You Can’t Buy a World Series

Here is a list of the big and not so big spenders and how their 2008 MLB season has turned out.

As usuall the New York Yankees have been the big spenders dishing out over $200,000,000 to end the season 8 games short of the playoffs and with .586 winning average.

The Detroit Tigers were another cash cow for this years season with a distant second to the Yankees with a $138,685,197 season.  The Tigers ended their season in last place in the AL Central.  

American League

Anaheim Angels – $119,216,333 – Finished with 100 wins and the best record in baseball to be knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

Chicago White Sox – $121,152,667 – Made the playoffs by the skin of their tobacco stained teeth by beating out the $62,182,767 Minnesota Twins.  They were beaten in the first round and ended a 89 win season.

Boston Red Sox – $133,440,037 – The Red Sox being last years World Champions were a favorite again this year.  They got the wild card in the toughest division in baseball with a 95 game winning season.  They were beat in game seven of the American League Champion Series.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays – $43,820,598 – The Devil Rays are definately an under dog in the AL East but they proved to be a top contender for the 2008 MLB season finishing in September with a 97 game winning season.  The Rays are still proving to be the best as they enter this years World Series.

National League

Chicago Cubs – $118,595,833 – May have been this years biggest let down once again after taking the NL Central with a 97 game winning season.  They were knocked out in the first round by a sweep for the second straight year.

Milwaukee Brewers – $81,004,167 – The Brewers grabbed the NL wild card out from under the third highest payrolled team the New York Mets. They lost their chance in the first round as well.

Los Angeles Dodgers – $118,536,038 – With a late surge after aquiring a certain M. Ramirez the Dodgers took the usually weak NL West division to beat out the cubs in the first round.  The $18,000,000 Ramirez did a lot but not enough to get them past the NL Champion Series.

Philadelphia Phillies – $98,269,881 – The Philies ended September with a 93 game winning season and a hot streak for the 2008 playoffs.  Philadelphia is in the World Series against the second lowest paid team The Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Some other teams that spent over $100,000,000 that did not make the playoffs are the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals.

I don’t know who is going to win the World Series this year but I will say that my money is on the underdog.

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