Well, two small market teams in the Rays and Brewers are going to kick off the World Series tonight, and thus proves that there is no need for a salary cap, lockout cancelled, we are good to go!
No, obviously, this doesn't mean that, but I do think it underscores something that I have believed for a long time. Money doesn't matter as much to a good front office so much as consistency does. Obviously, it also takes talent and know how, but the ability to stay in charge and run a plan for several years is extremely valuable.
David Stearns left he Brewers a couple years ago, but they promoted Matt Arnold from within. Craig Counsell went to manage the Cubs, and the promoted Pat Murphy from within. The same messages, the same mentality and the same restrictions on the team have stayed in place, and as a result, Arnold and Murphy knew what they could do and how they could build.
The Rays have Eric Neander in the president's role, and he has been with the organization for decades, while Kevin Cash has now been the manager for 12 years himself. They have never been able to spend money, and have regularly and effectively always had to look a couple of steps ahead.
That's the take away, and what we're going to find out if, after the next CBA there are payroll restrictions that it was never money holding teams back. It was competence. The Rays have always had bad ownership and a great front office. The Mets pump money into the organization, and are a disaster.
The Pohlads, for all their faults, were loathe to move on from Terry Ryan despite woeful results in the 90s. Ryan really threw a wrench in the plans for contraction at the turn of the century by making the team competitive after several years already on the job. He and Ron Gardenhire weren't necessarily the most skilled at baseball strategy, but the organization and players were able to rely on consistent messaging and expectations, which was more than most of the AL Central could say.
The last few years have featured an unbelievable amount of tumult. First, there was a cut to the payroll, followed by a change in owner management followed by an allowance for a larger payroll. The Twins front office was ready to strategize around one number, and it took a while, but they became able to strategize around the lower number, only to have it changed again.
The Twins will benefit from having Jeremy Zoll as an internal promotion, and from Derek Shelton returning after time spent outside the organization. Their inherent talent remains to be seen, but there will be a benefit of a common goal over at least a few years. They will also learn that the Brewers, Rays and even the Dodgers are going to be good, regardless of what the payroll situation is.
