Hitting its stride

Following the model the Detroit Tigers laid with last season’s World Series appearance, the Milwaukee Brewers are the latest perennial cellar dweller making an early season case for the playoffs.

Last season, the historically laughable Detroit Tigers parlayed a 24-game improvement into their first playoff appearance since winning the World Series in 1984. Before their postseason run, the Tigers were the losingest team in baseball over the last 13 seasons. Just as much a laughing stock are the Milwaukee Brewers, which have taken a sip of Detroit’s Kool-Aid by jumping out to the National League’s best record as of Sunday.

This unprecedented success in lesser markets like Milwaukee and Detroit has everyone hunting for answers, the best of which can be found in the wacky world of free agency.

In this era of free agency, the rich–Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs–usually get richer as the poor get poorer. More than any other professional league, success in baseball is determined by how fat an owner’s wallet is, with the lack of a salary cap.

Owners like Yankee boss George Steinbrenner, who has a seemingly endless supply of money, are able to hand out ungodly contracts to acquire whichever free agent they fancy. Teams in smaller markets or owners strapped for cash don’t enjoy the same free agent freedom. Although, with the recent success of squads like the Brew-Crew and Tigers, the effectiveness of fielding a team with a payroll upwards of $200 million is definitely put into question.

The Bronx Bombers, oddly enough, field a squad with nearly three times the payroll of small-market Milwaukee. Steinbrenner’s checks equal an astronomical $195,229,045 and the lowly Brewers weigh in at a microscopic $71,986,500. Enormous checks mean big-name stars, something New York has in Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and new addition Roger Clemens. On the other hand, Milwaukee’s most recognizable names, Prince Fielder and Tony Gwynn, resonate with fans because of their fathers’ on-field antics, not personal achievements.

The difference here is, besides Jeter, the Yankees either sign superstars to huge contracts or deal hot minor league prospects, substantially depleting their farm system. Milwaukee develops its talent from A-ball to the majors, giving it a rich talent pool from which to nab players when injuries occur and rough times arise.

An added caveat is since the Brewers are less dependent on building a team through wheeling and dealing at the trade deadline or acquiring stud free agents, they are younger at the plate and on the hill. Instead of trotting a 44-year-old Clemens to the mound and praying he doesn’t break a bone or pull a muscle in his old age, the Brew-Crew has the luxury of youth and talent in ace Ben Sheets, 28, and arguably the hottest pitcher in Chris Capuano, who is only a month younger than Sheets.

Unlike years past, cold, hard cash can no longer be exchanged for a World Series trophy. It’s like a defunct currency in baseball. Evidence to this is the Yankees own 26 world championships, but none since their victory over intra-city foe the Mets in 2000. But, the Yanks have consistently been perched atop the payroll charts. During the Evil Empire’s dry spell, teams with far less disposable cash like Detroit, Milwaukee, the Florida Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks have all swooped to claim a piece of the victor’s pie.

It’s really a time of crossroads in the major leagues. The reign of the big-time spenders is scratching to a halt and small market squads are stealing the limelight. The recent success of the Tigers and Brewers prove money is now just an insignificant number.