Sports FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2013 Low-spending teams get chance in MLB playoffs NEW YORK: Baseball’s playoffs no longer St. Louis 11th at $119.3 million and light already are home. Missing out along and whether we win or lose won’t have any- are an exclusive club of high rollers. Cincinnati 13th at $113.3 million. But half with the Yankees were Philadelphia (fourth thing to do with money.” Revenue sharing Pittsburgh, 26th among the 30 teams with a the playoff teams are from the bottom 50 at $166.2 million), the Los Angeles Angels came in with the labor agreement in 1997, $73.6 million payroll, rolled past Cincinnati percent in spending, with the A’s, Rays, (sixth at $143.4 million), defending champi- two years after the end of a strike that wiped on Tuesday night and into an NL division- Pirates and Indians joined by Atlanta (16th on San Francisco (seventh at $141.3 million), out the World Series for the first time in nine series matchup against St Louis. Oakland, at $95.3 million). Increased revenue sharing Texas (eighth at $134.5 million) and Toronto decades. Revenue sharing was boosted 27th on the spending list at $71.1 million has helped. But a team must make good (ninth at $125.9 million). Oakland, again in the 2002 labor deal, when a tougher according to Major League Baseball’s latest draft picks and be prudent with contracts Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have found suc- luxury tax was agreed to. figures, won the AL West and faces Detroit. and clever with trades. cess with youth. Only Houston ($29.3 mil- That tax has gotten stiffer, and in 2011 And Tampa Bay, 28th at $65.6 million, plays “I think that the playing field is not level, lion) and Miami $42.3 million had lower pay- players agreed to restraints on bonuses for the wild-card game on Wednesday night never will be. But we as the Pittsburgh rolls than the Rays, and they jettisoned vet- amateur draft picks and international sign- against Cleveland, 21st at $88.6 million. Pirates have committed ourselves to never erans in favor of young players. ings. “I took a lot of criticism back in those “We’ve created things that have really using that as an excuse,” controlling owner While they endured terrible seasons - the days,” Selig said. “Is it worth it now? You bet helped our sport. They’ve really helped us in Bob Nutting said just before the team’s first Astros were 51-111 and the Marlins 62-100 it is. Because I knew we were doing the right a myriad of ways,” Commissioner Bud Selig postseason appearance since 1992. “Is it eas- they hope a young core will transform into a things.” Rays manager Joe Maddon thinks said with pride Tuesday. “The economics - ier to build a great club with $200 million contender in a few years. “If you place that there’s another factor at play: drug testing. they were archaic. I used to joke that we than with $75-$80 million? Absolutely. But I type of faith in them, a lot of times they’ll With fewer players using performance- were still in back in the Ebbets Field-Polo believe, have always believed and will con- come through for you,” said Athletics man- enhancing drugs since testing began in Grounds days. What I call the reformation of tinue to believe, that we can be competitive ager Bob Melvin, who works under Billy 2003, there are fewer oversized sluggers the economic system certainly created a lot at that level. We need to make different Beane, the general manager who made with oversized statistics who bulk up their of this, there is no question.” Sure, some of decisions. We need to make smart deci- “Moneyball” famous. Cleveland manager salaries in the free-agent market. the big spenders found their way into sions.” Terry Francona has seen the dollar divide “I thought that the elimination of PEDs in October. The Los Angeles Dodgers raised Parity has increased markedly. No team from both sides. He led the large-market Red the game permits teams with lower payrolls their spending to $236.8 million during the has won consecutive World Series since the Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, to compete and win.” he said. Salary may be season and are currently about $100,000 New York Yankees took three in a row from and then took over the more-limited Indians the key figure from November to February, behind the Yankees. (Final figures may 1998-2000. Half of the 30 teams have made last fall. but once players are on the field, pitching change depending on award bonuses and the expanded playoffs in the past two years. “Once the game starts, dollar signs go out and execution usually matter most. “Any revisions). Twenty-one have reached postseason play the window,” he said. “It’s more helpful in team can beat any another team on any giv- Despite a No 1 payroll, the Yankees fin- in the last five, and every club except Kansas the winter when you’re trying to sign guys, en day,” Oakland catcher Derek Norris said. ished tied for third in the AL East following City and Toronto has appeared in the play- but I’ve immensely enjoyed this team and “It could be a guy making minimum versus a an injury-filled season. Boston is third at offs over the past 13 seasons. that has nothing to do with money. It’s the guy making $30 million, that guy making $174.1 million, Detroit fifth at $153.4 million, Many accustomed to the October spot- characters and the character on this team, minimum can still beat him.”—AP Bourdy proud Cobb, Rays roll 4-0 over to fly the flag Indians in AL wild card for France CLEVELAND: The Tampa Bay Rays’ road PARIS: French number one Gregory Bourdy gets his first taste show rolls on. Next stop: Boston. Alex of a major team tournament when the Seve Trophy tees off Cobb dodged trouble for nearly seven yesterday and with it a chance to lay down a marker for next innings and the Rays pitched their way to year’s Ryder Cup team. The 31-year-old from Bordeaux is shap- another must-have win on the road, beat- ing up as only the third ever French representative to play at ing the Cleveland Indians 4-0 Wednesday the Ryder Cup and first since Thomas Levet in 2004 and says it night in the AL wild-card game. Cobb, who is an honor to play in the tournament which bears the name of missed a chunk of the regular season after the late Spanish legend. he was hit in the head by a line drive, qui- “Its the first time I’ve played the Seve Trophy. Like Miguel eted a thundering Cleveland crowd and (Angel Jimenez), it’s a big honor to be in the team and I’m very ended the Indians’ unexpected season. proud to be in that team because it’s in the name of Seve. “He “Can’t put into words the appreciation I was an amazing player and I watched him many times when I have celebrating on this field,” Cobb said. was young on TV. I met him once and I will remember that “I knew how close it was to not coming moment for a long time. “He was very different, even when he back. Sitting on the couch watching these was at the end of his career. I saw him at the Spanish Open and games, I knew we had a good chance. We I’ve never seen another player with the charisma like his, or his have a great team. I was going to do talent with the ball.” Bourdy teams up with Dutch rookie Joost everything I could to get back and be a Luiten in the penultimate match of five foursomes yesterday’s part of it.” Delmon Young homered in the opening day at the Saint-Nom-La-Breteche golf club and also third inning off rookie Danny Salazar as paid tribute to his European captain Jose Maria Olazabal. “I’m the Rays, playing in their third city over CLEVELAND: Fernando Rodney #56, Evan Longoria #3, and Jose Molina #28 of the proud to be here and to have a captain like Jose Maria is also a four days, advanced to face the AL East Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians 4-0 in the big honor for me because he’s a friend of mine and he’s helpful champion Red Sox in the division series American League Wild Card game at Progressive Field on October 2, 2013. — AFP for me. “He’s a great champion, one of the best we have in starting Friday. Europe, he’s a simple man and very kind with everybody,” “I felt like we’ve done it and been here dropped to one knee, pointed skyward greeted with a high-five from Price. “The added Bourdy who has eight career wins to his name and four before,” said Desmond Jennings, who hit a and soon was mobbed by all the Rays, adrenaline was going pretty fast there in on the European Tour. “He’s also like Seve, a special one and two-run double. “The road we took to get who may be a little homesick but are the early going,” Cobb said. “Once Delmon I’m very proud to be in his team,” he said.