Time for Fans to Step Up

[crisper57]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...9arizona-diamondbacks-payroll-rises-2012.html

So it looks like the D-Backs are entering the season with payroll $15 million over budget. It means there is a very real chance that by trying to build a winner, they may lose money. As a fan, that is a strong signal to get really excited. Basically, they are gambling that the moves they made will pay for themselves with wins and increased attendance.

I am not so sure that is a safe bet in this town. Even if the D-Backs are winning consistently, they would have to increase revenues by 24% to cover the equivalent spike in player expenses. That's a big jump, especially in a town with pitiful summer tourism and an exodus of locals escaping the heat.

So if this team does what we think it will, which is win a ton of games, we need to do our part and show management that this town will support a winner. Otherwise, I fear this will be the last time that Kendrick will stop acting like a Colangelo and start acting like a Sarver.

 

[Dback Jon]

I am going to do my part

 

[Chris_Sanders]

As will I!

 

[jwmann2]

Great post. That's what it really comes down to, attendance. Look at the payroll of the Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals and Red Sox and then look at their attendances. In the same boat with Dbacks is the Marlins who are forecasting increased ticket sales to support their payroll. It's a big gamble.

 

[kps0001]

I am gonna buy a 28 game pack this year. Pretty excited.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I plan on going to a bunch of games this year.

 

[Gaddabout]

Dadgum. Can I buy tickets then bitch about how they spent too much money in a stupid way?

 

[crisper57]

Dadgum. Can I buy tickets then bitch about how they spent too much money in a stupid way?

Only after the fact, when hindsight is 20/20.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I'm in and will do my fair share!

 

[Gaddabout]

Only after the fact, when hindsight is 20/20.

Is there any other kind?

 

[crisper57]

Is there any other kind?

Sure. You complain about the payroll now. I call you contrarian. We get into a big debate about what it means to be a "real" fan. Then the team goes out and proves one of us right and the other a blowhard.

Or does that only work on the Cards board?

 

[Gaddabout]

I call you contrarian

You think I'm a contrarian? I'm a rank amateur compared to Mulli, who's an all-star.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I go to 20 or so games every year, might only make 10 or so since I will "unfortunately" be working in San Diego this summer.

 

[Gaddabout]

I go to 20 or so games every year, might only make 10 or so since I will "unfortunately" be working in San Diego this summer.

Yeah, I'm not feeling sorry for you.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Dadgum. Can I buy tickets then bitch about how they spent too much money in a stupid way?

Curious to see your position on this, other than Kubel, not sure what else was particularly wasteful...

 

[azsportsfan01]

Curious to see your position on this, other than Kubel, not sure what else was particularly wasteful...

Bloomquist.

 

[Gaddabout]

Curious to see your position on this, other than Kubel, not sure what else was particularly wasteful...

Other than they're $15 million over budget and haven't acquired a legitimate 3rd baseman or figured out how to address the top of the order? Not much they've done so far has made a lot of baseball sense. Kubel makes no sense, Cahill is a head scratcher (and I wasn't a huge Parker fan, either). Glad they re-signed Montero, but they're going to end up paying for not giving him a long-term deal. I'm only holding out hope they'll (1) still be in the divisional race by July and (2) they're expecting to address it before the trade deadline.

Felt like this team didn't need a LOT of tweaking, but the tweaks they made don't add up to $15 million over budget, IMO, and they didn't address their most glaring problem.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Bloomquist.

He makes peanuts.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Other than they're $15 million over budget and haven't acquired a legitimate 3rd baseman or figured out how to address the top of the order?

Yeah, I guess it depends on how you view Roberts, I'm not sure of him as a long term option, but between Roberts/Drew/Willie/Ol McDonald, I'm OK with our depth at 2nd/3rd/SS. Unless I'm missing someone, it doesn't seem like there were great 3B options in FA.

Top of the order, between Drew/Hill/Young/Roberts, I think they should be able to find 2 that can hold down the 1-2 positions. Top to bottom, I anticipate we'll have one of the best offenses in the league.

Kubel makes no sense

I definitely thought Parra was ready to start everyday, and think Kubel takes away defensively as much as he adds with his bat. That being said, he does add depth at the position, some pop, and another lefty bat. I don't love his signing, but again it's only for 2 years.

Cahill is a head scratcher (and I wasn't a huge Parker fan, either).

See, I liked the Cahill trade. He's still very young, has pitched very well at times, is a ground ball pitcher and has a reasonable contract. He was pitching lights out last year until he was injured, and hopefully is back to 100%. Regardless, he's under team control for awhile, and I think he will be at worst, a good #3, at best a good #2.

Glad they re-signed Montero, but they're going to end up paying for not giving him a long-term deal. I'm only holding out hope they'll (1) still be in the divisional race by July and (2) they're expecting to address it before the trade deadline.

Yeah, Miggy is important not only as a popular clubhouse guy, but with superior offense at a non traditional position. I'd pay now, because his price tag is only going to go up.

 

[azsportsfan01]

He makes peanuts.

Not so much the money but the years. $2 mil isn't a ton but to waste a roster spot on him for 2 years is absurd. The second we signed John McDonald (a much better option for this team) we should have hung up the phone on Boras and moved on from Bloomquist.

 

[Gaddabout]

See, I liked the Cahill trade. He's still very young, has pitched very well at times, is a ground ball pitcher and has a reasonable contract. He was pitching lights out last year until he was injured, and hopefully is back to 100%. Regardless, he's under team control for awhile, and I think he will be at worst, a good #3, at best a good #2.

If Cahill proves his worth, I'll eat that crow with lots of catsup. Yummy.

 

[HooverDam]

Well hopefully this is a positive sign and means good things for D'backs attendance this year:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/dia...a-diamondbacks-fanfest-record-attendance.html

Record Crowd at FanFest

 

[overseascardfan]

Yeah, I guess it depends on how you view Roberts, I'm not sure of him as a long term option, but between Roberts/Drew/Willie/Ol McDonald, I'm OK with our depth at 2nd/3rd/SS. Unless I'm missing someone, it doesn't seem like there were great 3B options in FA.

A little expensive but Aramis Ramirez would have provided the pop at a position of need. Add $5M to Kubel's contract, we'd be $20M over budget but would have filled a need until we could acquire a young 3B via trade or draft.

 

[Lefty]

Buster Olney is predicting the Diamondbacks will play Tampa in this year's World Series.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

A little expensive but Aramis Ramirez would have provided the pop at a position of need. Add $5M to Kubel's contract, we'd be $20M over budget but would have filled a need until we could acquire a young 3B via trade or draft.

I would have been fine with that s well, although our #5 prospect, Matt Davidson is a 3b, and could take over next year. Considering we get pop out of the catcher position, and should have more at 1b this season, I'm not too worried about 3b, and Roberts isn't exactly chopped liver. We have far fewer holes offensively compared to the other teams in the division.