The Gap Between Rich and Poor
Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:30 pm
With the recent salary adjustments in PureSim, I decided to compare my 2005 association with real-life MLB at that time.
Highest payroll MLB 2005: NY Yankees ($205.9 mil)
Highest payroll PS 2005: NY Yankees ($135.7 mil)
Lowest payroll MLB: Tampa Bay ($29.9 mil)
Lowest payroll PS: Kansas City ($52.4 mil)
Team payrolls >$100 mil MLB: 3
Team payrolls >$100 mil PS: 10
Highest player salary MLB: Alex Rodriguez ($25.7 mil)
Highest player salary PS: several players/pitchers ($23 mil)
In PS, A-Rod's salary is $21.85 mil.
All things considered, I don't think that PS does a bad job at comparative payrolls. The actual team treasuries are a matter of conjecture, but I'd think the differentials are much wider than the scale in PS. However, Shaun has stated that he wishes to keep some sort of competitive balance between small and large-market teams.
Some folks have complained that high-salaried FAs often remain unbid for between seasons, but perhaps there's a designed fudge factor involved. In other words, perhaps small-market teams in PS prefer to keep a larger cash reserve than the large-market teams. Otherwise, perhaps there's a built-in limit to payroll increases from one season to the next, even if the cash is available. I haven't been able to test this for myself yet. We DO know, though, that teams will occasionally resort to "dumping salary" as the trade deadline approaches.
Overall, the game's financial model has improved considerably over the last few iterations, to the point where a "baseball conservative" such as yours truly will actually use it. If nothing else, it IS kinda cool to balance one's checkbook when the account holds millions of dollars. One more thing -- as a tax auditor in real life, it would also be cool if cash reserves could accumulate interest from one year to the next. In this fashion, keeping a low payroll would actually earn financial rewards from season to season, apart from treasury increases due to inflation. Remember, folks, baseball is a business as well as a game. [:D]
Highest payroll MLB 2005: NY Yankees ($205.9 mil)
Highest payroll PS 2005: NY Yankees ($135.7 mil)
Lowest payroll MLB: Tampa Bay ($29.9 mil)
Lowest payroll PS: Kansas City ($52.4 mil)
Team payrolls >$100 mil MLB: 3
Team payrolls >$100 mil PS: 10
Highest player salary MLB: Alex Rodriguez ($25.7 mil)
Highest player salary PS: several players/pitchers ($23 mil)
In PS, A-Rod's salary is $21.85 mil.
All things considered, I don't think that PS does a bad job at comparative payrolls. The actual team treasuries are a matter of conjecture, but I'd think the differentials are much wider than the scale in PS. However, Shaun has stated that he wishes to keep some sort of competitive balance between small and large-market teams.
Some folks have complained that high-salaried FAs often remain unbid for between seasons, but perhaps there's a designed fudge factor involved. In other words, perhaps small-market teams in PS prefer to keep a larger cash reserve than the large-market teams. Otherwise, perhaps there's a built-in limit to payroll increases from one season to the next, even if the cash is available. I haven't been able to test this for myself yet. We DO know, though, that teams will occasionally resort to "dumping salary" as the trade deadline approaches.
Overall, the game's financial model has improved considerably over the last few iterations, to the point where a "baseball conservative" such as yours truly will actually use it. If nothing else, it IS kinda cool to balance one's checkbook when the account holds millions of dollars. One more thing -- as a tax auditor in real life, it would also be cool if cash reserves could accumulate interest from one year to the next. In this fashion, keeping a low payroll would actually earn financial rewards from season to season, apart from treasury increases due to inflation. Remember, folks, baseball is a business as well as a game. [:D]