Comments on: The Oakland A’s Diaspora http://marcys.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/the-oakland-as-diaspora/ Welcome to Marcy Sheiner's Laundromat Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:06:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Steve B http://marcys.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/the-oakland-as-diaspora/#comment-10583 Steve B Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:55:55 +0000 http://marcys.wordpress.com/?p=1841#comment-10583 Branch Rickey, the man who brought Jackie Robinson into the major leagues and who also more or less invented the minor-league system as an instrument of player development, once advised that it's better to let go of a player one year too soon rather than one year too late. I think this remains smart advice, but Billy Beane has applied cold statistics to it that have no room for loyalty and sentiment. I understand and appreciate Beane's businessman's approach -- but it's hard on the fans. Shouldn't we factor into these decisions too? I don't like feeling like my fan interest has no importance or even meaning in executive decisions to keep or lose players. What should be the goal of a baseball organization? To win championships? To be profitable? Perhaps most or even all baseball executives would answer, "Both." But what about when pursuing one goal hurts the effort toward the other? The Cubs have proven that a team can make money -- lots of money, in fact -- from losing. The Red Sox, who have sold out Fenway Park at some of baseball's highest ticket prices for several seasons running, show that putting a few marquee showboat players on the field to produce a winning record earns profits. The Giants built a business, and a ballpark, on the draw of a single player (and both suffer now that he's gone). The Mariners demonstrate that a great ballpark experience can be enough to draw fans. If I were a baseball executive, I don't know, really, what approach I'd take. As an A's fan, though, I can definitely say I miss Tejada! <em>As always, Steve, trenchant and informative commentary! Billy Beane has actually said he doesn't think fans come to a game to see individual players. I don't think that's true at all--it is ONE of the reasons some fans come to games. Beane needs to find some balance.--MS</em> Branch Rickey, the man who brought Jackie Robinson into the major leagues and who also more or less invented the minor-league system as an instrument of player development, once advised that it’s better to let go of a player one year too soon rather than one year too late. I think this remains smart advice, but Billy Beane has applied cold statistics to it that have no room for loyalty and sentiment. I understand and appreciate Beane’s businessman’s approach — but it’s hard on the fans. Shouldn’t we factor into these decisions too? I don’t like feeling like my fan interest has no importance or even meaning in executive decisions to keep or lose players.

What should be the goal of a baseball organization? To win championships? To be profitable? Perhaps most or even all baseball executives would answer, “Both.” But what about when pursuing one goal hurts the effort toward the other? The Cubs have proven that a team can make money — lots of money, in fact — from losing. The Red Sox, who have sold out Fenway Park at some of baseball’s highest ticket prices for several seasons running, show that putting a few marquee showboat players on the field to produce a winning record earns profits. The Giants built a business, and a ballpark, on the draw of a single player (and both suffer now that he’s gone). The Mariners demonstrate that a great ballpark experience can be enough to draw fans.

If I were a baseball executive, I don’t know, really, what approach I’d take. As an A’s fan, though, I can definitely say I miss Tejada!

As always, Steve, trenchant and informative commentary! Billy Beane has actually said he doesn’t think fans come to a game to see individual players. I don’t think that’s true at all–it is ONE of the reasons some fans come to games. Beane needs to find some balance.–MS

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