Yummy.

 

Still believe the team lost 8 figures last year?

 

 

I don't have enough information either way, but a decrease of tens of millions of dollars in payroll combined with an increase of 8 figures due to the Expos could easily turn a loss of 10m+ into a profit.

"...The books are hidden from view from potential investors as much as they are from you and I."

 

 

But they aren't hidden from the existing investors who count on them for their own tax preparation and they have been distributed within the bond underwriting community as well as (I suspect) to the city of Miami and the county.

 

There are simply too many people with access to this information to not have someone expose any potential fraud or "cooking of the books". Nothing would please some of Loria's former Expos partners more than catching Loria in a lie, especially one which includes defrauding the federal government of their fair share of taxes.

Alright then, let's say that Forbes already included gate receipts in revenue. Take out the last line of each and it gives you yields of $23.4 Million and $9 Million. Not amazing, but those are the profits with a bad lease and fluctuating fan support. Does Forbes get to see opened up books? No. But I'd venture to say that the team isn't spending a gross amount more than $9 Million on their minor league systems, considering the salary of all minor league players and staff are not anywhere in the market of Major League salaries. Since the Marlins won't open up their books (understandable on their end since the decision comes from higher up, but the MLB needs to stop being silly about this), Forbes remains the most reliable source we have. And even assuming that revenue already included the ticket receipts, that's still black in both 2002 and 2003.

Juanky, respectfully, again you're ignoring two things - the fact that clubseats and skyboxes are included in their gate receipt estimates while that revenue is pledged elsewhere and the operating losses as described by Forbes are not all inclusive.

 

I might also point out that running their minor league operations cost alot more than $9 million year. Beside player costs you have roving instructors, coaches, minor league scouts, god the list is endless. They probably spent that much just signing players in last year's draft. Volstad, $1.6 million, Thompson $1.225 million, Marceaux $1 mil, Sean West $775k plus eight semesters of college tuition, Harvey $575k, plus 20 other kids drafted and signed.

 

As I said above, I know I'm not going to change your POV, but at least consider the alternative.

I have considered it, but based on the only evidence we've been afforded at all it's hard to grasp the notion that the team suffers ten digit losses every fiscal year. It's hard to ignore the fact that the books aren't opened, which is fault not of the team but of Major League Baseball. But I guess it wouldn't be a good idea now, after the "we're broke build us a stadium" excuse worked in other cities, for MLB to open the books and say this is how much the Marlins are losing.

 

Though, you'd think that since Congress watches over MLB supposedly (Sherman Anti-Trust laws and all that fine stuff no one but me cares about), that they as speakers for the public would demand publicly viewable figures in return for the ability to be the only baseball league around. I have much work to do.

Yummy.

 

Still believe the team lost 8 figures last year?

 

 

I don't have enough information either way, but a decrease of tens of millions of dollars in payroll combined with an increase of 8 figures due to the Expos could easily turn a loss of 10m+ into a profit.

Which IS NOT A BAD THING, unless you feel that profit belongs to you in a good product or cheaper prices or better service, not the owners who very well might use it to secure a stadium in South Florida.

Yummy.

 

Still believe the team lost 8 figures last year?

 

 

I don't have enough information either way, but a decrease of tens of millions of dollars in payroll combined with an increase of 8 figures due to the Expos could easily turn a loss of 10m+ into a profit.

Which IS NOT A BAD THING, unless you feel that profit belongs to you in a good product or cheaper prices or better service, not the owners who very well might use it to secure a stadium in South Florida.

 

Not claiming it is a bad thing, only that the fact that the team stands to profit next year does not mean that previous claims of losses are untrue.

Yummy.

 

Still believe the team lost 8 figures last year?

 

I don't have enough information either way, but a decrease of tens of millions of dollars in payroll combined with an increase of 8 figures due to the Expos could easily turn a loss of 10m+ into a profit.

Which IS NOT A BAD THING, unless you feel that profit belongs to you in a good product or cheaper prices or better service, not the owners who very well might use it to secure a stadium in South Florida.

Not claiming it is a bad thing, only that the fact that the team stands to profit next year does not mean that previous claims of losses are untrue.

I didn't mean to imply that you did. I'd argue that this offseason's restructuring are the reason they stand to make a profit (however large or small) and that the reasons behind their previous claims (however true in your, my, their, their accountants' or lenders' eyes) are every bit as real as they were years and an owner ago.