Post by rlm6370 on Aug 13, 2009 10:58:27 GMT -5
The 2009 Mets are on their way to becoming the biggest financial bust in baseball history.
The Wall Street Journal has done the math, and it's ugly:
With a 52-60 record after a loss last night, the Mets' winning percentage of .464 projects to a final record of 75-87.
Based on a payroll of $149 million (according to USA Today), that works out to a cost of almost $2 million per win ($1.98M).
Only the 2008 Seattle Mariners, with a $117 million payroll resulting in 61 wins ($1.91M per win), have gotten a similarly bad return on their investment, according to the Journal's Dave Cameron.
During that season, the Mariners fired their manager and general manager.
To avoid the title of "Worst Bust Ever," the Mets would have to win 79 games.
Of the other six highest-spending teams this season -- Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, Phillies -- four are in first place and two are in second place.
The Yankees, on pace for 100 wins with a $201 million payroll, are spending slightly more per win than the Mets, but they have the best record in baseball and lead the AL East by 5.5 games.
The Mets are in fourth place in the NL East, 10.5 games out.
The last-place Nationals, on pace for 58 wins, are paying $1.03 million per victory.
The Mets have lots of money on the disabled list, sure: Carlos Beltran ($19 million), Carlos Delgado ($12 million); Billy Wagner ($10.5 million); Jose Reyes ($6.1 million); J.J. Putz ($6 million).
But they also gave Oliver Perez a $36 million, three-year contract this offseason, and he pitches tomorrow with a 2-3 record and 6.38 ERA.
Francisco Rodriguez ($9.1 million) has a career-high 3.24 ERA, has blown five saves, and has walked more and struck out less per inning than he ever has.
And $5 million starting catcher Brian Schneider (!) is batting .197.
Such a finish would give the Mets two of the three worst spending teams of all time. The 2003 Mets, with 66 wins and a $117 million payroll, cost $1.77 million per win.
The 1992 Mets, so much a symbol of bad spending they inspired a book entitled "The Worst Team Money Can Buy," won 72 games with a then-record payroll of $45 million (a meager $625,000 per win).
Adjusted for inflation, that's approximately $950,000.
The Wall Street Journal has done the math, and it's ugly:
With a 52-60 record after a loss last night, the Mets' winning percentage of .464 projects to a final record of 75-87.
Based on a payroll of $149 million (according to USA Today), that works out to a cost of almost $2 million per win ($1.98M).
Only the 2008 Seattle Mariners, with a $117 million payroll resulting in 61 wins ($1.91M per win), have gotten a similarly bad return on their investment, according to the Journal's Dave Cameron.
During that season, the Mariners fired their manager and general manager.
To avoid the title of "Worst Bust Ever," the Mets would have to win 79 games.
Of the other six highest-spending teams this season -- Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Tigers, Angels, Phillies -- four are in first place and two are in second place.
The Yankees, on pace for 100 wins with a $201 million payroll, are spending slightly more per win than the Mets, but they have the best record in baseball and lead the AL East by 5.5 games.
The Mets are in fourth place in the NL East, 10.5 games out.
The last-place Nationals, on pace for 58 wins, are paying $1.03 million per victory.
The Mets have lots of money on the disabled list, sure: Carlos Beltran ($19 million), Carlos Delgado ($12 million); Billy Wagner ($10.5 million); Jose Reyes ($6.1 million); J.J. Putz ($6 million).
But they also gave Oliver Perez a $36 million, three-year contract this offseason, and he pitches tomorrow with a 2-3 record and 6.38 ERA.
Francisco Rodriguez ($9.1 million) has a career-high 3.24 ERA, has blown five saves, and has walked more and struck out less per inning than he ever has.
And $5 million starting catcher Brian Schneider (!) is batting .197.
Such a finish would give the Mets two of the three worst spending teams of all time. The 2003 Mets, with 66 wins and a $117 million payroll, cost $1.77 million per win.
The 1992 Mets, so much a symbol of bad spending they inspired a book entitled "The Worst Team Money Can Buy," won 72 games with a then-record payroll of $45 million (a meager $625,000 per win).
Adjusted for inflation, that's approximately $950,000.
