians draw just 25,000 fans for a game the other day I started to ask myself why? As I debated with myself I also looked at Tampa Bays miniscule avg. per game attendance.

In Cleveland, the Indians were 3-4 gms up on the El Tigres in the A.L. Central, on the perverbial "Warpath", and appearing to run away for their 1st Division Title since 2001.

Is it the lack of a marquee name or player that dwindles the crowd? Is it the many lies owner Larry Dolan has laid on the GREAT City of Clevelands fans? Are the fans rebelling against their owner?

The answer to all three is yes. So I looked at the importance factor. Winning cures all ill's. However, if Barry Bonds and the Giants came to town at Jacobs Field there would be a sell out.

So what's more important, marquee names on a team or winning?

In either instance one would have to be crazy not to spend to bring some sort of marquee name, every day player to the Trop? Beyond printing my own money, and starting my own Private Monetary System to attract and throw at free agent baseball players around the globe, here's what I found:

Not scientific numbers here at all, and open to debate.... but what would 10,000 more fans per game add up to? Let's say each fan spends $65.00 per game (tickets, a couple of dogs, the highest priced beer and pop (soda for non-Northerners) on the planet, some junk from the Devil Ray's store, parking, etc). By the way, does Sternberg somehow have his hands down the pants of the parking vendors outside Tropicana Field grounds or does the city get that? Anyways, we pay for parking next season is what I've been told so that's Stuey's monetary gain next season. Anyway, $65 X 10,000= $650,000 X 80= $52 million. Can that be right? Is my math correct?

Of course, not all of that $52 mil is pure profit, but a lot of it is because expenses are fairly fixed whether you have 27,000 or 37,000 attendance. So let's say 60% of $52 mil - or $31,200,000 is pure profit. (not counting a probable increase in road attendance or TV/Radio revenue if they add a marquee player at the start). So what would $31 million have bought? I'm not that up on what quality, marquee players are costing these days. Remembering too that whatever the price, it would be spread out over the term of the contract. The ironic part is in Cleveland for instance, owner Larry Dolan is having his cake and eating it too. He's making a crapload of $$ without making large capitol investments, and has a first place team. Cleveland started the season a smidge above $60M in team payroll. Is this Stuey's ultimate goal? I hate to say it, it's going to be a whole lot tougher in the A.L. East if we do not sign that "Marquee player or two.

Just crunching numbers, anyone's input is welcomed.

Oh yes, I almost forgot:

"ROLL TRIBE ROLL!"

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The Devil Rays do not charge for parking

And did not last season either. Thus far Sternberg has taken in no money on parking revenue. I am pretty sure that he is making a profit off of the team at present, so I would see him crying poor as being especially insulting. However he has not used that as an excuse that would hamper financial expenditures, so it's a moot point. At some point the onus will be on him to put his money where his mouth is, and at that point we will truly find out what his intention is. I feel confident that he will make the right choice.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Sep 2, 2007 11:28 AM EDT 0 recs

Re: The Devil Rays do not charge for parking

When I spoke of paying for parking I was referring to next season. I believe the plan is for fans to pay for parking next season. Yes/No?

Everyone watching this team play realizes they have something special. It's time to put forth the plan of spending to win now, rather than later. The natives(fans) are restless and Stuey's reputation is on the line. Listening to him speak from Yankee Stadium during the Kalas interview Saturday, Stuey didn't speak with his usual authority and confidence. I believe he's feeling that fans do not like him and want him out if he's going to be sitting on his hands and watching this team grow with minor leaguers.

Anyway, I fell of the beat & path here. The point is, the extra fans coming to the Trop create a wealth of revenue's for not only the Devil Rays but for local businesses around St Pete.

I'm going to use one example how stars and good ownership make the entire area thrive and why it is oh so important for Devil Ray ownership to live up to expectations.

In Cleveland in the mid-90's the town came to life when the Cleveland Indians went 100-48 in a strike shortened season. There were more Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Eddie Murray, Manny Ramirez jerseys on the streets than could be imagineable. There were Indians flags flying high & proud above almost every house in every suburb around Cleveland. Moreso, a warehouse district called the "Flats" was resurrected into one of the greatest slew of restaurants, bars & pubs that attracted stars, athletes & Indians fans. The "Flats" thrived through 2001 as Indians owner Dick Jacobs saw the opportunity to sell for top dollar and at his age sold to a "Cleveland guy" local attorney & cable tycoon Larry Dolan.

As the story goes Larry Dolan during his opening press conference stated, "nothing will change, we're going to bring multiple championships to the city of Cleveland."

The following season the sell off of stars began. Gone was Manny Ramirez, so long Bartolo Colon, Thome, Alomar(s) & Vizquel were shown the door, replenished with Minor Leaguers.

Clevelands attendance went from breaking numerous consecutive sell out records which reached the 450+ straight, to dwindling crowds in the teens.

The stars were gone, the "Flats" who counted on Indians baseball for their businesses to thrive bankrupted. Local businesses began to struggle, it isn't nor wasn't pretty. Larry Dolan's name is used in veighn(sp) every day by business owners and fans across Cleveland for his "business 1st" attitude around Cleveland.

Now, Stu has a shot at starting something special in St Pete & the Bay area. After crunching numbers he'd be absolutely stupid to not spend to put a winner on the field and start competing NOW!

The team and local businesses can absolutely thrive with proper ownership commited to winning. The scarry and largest issue is no one knows if Sternberg will spend a dime to make this team better or if he's going to continue to hoard the mega-millions this team is earning.

A plan is needed, ownership commitment is needed. So far it's been nothing less than pitiful. Yes, there are good young players, most of whom are from the Lamar/Scroogioli era. Let's not give Stuey too much credit, Lamarvelous actually traded and drafted some great young studs.

Again, I'm just thinking to myself and sharing thoughts. I'll say it again, in baseball it's all ownership. You spend, you win consistantly.

A great road trip and winning 8 of 9 games taking it to the Yanks at the home the Ruth built. Carlos "jala" Pena and his power display has been most entertaining. Delmon Young and his Bubba Gump "I've got big gums" face is on his way to stardom along with the RH version of Barry Bonds if I've ever saw one with his lean lightening fast bat of BJ Upton. C.C., the guys breaking records at an alrming pace raking in his 75th career triple and collecting 50 hits in August which is an incredible feat.

There is so much on this team it will be a crying shame if nothing is added in the off season. The team is ready, is ownership?

Peace!

by Mick 08' on Sep 3, 2007 7:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: The Devil Rays do not charge for parking

While I philosophically agree with Mick here, I think acquisitions need to be strategic more than tactical, although a short termer here or there couldn't hurt if the team showed good wining progress as a result. I'm not sure '08 is the year for playoff contention - I do think the goal should be to make it the season that changes the perception of the Rays as losers.

I also think you've got to look at what's available in the market that can contribute long term, and what may become available after '08. But if thw Rays make no significant moves this offseason, that will just make it harder to make them in successive offseasons. The market needs to sense that Tampa Bay is a place to be.

To me, the glaring needs are SS; a #3 starter; maybe another cheap, short term starter candidate; bullpen help - with a closer a legitimate pursuit; a lefty bench bat; and a solid catcher, but not one of the high priced types. At least one of these should be a splashy acquisition that sends the "we're coming!" message.

I've already stated my preferences out of this years' crop:

trade for Renteria, although I've no idea what the Rays could offer that would outdo other suitors
sign C. Silva, with Clement, F. Garcia, Kris Benson, or R. Wolf as possible fallbacks if they're healthy. Unfortunately RJ, with the falloff of Lee, I think Cleveland will pick up Byrd's option.
sign F. Cordero. This would be the splash, and in conjunction with either of the 2 above, the message should be clear. I think more is required here, particularly a lefty. RJ was again on point with Affeldt.
there should be plenty of good inexpensive possibilities that could outdo Norton as the bench lefty (if Madden would just keep Norton on the bench!). Or maybe Pridie could fill the bill internally, save the money and see how he pans out.
I'd aim for Barajas (assuming Philly doesn't pick up his option), Ramon Castro, or Kendall if he doesn't cost too much. The latter might sound offbase, but he's not that old, he's coming off a bad year which should reduce his price (he isn't gonna be making over $10 mil anymore), and he's a fiery guy that could bring vet leadership.

All of the above could turn into some serious spending: Renteria at $9 mil, Silva / other at anywhere from $5 - 7, Cordero at $10+. The other 3 needs (LRP, bench bat, C) shouldn't cost more than $5-6. That's $30+ mil, pushing the payroll to about $60 mil. But the money is there, it's just a question of will and whether these are the right moves this year and next. And don't argue with me about the money being there - $65+ mil from revenue sharing and the Central fund say it is, and the likely local revenue growth (you'd pay for parking with all of the above wouldn't you?!!) would add to the kitty.

It's just a question of what the right moves are, and can or will Tampa make them. I'm not saying the above are the all the right moves, or that they could all be accomplished - they likely couldn't, particularly the Renteria one - but I don't think they'd be bad. But hey, have at it.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Sep 5, 2007 4:57 PM EDT up 0 recs