SMALL MARKET EMAIL QUESTION
Bryan,
As a Dodgers fan it's interesting to hear what fans of small market teams have to say about the topic of competitive balance in Major League Baseball. What do you think of the success of Oakland and Minnesota, two teams that are "small market" but have maintained success for the past few seasons.

Ray
Los Angeles

Thanks for the email, Ray. Watching Oakland and Minnesota succeed is kind of like a double-edged sword. I think many fans of other small-market teams like Milwaukee, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Montreal (well okay they don't have fans) might share this feeling. On one hand, it's great to see a team that is strapped for cash winning because it gives you hope, but at the same time it sucks because you fear that it might set back a stronger salary cap or something because people will always say "look at ____. They are successful and they have the 28th payroll in baseball". It's kind of like when you see an ugly guy with a really hot girl. Part of you thinks "if he can get somebody like her, so can I" but the other part of you thinks "damn it, I hate him" because you're jealous.

It is possible to have success with a low payroll, Oakland and Minnesota are definitely examples of that. I do think, however, that it is bad for the sport to have player movement so rampant. When it's an 11th pitcher or utility infielder switching teams it's not that big of a deal, but when it is a star player (Jason Giambi, Richie Sexson, Brian Giles) it alienates fans and creates a negative environment around the entire sport.

My feelings on the salary structure of Major League Baseball is that something has to be done. I don't think I'd like to see a "hard cap" like the NFL has, but maybe something similar to the NBA's salary structure.