Accord Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh's Kevin McClatchy lashed out at other baseball owners Friday for a return of free-agent spending that he fears may steer some clubs close to bankruptcy. McClatchy, the Pirates' managing general partner, warned of a growing division between big-payroll and small-market clubs that could lead to contentious owners meetings and a much harder stance during the next labor negotiations. The current labor deal with players runs until December 2006. "I don't know what happened, maybe they drank some funny water, but they all decided they were back on the binge," McClatchy said. "When somebody goes out and pays an average pitcher $7 million a year, then anybody who's an average pitcher says they need $7 million a year. That's very difficult, and when you're giving pitchers $18 million in arbitration, that also makes it difficult." NL Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens agreed to an $18 million, one-year contract with Houston, a record one-year salary for a pitcher and the equivalent of nearly half the Pirates' projected $40 million payroll. The Pirates' payroll is about $10 million less than that of the Washington Nationals, owned by the other major-league clubs. Some teams criticized the New York Mets for giving a $22.5 million, three-year contract to former-Pirate Kris Benson, then for giving Pedro Martinez a $53 million, four-year contract and Carlos Beltran a $119 million, seven-year deal. "I don't know about the bank vault being open," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Friday. "We competed for Pedro and for Beltran with other clubs that were right there where we were and pretty much ended up paying." The Pirates' payroll is about $10 million less than that of the Washington Nationals, owned by the other major league clubs. After two offseasons with relatively few huge contracts, McClatchy was admittedly stunned with what he called a series of signings that were "ridiculous -- at best." McClatchy's sharp talk mirrors that of the Orioles' Peter Angelos, who said first baseman Carlos Delgado's $52 million contract with Florida reflects baseball's "fiscal insanity." McClatchy also questions how teams that only recently were talking about financial stress agreed to huge contracts. Arizona signed pitcher Russ Ortiz for $33 million and third baseman Troy Glaus for $45 million, both over four years. "What you don't want to see is some of these teams spend themselves into bankruptcy -- that's not good for any of the league, that becomes a liability on all of us," McClatchy said. "I'm not sure if some of these people are writing checks with money they necessarily have, and that's a negative thing. "You wonder how, since they were in a tough financial spot, some of the spending is going to work, how they're eventually going to be able to pay their bills. When you're drawing 1.7 million, and you take your payroll up too high, you just do the math," he said. The Pirates, by contrast, have signed no free agents to major-league contracts and have handed out only two multiyear contracts -- shortstop Jack Wilson's $8 million, two-year deal and right-hander reliever Salomon Torres' $2.6 million, two-year deal. McClatchy is rooting for NHL owners to reach a labor agreement that includes a cap or some other harsh salary restraint, something he said baseball badly needs. "I'm disappointed, very disappointed in the other owners, and I think as we go toward a new collective bargaining agreement, there's going to have to be some sort of constraint put on because these other guys can't control themselves," he said. McClatchy, who serves on baseball's executive council and long-range labor committee, is promising to be more outspoken in future owners meetings. "I've think they've created a hawk," he said. "A lot of us are concerned and are definitely going to speak up." Despite McClatchy's glum financial talk and the Pirates' 12th consecutive losing season in 2004, the team's annual Fanfest opened Friday to what was expected to be record crowds. Attendance was way up during the first week of the team's winter caravan, which featured Wilson and promising pitcher Oliver Perez. Season ticket sales are up about 30 percent, partly because buyers who keep their seats the following season get the opportunity to buy 2006 All-Star tickets. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1978076 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying_Mollusk Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 didnt this a-hole just get a new stadium? Why dont you actualy invest in your team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Maybe 'cause he doesn't have the money? Plus, he's just a majority owner (51%). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPosey Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Waaaaaaa! Not all the other owners are cheap asses like myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarlinGuru Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Shut your trap cakeb*tch. I'm sure if your team got Delgado at whatever price you wouldn't call it fiscal insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaq-Man Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 he and angelos are right...something seriously needs to be done about spending. this is not in any small market team's best interests. "What you don't want to see is some of these teams spend themselves into bankruptcy -- that's not good for any of the league, that becomes a liability on all of us," McClatchy said. "I'm not sure if some of these people are writing checks with money they necessarily have, and that's a negative thing. "You wonder how, since they were in a tough financial spot, some of the spending is going to work, how they're eventually going to be able to pay their bills. When you're drawing 1.7 million, and you take your payroll up too high, you just do the math," he said. by the way, he's referring to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Cry me a river Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishFan24 Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 Maybe if he cared about winning and would open up his wallet from time to time, he too would realize that you have to spend a little bit of money to compete. Plus they have a source of revenue that other teams (the 2003 WS Champions Marlins) don't have. So if someone could play the smallest violin in the world for him, I would greatly appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferry Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 As long as league revenues increase, there's no reson why salaries should not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Moneyball Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishFan24 Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPosey Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it. 672374[/snapback] hmm, 12 straight losing seasons. YOu know what that coincides with? The Pirates (not sure if he owned the team back then) drove God out of town, and still haven't recovered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPosey Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fritz Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferry Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 12 straight losing seasons and a $40 million dollar payroll and then he wonders why more people aren't coming out to see the Pirates. :plain New stadiums don't do a damn thing for you unless you field a competitive team to play in it. 672374[/snapback] I bet that new [publically-funded] stadium is filling his wallet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Get out of here with that nonesense. When you die, ain't gonna be Barry waiting for you at the Pearly Gates. Barry could honestly give a crap less who you are. Oh, and btw, it a well known FACT that Jesus existed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarlinFan10 Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 Treating some athlete who took steriods to hit homeruns like God is a certain sign of patheticness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobaincola Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls. 672485[/snapback] LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madman81 Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 The only incarnation of God ever on this planet in human form was executed 1,972 years ago. Please, stfu calling Barry Bonds god. He is nothing of the sort. 672472[/snapback] Bonds is being (metaphorically) crucified because he's the best. The difference Bonds and Jesus is, Bonds actually exists. 672478[/snapback] Q: What are the two differences between a 5 year old and Barry Bonds? A: Barry has a higher voice and smaller balls. 672485[/snapback] lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finfan9113 Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade. 672372[/snapback] They havent been any good since McKeon left there And I support a cap you look at the Yanks with over 200 million I mean there luxury tax they had to pay to MLB was more than the DRays entire salary How F'ed up is that I mean and you look at the Sox with over 130,000,000 how crazy is this something needs to be done about this crazy spending and fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPosey Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 He needs to stop bitching and moaning and start spending cash. He must have forgot people come to games when you effort in improving your team and winning. After all the Pirates haven't been any good for the last decade. 672372[/snapback] They havent been any good since McKeon left there And I support a cap you look at the Yanks with over 200 million I mean there luxury tax they had to pay to MLB was more than the DRays entire salary How F'ed up is that I mean and you look at the Sox with over 130,000,000 how crazy is this something needs to be done about this crazy spending and fast 672770[/snapback] learn to use punctuation, it makes your posts a lot easier to read. I don't think a salary cap would be good for baseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 Learn to use punctuation, it makes your posts a lot easier to read. I don't think a salary cap would be good for baseball. 672806[/snapback] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Marino Forever 13 Posted January 31, 2005 Share Posted January 31, 2005 free agent spending isn't a problem. if you have the money to spend, then spend it. the marlins don't really have $52 million for delgado, it's deferred over meny many years, but if you don't try to get a winning club, then you won't get a winning club, stadium or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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