Lefty
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Got this from the Arizona Daily Star.
Jerry Colangelo's quotes went on and on, from one computer screen to the next. Some of the words were so powerful that they appeared to be illuminated.
"Step back," he said.
"Transition," he continued.
"Redo."
"Young turks."
"Down the road."
"Potentially."
"Young team."
"Build another nucleus."
"Young guys."
So now comes the inevi-ta-ble. Now comes the suffering. It is not unlike buying new furniture, sucked in because the first payment is delayed until next year.
After six years in the baseball business, the game's best-ever startup franchise faces its first payment on the furniture.
In a Tuesday interview with Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune, Colangelo said that the once free-spending D'backs will budget $55 million for personnel in 2005. Current payroll: $94 million.
So long, Big Unit. It's been nice, Gonzo. See you in Philly, Schilly.
This must be how it was in Edmonton when Wayne Gretzky's Oilers were upended by the bottom line.
Colangelo, the Diamondbacks managing general partner, insists he will cut payroll immediately, to $80 million next year, which almost surely means Curt Schilling will be traded for "young turks" and that the club will not be able to afford a middle-of-the-lineup free agent hitter.
The trickle down will be felt not just in the National Lea-gue West Division standings, but in every corner of the state. Interest in spring training will diminish. Television ratings will drop. Attendance will fall. The franchise's much-dreaded debut as a small-market team is upon us.
In the first six years of their existence, the Diamondbacks sold novelty, newness and winning. It was an overwhelming success. Now they will be forced to sell baseball.
Given the transient nature of baseball, the core of this Diamondbacks roster could change almost entirely by the time the 2005 budget takes force. Given financial restrictions, the most untouchable player on the D'backs long-term roster probably is rookie pitcher Brandon Webb.
After that, who? Stud second base prospect Scott Hairston, who is due to open for the Tucson Sidewinders next year?
Given the D'backs immense start-up debt, the cost of building Bank One Ballpark, the deferred salaries of Matt Williams and Jay Bell, the $32 million still owed to 40-year-old Randy Johnson, Arizonans have long been warned that the D'backs would not be able to shop in the same neighborhood with the Yankees, Dod-gers, Red Sox and Braves.
This will be like going from Saks to Ross.
Whatever the cost, the Diamondbacks deserve a little patience from those who feasted on their early success. Home games at BOB have averaged 71 percent capacity this year, almost 35,000 per game. No sign of trouble with those figures.
Here's the problem: A young, losing team loses more than ball games. It loses fans. If you do not have enough people in the stands, it sucks the life out of all revenue categories: concessions, parking, souvenir sales, suite leases, sponsorships.
If there is an upside to this discouraging news, it is that, for the first time, the D'back's farm system steadily produced useful players: Robby Hammock, Matt Kata, Alex Cin-tron, Chris Capuano, Jose Valverde. An otherwise forgettable season has been mitigated by a handful of "young turks" who appear to be capable major-league ballplayers.
What is not as promising is hearing manager Bob Brenly come off as encouraged that a bargain-priced ($3 million) outfielder like Danny Bautista is likely to be in the lineup full time next season.
Brenly last week said he believes Bautista could hit 40 doubles. Right. How many years will that require?
Given Colangelo's announcement Tuesday, the future of D'backs baseball could indeed be Danny Bautista looking for a double.
Jerry Colangelo's quotes went on and on, from one computer screen to the next. Some of the words were so powerful that they appeared to be illuminated.
"Step back," he said.
"Transition," he continued.
"Redo."
"Young turks."
"Down the road."
"Potentially."
"Young team."
"Build another nucleus."
"Young guys."
So now comes the inevi-ta-ble. Now comes the suffering. It is not unlike buying new furniture, sucked in because the first payment is delayed until next year.
After six years in the baseball business, the game's best-ever startup franchise faces its first payment on the furniture.
In a Tuesday interview with Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune, Colangelo said that the once free-spending D'backs will budget $55 million for personnel in 2005. Current payroll: $94 million.
So long, Big Unit. It's been nice, Gonzo. See you in Philly, Schilly.
This must be how it was in Edmonton when Wayne Gretzky's Oilers were upended by the bottom line.
Colangelo, the Diamondbacks managing general partner, insists he will cut payroll immediately, to $80 million next year, which almost surely means Curt Schilling will be traded for "young turks" and that the club will not be able to afford a middle-of-the-lineup free agent hitter.
The trickle down will be felt not just in the National Lea-gue West Division standings, but in every corner of the state. Interest in spring training will diminish. Television ratings will drop. Attendance will fall. The franchise's much-dreaded debut as a small-market team is upon us.
In the first six years of their existence, the Diamondbacks sold novelty, newness and winning. It was an overwhelming success. Now they will be forced to sell baseball.
Given the transient nature of baseball, the core of this Diamondbacks roster could change almost entirely by the time the 2005 budget takes force. Given financial restrictions, the most untouchable player on the D'backs long-term roster probably is rookie pitcher Brandon Webb.
After that, who? Stud second base prospect Scott Hairston, who is due to open for the Tucson Sidewinders next year?
Given the D'backs immense start-up debt, the cost of building Bank One Ballpark, the deferred salaries of Matt Williams and Jay Bell, the $32 million still owed to 40-year-old Randy Johnson, Arizonans have long been warned that the D'backs would not be able to shop in the same neighborhood with the Yankees, Dod-gers, Red Sox and Braves.
This will be like going from Saks to Ross.
Whatever the cost, the Diamondbacks deserve a little patience from those who feasted on their early success. Home games at BOB have averaged 71 percent capacity this year, almost 35,000 per game. No sign of trouble with those figures.
Here's the problem: A young, losing team loses more than ball games. It loses fans. If you do not have enough people in the stands, it sucks the life out of all revenue categories: concessions, parking, souvenir sales, suite leases, sponsorships.
If there is an upside to this discouraging news, it is that, for the first time, the D'back's farm system steadily produced useful players: Robby Hammock, Matt Kata, Alex Cin-tron, Chris Capuano, Jose Valverde. An otherwise forgettable season has been mitigated by a handful of "young turks" who appear to be capable major-league ballplayers.
What is not as promising is hearing manager Bob Brenly come off as encouraged that a bargain-priced ($3 million) outfielder like Danny Bautista is likely to be in the lineup full time next season.
Brenly last week said he believes Bautista could hit 40 doubles. Right. How many years will that require?
Given Colangelo's announcement Tuesday, the future of D'backs baseball could indeed be Danny Bautista looking for a double.
