Small Market Nonsense

Again and again and again I hear the cry of poor from Baseball fans around the country. Fans of Baseball teams that have struggled year after year after year. Frustrated with yelling about their poor tight fisted owners, they have created a common demon to blame for their troubles. Hooray for the person who first invented the Small Market/Big Market idea. Owners in Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Toronto and Milwaukee can get away with never spending any money, and they can blame it all on the big bad Yankees.

The idea is that only the big market teams can afford to field a competitive team. My question is this; when has it ever been any different? I mean what are we looking for exactly? For more than one team to have a shot each year? Let me give some examples:

1947-1956 for example. The good ole days right? Willie, Mickey and the Duke? Golden Era etc.
10 years the Yankees won 7 Championships and 8 AL Pennants. !!!!!!! Are you serious?!?
The Brooklyn Dodgers won 1 championship and 6 NL Pennants. There are only 20 spots in the World Series for a 10 year span and 14 were occupied by 2 teams. The Dodgers and Yankees played against each other in the World Series 6 times in 10 years!!! The other 6 pennants went to 4 other teams. Is this the "like it use to be" that people want? By the way, the Yankees and Dodgers played in 1941 as well, plus again in 1963, 1977, 1978 and 1981.

Too Long ago? 1969-1979 11 years, and only 8 different teams played in the World Series. With 6 different Champions. Of those 6 only the Mets and Orioles one only once. The others all won 2 or 3 in that time.

Back to present. 1995-2004. The "Baseball economics era" also known as the "chicks dig the long ball" era. (more on that another time) 10 years, the years of "Yankee's Buying Everything" 11 different teams have played with 6 different champions. Yes, the Yankees won 4 times. The Marlins won twice. But we have had a different winner every year for 5 straight years.

The point is, that Baseball is about the same as it has always been. I'll grant you that there are more teams now. So it means more teams left out in the cold. But all and all things are the same. However, at the time I am writing this, there are something like 24 teams that are 5 games or less back in division and wildcard races. In the end, I understand if you are frustrated that your team stinks. The Dodgers are just keeping their heads above water when it comes to being in the race this year. But remember what Flav says and Don't believe the hype.

-T

And don't tell me that you're sick of all of the advertising at the ballpark today too. Not like the good ole days eh?