Working for the Weekend

Here is Dan McGraw’s new writing in Fort Worth Weekly. You know my feelings on the Rangers problems right now, but never has anyone so properly put them in a column as Mr. McGraw. If you just subtracted his Indians comments, I would consider it something I would have like to have written. I consider it Must Read material.

A baseball GM has three ways to develop talent. The first is bringing along young talent through a farm system, always a big crapshoot. The second way is to make trades that benefit your team. And the third and probably most important way is by signing free agents who have already proven themselves in the bigs.

In his first year in Arlington, Hicks had the wallet open, and Hart did sign a lot of free agents, though most of them didn’t work out. Blame Hart for that. But in the three years since, Hicks has closed up the wallet, and the Rangers haven’t been competitive on getting good free agent players, especially pitchers.

That means Hicks took a major tool out of Hart’s hand. Because baseball has limited revenue sharing, the amount of money a team spends on salaries — specifically free agents — translates directly into success. Look at this season: For the most part, the teams that made the playoffs are the ones that spent the money. Of the teams with the top six payrolls, four made the playoffs. Five out of the top 10 made it in as well. The only team that was not in the top half of the payroll ranking that made it to post-season was the San Diego Padres (they ranked 16 out of 30), and they had the worst record of the eight playoff teams.

The Rangers ranked 21st in payroll — in the bottom third. And at the press conference announcing Hart’s resignation, Hicks trotted out his usual misinformation. He talked about how teams like Cleveland and Oakland were models for the success of low-payroll teams and said that spending on players wasn’t a critical part of winning. He never mentioned that the low payroll A’s and Indians didn’t make the playoffs, but the ones that spent did.

The Rangers player payroll was about $55 million this year. Here’s what the team brought in: $46 million for local and national media rights, $42.5 million in ticket sales, $14.4 million in luxury suites, and about $5 million for parking. That’s close to $108 million in revenue, even before you add stadium naming rights, sponsorships, sales of team gear, and the pricey beers and hot dogs, which provide maybe another $20 million or $30 million.

Hicks has said the team was “marginally profitable” this year. Uh-oh — more misinformation. I don’t have the Rangers books in front of me — and I’m not an accountant — but it doesn’t take a ledger expert to come to the conclusion that the Rangers made a lot of money this past year.

It comes down to this: You gotta spend with the big boys to play with the big boys. That means signing expensive pitching, adding another high-priced hitting outfielder or two, and mixing them with the young guys.

I don’t think it really matters who the Rangers’ general manager is as long as Hicks keeps the wallet closed. He seems to be comfortable with having a losing team that makes some money. The fans keep showing up, so why bother putting a decent team on the field? That just cuts into the profits.

Bravo, Bravo.

Week 5 Turnover Results: (Game winner, turnover margin)

GB +5, Det +2, Clev +1, Buf +4, NE -1, NYJ -2, Sea +2, Tenn +1, Ind +2, Den +1, Dal -1, Car +2, Jax E, Pit +1

Week 5 totals: 10-3-1 77%
Season totals: 48-16-10 75% (lowest numbers in years)

Records for teams that finish:

+5 = 8-0 100%
+4 = 5-0 100%
+3 = 5-1 83%
+2 = 12-5 71%
+1 = 18-10 64%

Dallas’ results prove nothing whatsoever:

W - SD +1
L - Was +2
W - SF E
L - Oak -1
W - Phi -1

Ol’ Gil Brandt has great stuff every week for stat nerds. Last week, he had this number to consider:

In the first four weeks of this season, there have been 26 100-yard rushers. Of the 26, only two were on a losing team.

24-2? For 100 yard rushers? Well, I suppose it is time to track this number as well.

Chi L, NE W, Sea W, Hou L, Ind W, Den W, Wash L, Jax W

Week 5 record for teams with 100 yard rushers: 5-3
Season total: 29-5 85%

This week’s Brandt notes …with cool nuggets like these:

* Archie Manning won his first game as a starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints against the Cowboys, Eli Manning won his first game as a starter for the New York Giants against the Cowboys, and Peyton Manning beat the Cowboys the first time he played them. Eli gets the Cowboys this week.

* Parcells needs one win to pass Bud Grant for 10th place on the all-time coaching wins chart. Both have 168 wins.

* Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber needs one sack to become the first cornerback in NFL history to have 20 interceptions and 20 sacks.

Perhaps you heard me going on and on yesterday on the show about Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails “Hurt”. I realize now that it has been out for 2 years, but I only discovered it the other night when I was watching the Angels-White Sox and saw the new promo for “The Shield”. Well, I have since listened to the song about 50 times, and I swear it is better than the original, despite the fact that I love the original. Anyway, the video is even better, and it will make you stop what you are doing for 3 minutes and 56 seconds. Here it is ….Amazing…



My Hockeybuzz notes for Stars 3, Flames 2 …

Before last night, I was wondering, who is Dion Phaneuf?…Not anymore. He is going to be really good…

Bizarre story of the day as plot to kidnap and kill cheerleader foiled …

Midnight Madness is here again …

Beamer is locked up for 7 years at Va Tech …

Beamer has built Virginia Tech from a perennial also-ran into a national power. He is 183-100-4 in his career, the third most victories of any active major college coach. In the past 12 seasons, Beamer's Hokies are 117-37 with 12 consecutive bowl appearances.

This Weekend’s “College Games I Care About”:

Kansas St at Texas Tech, 11, ABC
Wisconsin at Minnesota, 11, ESPN
Penn St at Michigan, 2:30 ABC – Gameplan
Florida at LSU, 2:30 CBS
Colorado at Texas, 2:30 ABC
USC at Notre Dame, 2:30 NBC

Looks like 2:30 will be picture in picture in picture…

Here is a Vikings email to leave you with:

I don't send this stuff out, but I felt obligated to send this to the green and gold tattoo on Bob's left arm. It is not very clever... it is not very good... but the obligation was still there.

Enjoy... or don't.

(To the theme song from Gilligan's Island)

Come sit right back and you'll hear a tale
A tale of fateful trip
That started from a small lake town
Aboard two tiny ships

The mates were a bunch of pole dancers
But the waitstaff was too pure
The Vikings team set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour

The action started getting hot
The dancers strutted their stuff
If not for the prudes in the fearless crew
There wouldn't have been such a huff

The boats turned around and went back home
The authorities came aboard
But fear not friends, 'cause all's not lost
The Vikings finally scored

Paul

Have a nice little Saturday…