Padres and Yankees

Thursday May 13, 2010

I wonder how many people would have been willing to bet on April 1st that the $38 million Padres would have the same record as the $213 million Yankees on May 13th?

The Yankees huge payroll gives them depth the Padres could only dream about, but at this point and with all the Padres injuries and misfortune, the teams records are still the same.

22-12

Why are we force fed the Yankees and Red Sox?

Saturday April 10, 2010

I turn on MLB on Fox for the national game and what team do I see? If I turn on ESPN networks what teams will I see most often?

Well the odds are that I will see either the Yankees or the Red Sox or both of them.

Those two teams were seen on national games (Fox, ESPN & TBS) more times last season than any other division in baseball with all their teams combined.

This year they are currently scheduled for more appearances than any other division in baseball this season. NOT including the Opening Day game on ESPN a day before any other team got to play, there are 18 scheduled for the Yankees so far, 18 for the Red Sox of 109 total games.

Of the 7 TBS games currently scheduled, 5 include either the Yankees or Red Sox. 71.4% of the games!

National Broadcast Schedule

Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, Apr 10	3:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sun, Apr 11	1:40 PM	New York Yankees	Tampa Bay Rays	TBS
Sun, Apr 11	8:05 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Mon, Apr 12	4:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Minnesota Twins	ESPN
Wed, Apr 14	8:15 PM	Houston Astros	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN2
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	Chicago White Sox	Cleveland Indians	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	San Francisco Giants	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Apr 17	4:10 PM	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sun, Apr 18	1:35 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	TBS
Sun, Apr 18	8:05 PM	New York Mets	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Mon, Apr 19	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sat, Apr 24	4:10 PM	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sun, Apr 25	2:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Milwaukee Brewers	TBS
Sun, Apr 25	8:05 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, Apr 26	7:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	New York Mets	ESPN
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	Houston Astros	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 1	3:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sun, May 2	1:05 PM	Chicago White Sox	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 2	8:05 PM	New York Mets	Philadelphia Phillies	ESPN
Mon, May 3	7:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, May 8	3:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 8	3:10 PM	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sun, May 9	1:35 PM	Atlanta Braves	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 9	8:05 PM	New York Yankees	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Mon, May 10	7:05 PM	New York Yankees	Detroit Tigers	ESPN
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	FOX
Sat, May 15	4:10 PM	Houston Astros	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sun, May 16	1:05 PM	Minnesota Twins	New York Yankees	TBS
Sun, May 16	8:05 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Milwaukee Brewers	ESPN
Mon, May 17	7:05 PM	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Texas Rangers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, May 22	7:10 PM	New York Yankees	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, May 23	1:35 PM	Boston Red Sox	Philadelphia Phillies	TBS
Sun, May 23	8:05 PM	New York Yankees	New York Mets	ESPN
Mon, May 24	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, May 29	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, May 29	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, May 30	2:20 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Chicago Cubs	TBS
Sun, May 30	8:05 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	ESPN2
Tue, Jun 1	7:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Jun 5	4:10 PM	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Mon, Jun 7	7:05 PM	Boston Red Sox	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 PM	Chicago White Sox	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Jun 12	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Jun 14	8:15 PM	Seattle Mariners	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 19	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Mon, Jun 21	9:40 PM	New York Yankees	Arizona Diamondbacks	ESPN
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Sat, Jun 26	7:10 PM	New York Yankees	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Milwaukee Brewers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 3	4:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sun, Jul 4	8:15 PM	Kansas City Royals	Los Angeles Angels	ESPN
Mon, Jul 5	7:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Tampa Bay Rays	ESPN
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Detroit Tigers	FOX
Sat, Jul 10	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sun, Jul 11	8:05 PM	Chicago Cubs	Los Angeles Dodgers	ESPN
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Jul 17	4:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	FOX
Sun, Jul 18	8:05 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	Chicago Cubs	ESPN
Mon, Jul 19	8:15 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	Colorado Rockies	Philadelphia Phillies	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Jul 24	4:10 PM	New York Mets	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Mon, Jul 26	7:05 PM	New York Yankees	Cleveland Indians	ESPN
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Dodgers	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Seattle Mariners	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Jul 31	4:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Boston Red Sox	FOX
Mon, Aug 2	7:10 PM	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 PM	San Francisco Giants	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 7	4:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	New York Yankees	FOX
Mon, Aug 9	7:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Cincinnati Reds	ESPN
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	San Diego Padres	San Francisco Giants	FOX
Sat, Aug 14	4:10 PM	Baltimore Orioles	Tampa Bay Rays	FOX
Wed, Aug 18	7:05 PM	Detroit Tigers	New York Yankees	ESPN
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Baltimore Orioles	FOX
Sat, Aug 21	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	San Diego Padres	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Florida Marlins	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Aug 28	4:10 PM	Minnesota Twins	Seattle Mariners	FOX
Wed, Sep 1	7:10 PM	New York Mets	Atlanta Braves	ESPN
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	Los Angeles Angels	Oakland Athletics	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	New York Mets	Chicago Cubs	FOX
Sat, Sep 4	4:10 PM	Texas Rangers	Minnesota Twins	FOX
Wed, Sep 8	7:10 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	Boston Red Sox	ESPN
Sat, Sep 11	TBD	Seattle Mariners	Los Angeles Angels	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 PM	St. Louis Cardinals	Atlanta Braves	FOX
Sat, Sep 11	4:10 PM	Philadelphia Phillies	New York Mets	FOX
Wed, Sep 15	8:15 PM	Chicago Cubs	St. Louis Cardinals	ESPN
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Atlanta Braves	New York Mets	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Colorado Rockies	Los Angeles Dodgers	FOX
Sat, Sep 18	4:10 PM	Detroit Tigers	Chicago White Sox	FOX
Wed, Sep 22	7:05 PM	Tampa Bay Rays	New York Yankees	ESPN
Wed, Sep 29	8:10 PM	Boston Red Sox	Chicago White Sox	ESPN

ESPN only schedules their Sunday Night games into July and after that they can pick any teams they want. Last season more often than not that was the Yankees or the Red Sox.

You wonder why those two teams have more money than other teams to spend on players and scouts and the other things that make you a consistent winner? Wonder no more.

They get paid for each of these appearances. If they get more of them than all the other teams, how is that creating an even playing field?

All the national games also means more Yankees and Red Sox merchandise being sold because all those people not living in the 30 cities that have MLB teams are buying the stuff of the teams they see on TV most. How is that creating an even playing field?

How many times were the Padres on national TV last season? Twice. (They were scheduled for 3 games just as they are this season, but only made two broadcasts)

How many times were the Yankees on national games last season?
15 games against the Red Sox (of 18?). 26 games against other opponents. For a total of 41 games.

How many times were the Red Sox on National Games last season?
15 games against the Yankees. 26 games against other opponents. For a total of 41 games.

How many games were broadcast nationally on ESPN, Fox and TBS total?
As far as I could find - 108.

You may have noticed I have not included MLB Network. I did that because its viewership is too small to be called national.

Yankees buy World Series title #27

Wednesday November 4, 2009

Congratulation New York Yankees!

You have proven that if you spend $200 million, $80 million more than your opponent, $60 million more than any other team in baseball and nearly 10 TIMES as much as the lowest payroll team, you can buy a World Series title.

By taking game 6 over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3, the New York Yankees claimed the 27th World Series title in the franchise's storied history.

The Yankees World Series win and the fact that all but one of the teams that made the playoffs had a season ending payroll of over $100 million, has shone a 200 million candlepower spotlight on the fact that the business of baseball is broken.

It has revealed in a crystal clear manner no amount of spin can obfuscate that money is truly the only thing that matters when it comes to a franchises success in baseball.

It is time to make some changes before another generation of fans in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Milwaukee and many other small market towns wake up on opening day knowing they have no chance to watch their team play a playoff game.

Gaudin Traded to Yankees

Thursday August 6, 2009

The San Diego Padres traded Chad Gaudin to the New York Yankees today for the PTBNL.

After his 4th straight loss in his last outing, it is surprising that the streaking Yankees traded for him.

Who will be added to the roster to take his place in the rotation?

Since the Padres don't have to make a decision until next Thursday's game in Milwaukee its unlikely they will make that call yet. My money would be on LeBlanc or Carrillo with Poreda also being an option.

Padres get Two A Ball Players in Rule V Draft

December 12, 2008

The Padres two draft picks in the Major League portion of the Rule V draft has left me wondering what the heck the guys in the Padres Front Office were thinking?

They drafted a Sally League 2B (low A) with a mediocre arm (his arm strength is why he normally starts at 2B and only a few games a year at SS) and a Florida State League pitcher (high A)?

TWO A ball players? WHY? HOW are they supposed to help at the MAJOR league level?

NEITHER of them were even mentioned on any of the pre-draft discussions on Baseball America or Baseball Analysts or Baseball Prospectus or even ESPN. We have seen a rumor posted after the draft that the Blue Jays wanted Cabrera, but its just that, an unsubstantiated rumor. AFTER the draft Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus commented about Cabrera, but NOT in his pre-draft RULE V Draft article.

The Padres certainly should have better scouting than I do, but WHY would they even scout players at that level who have little to no chance of producing immediately at the major league level?

Obviously a Rule V draftee HAS to produce immediately at the major league level since they have to be kept on the major league roster all season.

Padres personnel, please explain what were you thinking, because for the life of me I can't figure it out.

It just makes no sense whatsoever.

And Mr. DePodesta, while we appreciate that you actually HAVE a blog, your blog post about this draft does not clear the confusion at all.

Despite your assertion, Everth's stats don't bear out that he will be a Furcal type player. At the same age and at HIGH A and AA, Furcal hit 40 points higher, his obp was 30 points higher, he stole 25% more bases and his slugging was only 10 points lower(that is just two extra base hits over a season).

That is a huge difference in production.

As for Nova, where exactly can we see him listed as a top prospect for the Yankees as DePodesta claims in his blog post? I can't even find a mention of him on the prospect lists on Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus or John Sickel's Minor League Ball. None of them considered him a Top Yankees prospect.

Even Kevin T. Czerwinski & Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, the Yankees Beat Writers, didn't consider him a Top PITCHING Prospect in their system.

The only place I can even find him mentioned was in the Baseball America 2008 Prospects Handbook where he was initially ranked 18th among Yankees prospects, but that was revised with him out of the top 20 in February 2008.

Nova is not a strike out pitcher and he has not shown he has good control and he just gave up a .294 baa in High A Ball with no appreciable improvement over the 2007 season in Low A Ball. Just what did the Padres see in him that no one else saw?

It seems to me that the Padres drafted these guys just to send them BACK in a couple of months like they did with their Rule V draftees last year. Will these two even make through spring training as Padres? What good does that do the team? All they are doing is wasting 25 man roster slots.

I could see drafting a high potential player, but I don't see where anyone but the Padres front office thinks they actually HAVE potential.

I can certainly HOPE that I will eat my words when Cabrera morphs from a marginal 2B with speed into a Furcal type SS.

I can certainly HOPE that Nova suddenly starts allowing LESS than a .294 BAA in the major leagues.

But I am not going to hold my breath.

I've had my say. Now what do you think?