08-06-2009, 10:35 AM
<!--quoteo(post=56026:date=Aug 5 2009, 09:32 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Aug 5 2009, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Whoa, whoa, whoa. One thing, Kabes: the Cards don't compete "year in and year out" on "half" the Cubs budget. For one thing, it is only in recent years that the Cubs have started consistently out-spending the Cards. For another, the Cardinals have always been relatively big spenders in the NL Central. For still another, it's never ever been "half" of what the Cubs spend.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not only that, but define "compete". Last year, we outspent the Cardinals by 18 million dollars. And we finished 11.5 games ahead of them. 2007 I think the disparity in payroll was less, and we finished 7 games ahead of them (the Cardinals with their 100 million dollar payroll finished under .500). In 2006, they won 83 games (admittedly they won the WS, but another semi competent team in the Central would have kept them from even making the playoffs in a normal year).
The Cardinals are not wizards. They have not won more than 86 games since 2005, despite having the greatest player of our generation playing in his prime. They've had a number of reclamation projects blossom under them (Carpenter, Ankiel, Piniero, Wellemeyer, Ludwick, any number of "gritty" middle infielders) which is to their credit, but let's not pretend that everything they've touched turns to gold. Any team with Pujols and Carpenter SHOULD be fucking good.
Not only that, but define "compete". Last year, we outspent the Cardinals by 18 million dollars. And we finished 11.5 games ahead of them. 2007 I think the disparity in payroll was less, and we finished 7 games ahead of them (the Cardinals with their 100 million dollar payroll finished under .500). In 2006, they won 83 games (admittedly they won the WS, but another semi competent team in the Central would have kept them from even making the playoffs in a normal year).
The Cardinals are not wizards. They have not won more than 86 games since 2005, despite having the greatest player of our generation playing in his prime. They've had a number of reclamation projects blossom under them (Carpenter, Ankiel, Piniero, Wellemeyer, Ludwick, any number of "gritty" middle infielders) which is to their credit, but let's not pretend that everything they've touched turns to gold. Any team with Pujols and Carpenter SHOULD be fucking good.
I wish that I believed in Fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.