Thursday, February 27, 1997
COMMENTARY:
Earnings of one player rise at expense of entire teamOk, let me see if I've got this straight.... A few years back the San Francisco Giants let Will Clark walk away (marched him out of town might be a more applicable term) supposedly because they couldn't afford to keep him. Last off-season, they shipped sweet-fielding shortstop Royce Clayton to St. Louis for a couple of less than spectacular pitching prospects, as well as for salary reasons. Finally, this year, they traded Gold-Gloved and Roger Maris-chasing third baseman Matt Williams to the Indians. While they received two probable starters in return (starters only because the Giants have no one better), a major factor in the deal must have been San Francisco's unwillingness to commit so much money to one player.
"You have to understand," the Giants' brass seemed to constantly plead: "We're simply doing what we can to stay afloat in a market with a wide range of other entertainment options. And don't forget, the Bay Area is the smallest two-team market in baseball."
"Just wait," they'd say. "In a few seasons we'll have our brand new, baseball-only stadium, and the money will come rolling in. Then we'll be able to afford higher-priced players."
This line of argument persisted up until last week, when the Giants abruptly announced Barry Bonds' new contract extension that gave him the highest average salary in baseball.
Huh?
I have no problem with Bonds being the highest paid player in the game; for my money the guy's the best player out there. A Hall of Fame-er, a Gold Glove outfielder, a constant home run and stolen base threat, the kind of guy that starts pitchers' knees knocking when they see him in the on-deck circle.
But how can the Giants justify giving one player a raise, while simultaneously shipping the rest of their players out of town because they supposedly can't afford them?
Clark, Clayton, and Williams were not the exception, they were the rule. Bonds and closer Rod Beck are the only remaining pieces of the 1993 team that missed the playoffs by one game, after losing on the last day of the season. Given the expanded playoffs and the coinciding realignment that followed that season, the Giants would have not only made the playoffs, but also would have won the Brave-less NL West.
They never got the chance. The financially inspired break-up started that off-season, as first baseman Clark (Texas), starting pitchers John Burkett (Florida, Texas) and Billy Swift (Colorado), and set-up man Mike Jackson (Cincinnati, Seattle) were allowed to leave via free agency.
A year later, they sent center fielder Darren Lewis (a man who once went several seasons between fielding errors), and pitchers Mark Portugal and Jeff Brantley to the Reds for "Neon" Deion Sanders (who they never re-signed) and (you guessed it) a couple of doubtful pitching prospects.
They traded Clayton before the '96 season and let right fielder Willie McGee walk. Both went to the Cardinals.
Since leaving, all of these players have seen post-season action. Since dumping them, the Giants haven't. San Francisco has finished last in the relatively tame NL West the past two seasons and look to do so again this year.
In light of this scenario, the team's solution was to pay Bonds more money. Hardly what you would call sound thinking.
So, have no fear, Dodger fans, there will be no competition from the north anytime soon. That is, unless Fred Claire raises Mike Piazza's salary above Bonds'. Then, look out.
Kariakin is a Daily Bruin columnist. He can be reached by e-mail at rkariakin@media.ucla.edu.