Baseball season is reaching the final stretch and there are still 10 teams that are in the playoff chase. Out of those 10 teams (being the Yankees, Rays, Twins, Rangers, Phillies, Braves, Reds, Giants, Rockies, and Padres), only 3 of them (NY, Philly, and Atlanta) have a payroll over $80 Million. Meanwhile, 4 of them (Tampa, Minny, Colorado, and San Diego) have a payroll sub-$73 million. You may be wondering, why am I bringing up team's payrolls, and I had to to set up my question:
With the playoffs just a few weeks away, who do you think has more pressure on themselves in the playoffs, the Big Market teams, or the Small Market teams?
I really do think this is an interesting question, because you could go either way and it would be tough to argue against it.
There is a lot of pressure on the Big Markets, simply because they have the most money and, in turn, should have the best players. Fans expect them to compete each and every year for a title because of their lofty salaries and having a hold of the 'best' players. If they don't make it far, their season, more or less, is considered a disappointment.
However, a Small Market team has a lot of pressure on themselves as well. Due to their low income, postseason appearances aren't a promise year in year out like the big market teams. This may be their only chance, and if they don't win it now, they might not get another chance for a while, simply because of their players becoming free agents and going to the big markets for more money.
So, do you think the Big Markets have more pressure because of their lofty expectations each and every year? Or do you think the Small Markets do because of their limited opportunites at the postseason?
I'd say Smaller, just for the fact that you can't always promise that they'll be back next year. For teams like Boston and NY, if you miss it one year, you're almost a guarantee to make it back there within the next 2-3 years, at worst. However, a small market team like the Astros, who made the 2005 World Series, hasn't made it back since.
And here's my source for the Teams payroll, which was from the beginning of this season: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-a-large-market-team-mlb-market-size-rankings.
With the playoffs just a few weeks away, who do you think has more pressure on themselves in the playoffs, the Big Market teams, or the Small Market teams?
I really do think this is an interesting question, because you could go either way and it would be tough to argue against it.
There is a lot of pressure on the Big Markets, simply because they have the most money and, in turn, should have the best players. Fans expect them to compete each and every year for a title because of their lofty salaries and having a hold of the 'best' players. If they don't make it far, their season, more or less, is considered a disappointment.
However, a Small Market team has a lot of pressure on themselves as well. Due to their low income, postseason appearances aren't a promise year in year out like the big market teams. This may be their only chance, and if they don't win it now, they might not get another chance for a while, simply because of their players becoming free agents and going to the big markets for more money.
So, do you think the Big Markets have more pressure because of their lofty expectations each and every year? Or do you think the Small Markets do because of their limited opportunites at the postseason?
I'd say Smaller, just for the fact that you can't always promise that they'll be back next year. For teams like Boston and NY, if you miss it one year, you're almost a guarantee to make it back there within the next 2-3 years, at worst. However, a small market team like the Astros, who made the 2005 World Series, hasn't made it back since.
And here's my source for the Teams payroll, which was from the beginning of this season: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-a-large-market-team-mlb-market-size-rankings.