Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.
Week 22 is here and we have a new #1: the Tampa Bay Rays! It was looking like the Yankees were a real threat in the A.L. West after their 13 game winning streak, but after getting within 4 games of first place, a 4 game losing streak combined with a Tampa Bay surge (9 wins in a row) leaves them 8 games back and down to a 6.7% chance to win the division after peaking at 31.7% a few days ago (according to FanGraphs). At 84-48, the Rays have matched the Giants for the best record in baseball despite sporting the 5th lowest payroll in baseball at $70.1 million. That’s $865K per win so far this year. San Francisco checks in at 10th with $161.6 million in spending ($1.924 million/win).
More teams outperforming their payrolls include Cleveland (last at $48.9 million, 18th in wins at 65, an even better ratio than the Rays ratio at $752K per win), Seattle (25th at $82.0, and 71 win (12th), which is $1.155 million/win) and Oakland (21st in payroll at $88.9 million, 9th in wins at 73, and a ratio of $1.218 million per win). Milwaukee also does well with 81 wins (4th) on $97.3 million in payroll (19th) for $1.201 million/win. Teams spending the most per win this year aren’t too surprising; the big market teams have very rich television contracts and charge the most for game tickets, so they can afford to be more profligate spenders. The worst offenders as far as $/win are listed below:
Boston Red Sox: $182.4 million in payroll (6th highest) and 75 wins (8th); ratio of $2.432 million/win
Chicago Cubs: $143.4 million (14th highest) and 58 wins (24th); ratio of $2.472 million/win
N.Y. Yankees: $203.1 million (2nd highest) and 76 wins (7th); ratio of $2.672 million/win.
Washington Nationals: $147.7 million (12th highest) and 55 wins (25th); ratio of $2.69 million/win
Philadelphia Phillies: $183.8 million (5th highest) and 68 wins (15th); ratio of $2.703 million/win
L.A. Angels: $179.9 million (7th highest) and 66 wins (17th); ratio of $2.726 million/win
New York Mets: $198.1 million (3rd highest) and 65 wins (19th); ratio of $3.048 million/win
L.A. Dodgers: $267.0 million (highest by a mile) and 84 wins (tied for the most); ratio of $3.179 million/win
Somehow, the Dodgers have the worst ratio despite having the most wins. They also reported losing $125 million last year due to lack of fan attendance (they grossed $185 million in ticket sales alone in 2019) and reduced television revenue, but hey, they won the World Series and are FanGraphs’ favorite this year (22.6% chance of winning it all), which shows you can buy a championship as long as ownership doesn’t mind losing money.
The Tigers are spending $85.4 million this year, which is 23rd highest, and have 62 wins, which is 20th, for a ratio of $1.377/win. Not terrible, but this last week sure has been. Only one win against 5 losses, and Detroit has once again forgotten how to score. Just 2.5 runs/game in the last 10, although some great pitching has resulted in 4 wins during that stretch (only giving up 2.4 per game during that same stretch until the A’s put 9 on them last night, pushing the average to a still very respectable 3.1). Hopefully it’s just a blip with the bats while at the same time sign of development for the young pitching staff. Let’s see if the hitters can bounce back next week.
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