Honestly, the only teams who have any legit gripe/excuse regarding the Yankees/Sox/Payroll argument are the Orioles, Blue Jays and Rays. The salary cap situation should never be used as a reason why the Astros don't have a good shot considering that they don't have to compete for those playoffs spots in the AL. Not to mention the Cardinals have a lower payroll than the Astros and still whip them in the division. Furthermore, the Angels didn't became a payroll "powerhouse" until the last 3 years or so when Moreno took over the team. When they won in 2002 they were not a powerhouse by any stretch.
it's just not often done in football. wild card teams advance to the WS more times than not in baseball. in the NFL - only 9 wild card teams have advanced to the Super Bowl since 1970. since 1997, we've had 4 World Series Champs come from the wild card spot....and 9 wild card teams advance to the World Series. any team can win any one game with more frequency than any other sport. the pirates can beat the dodgers or cardinals on any given night, and no one thinks twice of it. baseball carries with it so much luck...so much beyond your control. hit the ball hard....where it goes...who knows?? so much comes down to your pitcher.
Absolutely Max. The idea that baseball lacks parity or that the middle market teams can't compete with teams like the Yankees and Red Sox is a myth. It's a myth that is often perpetuated by small and mid market owners as well though to mask their failures. Drayton is a salary cap proponent and has hinted it would help the Astros be more competitive, yet the team that is trouncing him in the standings spends significantly less on their payroll than he does.
More like will we win a CHAMPIONSHIP before 2020 ? sound long but is only 10yrs ....... our last championship is already 15yrs ago!
The thing is the number of different teams winning it doesn't determine how easy it is because the NBA has been ruled by Jordan, Magic, Shaq and Duncan for so many of those years but there all gone or on the decline. NFL same theory now I will say that it appears that the Dynastys may be returning in the Pats, Steelers and maybe the Giants so this might change my thought process up a bit but I want to see those big boys play out the season before jumping on the bandwagon. You need to exclude everything prior to 94 because it was a different playoff format as it was a gride back in those days to get in the playoffs just ask the 94 Giants. since 95 who has won the title... Braves, MArlins, Yanks 96, 98-2000, Dbacks, Angels, Marlins, RSox, WSox, Cards, Rsox and Phillies. 8 different teams out of 32...
I disagree with this, of course I think the Rox are the closest. And I don't think they will have to rebuild to do it. We have a lot of good young players and with Tracy coming back hopefully getting some quality PT to show he's still got some we can use him ass trade bait to some of the basement teams thinking they're going to make a run this year but start to fall short. We also have Yao that could come back this year if anything will come back next year and make us serious contenders once again. As has been stated all that we need is that H word and if it wasn't for that who knows how far last year's squad could have taken us.
Agreed but playoff formats have changed over time plus factor in TV money and how many middle market teams have won a title since TV money became an issue or the playoff format expanded? Not just reach the series but actually WIN.
7 teams in the NBA, which has always been dominated by dynasties. Always dominated by superstars. 11 teams in the NFL.
1. the modified playoff formats allow MORE teams in with MORE chance to advance. i don't understand your point. 2. the white sox, angels, cardinals, marlins (2x), diamondbacks, and phillies
If we were just talking about the Rays, Orioles, and Blue Jays only, then you would be absolutely right. Championships are not bought. Big market teams absolutely have an advantage, but it hasn't stopped other teams from competing for championships. And just because these teams spends money doesn't mean they won't suck eventually(see Astros, Mets, Mariners, Cubs).
The rockets are the best run team imo. They have the best shot. I just don't see the astros winning any time soon with the way they have been handeling their signings and trades. The Texans...... I don't think anything needs to be said
Phillies in 2008 had a payroll of Phillies $98,269,881 not middle market! White Sox in 2005 had a payroll of $75,178,000 BORDERLINE middle market. Cards in 2006 had a payroll of $88,891,371 not middle market. Dbacks in 2001 had a payroll of $81,206,513 not really middle market because they where top 7 in the league that year. By allowing 8 teams in stead of 4 it does allow more teams to get in but also more higher payroll teams to get in from the same Division as before only of those teams would get in. e.g. Sox/Yanks
short answer: the texans are the closest simply by virtue of currently being the farthest. there is nothing more obstructive to the quest for greatness than sustained mediocrity and the delusions it perpetuates. this is what plagues the rockets and texans.
The Phils were not a mid market team with that payroll...you're right. The Cardinals were 11th in payroll in 2006. The White Sox were 13th in payroll in 2005 DBacks were 8th in 2001...that's in the top quarter, so i'm with you on them not being a mid-market team. But I think the distinction you're drawing of advancing vs. winning is kinda silly. In baseball, any team can win any given series. Again, just have your pitchers catch fire and the most average clubs can take a series from the very best squads. The fact that so many mid-market teams keep advancing to the WS can't be shrugged off by simply saying, "yeah, but they didn't win it!" Particularly when you consider the frequency of wild card teams (often mid-market clubs) advancing to the WS.
agreed entirely....doesn't that mean the astros are the closest though?? i'm not sure i'd agree with that necessarily the astros are closest.... but i'm in complete agreement that the rockets and texans are deluded thinking that, as currently comprised, they're a legit threat... i don't think astros management thinks that anymore...i think they did for too long. but i doubt that will be the case any longer.
