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Ok, so I'm trying an association with financials/free agency on. Everyone knows that PS places teams fairly evenly in available money. I'm starting in 1990, so the finances are at 91% of today's levels.

The actual 2008 payrolls were released today, and the discrepancies are astounding. The Yankees have a team payoll of $209 million. The Marlins: $21 million. One player (A-Rod) makes more than the entire Florida roster. [X(]

In any case, what can you financial moguls offer me at tips in handling a 105-million dollar payroll? Before the first pitch of my first season, I offered extensions to my must-keep players. I was somewhat successful at this, locking in Barry Bonds for 4 years (he wouldn't accept a 5 year deal). I have P Doug Drabek (remember, he was the NL Cy Young Winner in 1990) for 5 years. The Bucs still have $56 million in the treasury.

I was tempted to change each team's available finances to the actual 1990 figures, but decided to go with the default geographical-based amounts.

One personal observation: with finances ON, my GM/field manager roles are now clearly defined. That, I suppose, is a good thing. I am forced into adopting a long-term strategy for success, which leads to the one bad thing: I gotta think about the off-the-field numbers, and deal with free agency. This concerns me.

Any advice? Remember, I jumped from the reserve clause era to the 90s.

Any advice? Remember, I jumped from the reserve clause era to the 90s

If anybody can handle this you can !! [;)]

Locking up Bonds and Drabek is a major start

p.s. I sent you a pm on my possible shift

see ya my friend, maybe a tele this weekend or tonite around 800 my time ??

pm me

KG,
 
I remember hearing a news story perhaps last year, or the one before, where A-Rod could be considered the 24th highest paid TEAM in baseball. In other words, his salary was greater than a handful of other teams' entire payroll.
 
Something is so very wrong about that.
 
 

KG,
 
On a more serious note, to ensure that the teams come even close to how they performed in the years to come, changing their payroll is critical and unavoidable. In 2011, my Marlins (started in 2006) have a total payroll of $272.5-million, and that's right in the middle, the 15th highest. Seriously now. Are you kidding me? No WONDER we're competitive.
 
The first year things mirror real life quite well, our record was about 4 wins/losses off their actual 2006 standing. As the following years came and went, the teams' higher payrolls granted team much greater flexibility in the free agent market, moreso than they actually did. I know that I should have made the change, but I felt that keeping the team "genuine" for the first couple of years, updating all minor leagues to reflect each team's actual A, AA and AAA clubs, updating stadiums and logos, as well as player faces, was more than enough. I wanted to friggin' play already!
 
Anyway, that's just my opinion. I welcome yours.

Thanks for your insights, FS. I DID make one change in 1990, and that was incorporating all the new ballparks. "The smell of the grass".

As for the money, it's too early to tell, as I don't know if Shaun made any finance changes in 1.71.

For me, it boils down to this: the Pirates had their last shot at glory 16 years ago, but couldn't keep Bonds, Bonilla etc. in Pittsburgh due to money problems. In PS, everybody has a competitive shot, so I'll simply assume that revenue sharing is a reality. Think about it: the real-life situation is beyond ridiculous, so to hell with that. Otherwise, I'd probably chuck the idea of using financials, or return to the 40s & 50s.

I really won't know until I come to the post-season FA period, and that's still a long way off.

I have much to say about player salaries vs the idea of "team loyalty", but I won't go into "preaching/ranting mode" at this point. Suffice it to say that, like it or not, the business model/economics aspect of the game is here to stay. Managing a baseball team today does involve accounting principles. [;)]