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Archive for the 'Business of Sports' Category

MLB Supports SOPA and That Should Bother You

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Having trouble using Wikipedia today? That’s because the online encyclopedia is participating in an “Internet blackout” in protest of two controversial anti-piracy bills: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). Reports indicate each has a good chance of being passed early this year. I think it’s important to understand this isn’t something falling [...]

Sensible Contracts for Hitters and Pitchers

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

In recent months I have discussed the dangers of long-term deals, specifically when it came to the Mets signing Jose Reyes. The years, more than the dollars, is usually the problem. Long-term contracts lead to teams paying premium dollars for players past their prime. The average annual value is often skewed because you have situations (see [...]

Who Would You Amnesty?

Friday, December 9th, 2011

I think we have done this exercise before, but in the spirit of the NBA being officially back, let’s do it again. The new CBA ratified by the owners and NBA players includes an amnesty clause. In short, teams can waive a player of their choice and stretch the payments out over twice the life [...]

Those That Matter Win in New CBA

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

I am a big proponent of the new MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement. There are goodies for the average player, expanded playoffs, and even roster flexibility for doubleheaders. Like with any deal there were tradeoffs, as teams are now going to have to draft and spend wiser on amateur talent. Just a day before the rumored [...]

New Labor Deal a Win for the Average Player

Monday, November 21st, 2011

According to reports, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached a preliminary agreement on a new five-year Basic Agreement and are expected to announce it tomorrow afternoon. This deal is rumored to include expanded playoffs, increase the minimum salary, HGH testing, a luxury tax on signing bonuses, and a change in draft pick [...]

MLB Should Invoke the Franchise Tag

Saturday, November 5th, 2011

The MLB free agency period is now upon us and much speculation has been written where the Big Three free agents of Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Jose Reyes will be headed next. But should players who have played their entire careers with an organization be allowed to leave their respective teams this early in [...]

How A “Strategic Partnership” with the Mets Might Work

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

All along you hear from the pundits that no one will purchase a minority share of the Mets because it doesn’t make for a sound business decision. Why give the Wilpons an angel loan based on their poor history of doing business? The fact a minority owner wouldn’t have a voice in decision making makes [...]

Would Trump Ruin the Mets Like the USFL?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

The news that Donald Trump is interested in buying the Mets seemed to bring excitement to a great deal of the Mets fan base. This is probably because they see him as the no nonsense boss on his hit NBC reality show “The Apprentice.” Although Trump has been widely successful in business, he has a [...]

Hey Forbes Stick to Business not Baseball

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

I guess everyone can opine about sports in the age of the internet. On August 1st, David Lariviere of Forbes had this to say about the Mets inactivity at the deadline: As constituted, the Mets have virtually no chance to play in the postseason for the first time since 2006. A 2-9 West Coast trip [...]

You Don’t Get a Gold Star for Winning the Value Equation

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Very rarely does the NBA take center stage on the fourth of July weekend, but the class of 2010 and Lebron James were the big story as fans relaxed, watched the fireworks, and barbequed the last four days. So while everyone is watching this unfold on the internet, what does it take to land a [...]

Mets In Financial Trouble?

Monday, July 5th, 2010

The NY Post threw this interesting, yet very speculative, article (assist to Mets Police) regarding the Mets financial situation. The author, Josh Kosman, cites sources that reiterate the lost money to Bernie Madoff and claim the team is losing $10 million dollars a year and is $700 million in debt. Other claims include a plan [...]

Disappointed in Vitaminwater and Wright

Friday, April 9th, 2010

This is not a post to bash David Wright or the Vitaminwater company, but when I open my email to the below video I have to just shake my head. How in the world can a company in the modern world of business and marketing ethics feel good employing both Craig Carton and some kid [...]

Best Sports Town is Boston? Philly Over NY?

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Yesterday, Maury Brown at the Business of Baseball shared the “2010 Brand Keys Sports Loyalty Index.” According to Robert Passikoff, president of New York- based Brand Keys, Inc, the Sports Loyalty Engagement Index gives an apples-to-apples comparison of the intensity with which fans support professional sport leagues and their home team vs. the corresponding values [...]

Mauer Already Earned A Good Amount of His Contract

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Joe Mauer staying with his hometown team is good for the Twins and baseball. Despite my comments regarding how he “deserves” New York, I don’t want to see a team with the rich history of the Twins be destroyed by baseballs economics. The fans, unlike cities like Tampa, actually show up to games. That is [...]

Hideki Matsui Understands the Economics of Baseball

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

I am all for players receiving the most money they can get from baseball. Although many, if not all, can’t comprehend salaries in the seven figure range, these are individuals who work hard at a skill that that employs only 750 people at a given time. It comes down to simple supply and demand. There [...]