Oakland, Calif. – Take in the American League Championship Series and the common cents strike you like a line drive to the teeth. The Oakland Athletics aren’t rich. George Steinbrenner could fund their payroll with the loose change in his couch.
Rockies fans, rejoice. See? It can be done. Money doesn’t solve everything. The Yankees have spent $1.2 billion since they last won the World Series in 2000, in players’ salaries and luxury-tax penalties, and haven’t claimed a title.
The A’s spent approximately $285 million during that time. They have made the playoffs in five of the past seven seasons.
Rockies president Keli McGregor said Monday the preoccupation with money in sports bothers him. Fans make a linear connection between the size of a budget and the odds of reaching the playoffs. History says they should. Partly by choice and circumstance, the Rockies have created a salary cap. Their payroll was $42 million last season and likely will be around $52 million in 2007.
So naturally, the Rockies hold up the Athletics – and the resourceful Twins, too – as the model for effective budget restraint. It sounds great. But where are all the copycats? If the A’s are a public handbook, how come the only small-pocketed teams in the playoffs every year are Oakland and Minnesota?
“It’s not easy, that’s why,” Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday. “You would much rather have a $200 million payroll. When you don’t have those means, you have to trust your people to consistently make the right decisions.”
Love him or loathe him, A’s GM Billy Beane has made thrifty sexy. It’s not luck. Or coincidence. He and Twins counterpart Terry Ryan are considered among the best in baseball.
“Obviously, it can be done without a big payroll because we keep doing it,” A’s outfielder Jay Payton said. “It shows there’s a fine line between the guy making $18 million and the guy making $4 million. But you have to be able to find that right guy to get solid production from, and that’s what Billy is so great at.”
The Rockies’ rebuilding has been slow and methodical. They took baby steps forward this past season. But they need another bat and a starter. Their shopping list won’t be from A to Z – Alfonso Soriano to Barry Zito. With the coins jingling in his pocket, Beane signed Frank Thomas last winter. The Rockies need a similar move to accelerate from anonymity to contender.
With the A’s, you see, it’s not about less money. It’s about less money well spent.
“Give Colorado credit. They have done a nice job,” Dombrow- ski said. “When you don’t have the resources, it’s tough. There’s not much margin for error.”
Harden in, Haren back
The A’s made a calculated gamble Tuesday, switching oft- injured Rich Harden to Game 3 of the series and pushing back Dan Haren. That means Harden, who has made just nine starts this season, is in line to start Game 7.
“I haven’t really thought about it much. I was willing to do what was best for the team,” said Harden, who earned the new assignment after impressing pro personnel director Billy Owens in an instructional league outing.
Added Owens, “He knew he was being judged, and he threw 40 strikes in 55 pitches.”
The move gives the A’s options. If Harden struggles, they can bring back Haren on short rest for Game 7 opposite Kenny Rogers.
Footnotes
Both Jim Leyland and Ken Macha expressed relief that Yankees manager Joe Torre was spared the ax Tuesday. Said Leyland: “My heartfelt opinion is that I don’t think they had any intention of firing Joe Torre. And they shouldn’t.” … Torre’s staying casts Lou Piniella as the clear favorite for the Cubs job. … Former Rockies third baseman Vinny Castilla will work as a TV analyst during the World Series for a national Mexican network. … Of the 50 players on the teams’ rosters, only seven were born the most recent time these two met in postseason play, in 1972.
