Why is DeWitt so cash-strapped?

[Goldfan]

Research and Development took a back seat to payroll after the 2017 season. They've admitted they must fix the deficiencies.

This has been reported for a long time....Shady refuses to accept reality/truth/etc.

Payroll takes a step back while places like Palm Beach undergo major renovations...not just to the field but a world class clubhouse/rehab center as well.

That costs money...so does hiring more instructors per each squad....

if we're resetting/rebuilding, and if we're trying to get up to speed with the R&D....why on earth do you expect the team to spend?

If an MLB owner can’t sustain their Minor League system AND MLB club at the same time then they should sell to deeper pockets

[Bushiro]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

I’m all for spending as long as it is done WISELY.
You don’t just spend for the sake of spending!
Who do you propose they spend the $$ on?????

Don't know...but I do know the cards have always had some stars....this team has nothing.....

[Goldfan]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

And there is ALWAYS a minimum level of Star Talent and Winning required to maintain the Revenue Stream(attendance/TV). When ownership purposely falls well under those levels and starts whining they no longer have the Revenue…..along with Cranny crying along with him……WITHOUT acknowledging this dynamic……its truly the heights of hypocrisy

[Whatashame]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

Teams are like states and MLB is like a federal government. They are providing subsidies taken from the rich states and giving to the “poor” states with the intent of creating competitive balance. And the Cardinals and many other of these supposed poor teams are abusing the system by not reinvesting. They’re “standing on their own” alright. Everyone can keep blaming the big spenders though.

No one is “blaming” anyone. MLB has become out of balance, mostly because of the local media rights. Over the last 10? years local TV, radio and advertising has become a bigger windfall for the larger markets than anyone anticipated and has now created an imbalance of revenues between the larger and smaller markets. Baseball has to figure out a way to create a better balance between the larger and smaller markets. Whether it’s a cap/floor/revenue sharing issue or something else, it’s unmistakable that an imbalance is alive and well in MLB. This has to be addressed.

[CCard]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

It's about greed. With most all billionaires that is the common thread. How can one sleep at night knowing that they have the means to alleviate so much suffering and instead choose to build their fortune to ridiculous levels. Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Billionaires are a mutation of an unjust economic policy. They shouldn't exist. It's a disgrace.

[Melville]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

Teams are like states and MLB is like a federal government. They are providing subsidies taken from the rich states and giving to the “poor” states with the intent of creating competitive balance. And the Cardinals and many other of these supposed poor teams are abusing the system by not reinvesting. They’re “standing on their own” alright. Everyone can keep blaming the big spenders though.

No one is “blaming” anyone. MLB has become out of balance, mostly because of the local media rights. Over the last 10? years local TV, radio and advertising has become a bigger windfall for the larger markets than anyone anticipated and has now created an imbalance of revenues between the larger and smaller markets. Baseball has to figure out a way to create a better balance between the larger and smaller markets. Whether it’s a cap/floor/revenue sharing issue or something else, it’s unmistakable that an imbalance is alive and well in MLB. This has to be addressed.

There is a case working through the federal courts that could well end up before SCOTUS.
MLB's antitrust exemption is being challenged yet again.
The courts and congress have whittled down portions of that exemption - but the core of it remains.
Inexplicably, SCOTUS has admitted MLB is in violation of the law - but must be allowed to do so because it has been permitted to flaunt the law for so long already.
That exemption allows MLB to do exactly what you mentioned above - control local media revenue streams by blocking other teams from selling their broadcast to those potential customers.
What MLB is doing currently is blatantly illegal - without the exemption.
Think of Paramount not being allowed to stream and sell content in Los Angeles, but Netflix having the exclusive ability to do so.
Think also of both parties agreeing to do so, but only if Netflix was blocked from New York and Paramount "owning" that market.
Which would be an even worse anti-trust violation.
But that is what MLB does.
Essentially, the union and the owners are involved in a criminal conspiracy currently - were it not for the anti-trust exemption.
The only hope for MLB - and fans - long term is for SCOTUS to do the right thing and revoke MLB's exemption.
That alone would fix the revenue and spending issue by opening all broadcast markets to all teams and all consumers (fans).
Hmmm....maybe I should join that suit as a consumer who is being denied and free and fair market......

[DwaininAztec]

No one is “blaming” anyone. MLB has become out of balance, mostly because of the local media rights. Over the last 10? years local TV, radio and advertising has become a bigger windfall for the larger markets than anyone anticipated and has now created an imbalance of revenues between the larger and smaller markets. Baseball has to figure out a way to create a better balance between the larger and smaller markets. Whether it’s a cap/floor/revenue sharing issue or something else, it’s unmistakable that an imbalance is alive and well in MLB. This has to be addressed.

Which is why that is the source of remaking MLB. Going to a media sharing system where each team shares their game day media take with the other team is probably as close to a cap as MLB can come.

[Cranny]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

And there is ALWAYS a minimum level of Star Talent and Winning required to maintain the Revenue Stream(attendance/TV). When ownership purposely falls well under those levels and starts whining they no longer have the Revenue…..along with Cranny crying along with him……WITHOUT acknowledging this dynamic……its truly the heights of hypocrisy

Goldfan -You should probably read some of the logical and informational posts on this thread. About how things have gotten so out of balance because of media dollars. It’s a complicated problem, that the Cardinals are struggling with.

[WLTFE]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

It's about greed. With most all billionaires that is the common thread. How can one sleep at night knowing that they have the means to alleviate so much suffering and instead choose to build their fortune to ridiculous levels. Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Billionaires are a mutation of an unjust economic policy. They shouldn't exist. It's a disgrace.

DeTwit just assumed that fans would show regardless of how the team played. .he's out-of-touch and deserves having the fans stay home...apparently. most real fans care about watching a competitive team as opposed to be front office (donkey) kissers.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Dewitt did not overspend on payroll the unspent money of infrastructure neglect, they just pocketed it already and bankrolled "dry powder. " Yet, the story is future salary cuts rather than unpocketing the money of infrastructure neglect or dry powder. Fans still being taken this very moment.

I don't know if that story is true. I have read that they're planning to get back to their normal top third spending once they revamp the minor league system. At least that's what the FO is saying.

And I get being suspicious of that. I agree that this big TV deal that was supposed to increase our ability to spend and go outside their comfort zone on players never really worked out that way. Of course there were problems with FSMW going broke, but even before then I don't recall any major spending pushes.

Also, I don't necessarily think that they gave Mo a choice between spending money on the team or on the farm. I think it's entirely possible that Mo could have thought that the system was fine, so they kept it as is and spend around their normal range at the MLB level. I think that it's possible that they made Mo choose too, but the point is no one really knows.

Regardless, I'll trust them on this one. At least for now. We'll see in 2027 how things are shaping up, which I think will depend a lot on how next year shakes out. I think that they saw the empty seats and it freaked them out and that they want to get back to where they were, both in attendance and how they were successful for 20 years. That's through drafting and development, plus a top third payroll. No, they'll never spend like the top market teams, but they hopefully won't need to. Some better decision making, along with an update to date, or ahead of its time farm system can really decrease the need to rely on overpriced, middle of the road free agents.

[Melville]

Dewitt did not overspend on payroll the unspent money of infrastructure neglect, they just pocketed it already and bankrolled "dry powder. " Yet, the story is future salary cuts rather than unpocketing the money of infrastructure neglect or dry powder. Fans still being taken this very moment.

I don't know if that story is true. I have read that they're planning to get back to their normal top third spending once they revamp the minor league system. At least that's what the FO is saying.

And I get being suspicious of that. I agree that this big TV deal that was supposed to increase our ability to spend and go outside their comfort zone on players never really worked out that way. Of course there were problems with FSMW going broke, but even before then I don't recall any major spending pushes.

Also, I don't necessarily think that they gave Mo a choice between spending money on the team or on the farm. I think it's entirely possible that Mo could have thought that the system was fine, so they kept it as is and spend around their normal range at the MLB level. I think that it's possible that they made Mo choose too, but the point is no one really knows.

Regardless, I'll trust them on this one. At least for now. We'll see in 2027 how things are shaping up, which I think will depend a lot on how next year shakes out. I think that they saw the empty seats and it freaked them out and that they want to get back to where they were, both in attendance and how they were successful for 20 years. That's through drafting and development, plus a top third payroll. No, they'll never spend like the top market teams, but they hopefully won't need to. Some better decision making, along with an update to date, or ahead of its time farm system can really decrease the need to rely on overpriced, middle of the road free agents.

" At least that's what the FO is saying...."
"I'll trust them on this one..."
Fool you once.....fool you twice...

[rockondlouie]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

I’m all for spending as long as it is done WISELY.
You don’t just spend for the sake of spending!
Who do you propose they spend the $$ on?????

And now he finally has a POBO who (hopefully) will spend it wisely unlike the former POBO who wasted hundreds of millions of his payroll dollars.

[45s]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

It's about greed. With most all billionaires that is the common thread. How can one sleep at night knowing that they have the means to alleviate so much suffering and instead choose to build their fortune to ridiculous levels. Easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Billionaires are a mutation of an unjust economic policy. They shouldn't exist. It's a disgrace.

Thanks for your input Bernie

[Goldfan]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

And there is ALWAYS a minimum level of Star Talent and Winning required to maintain the Revenue Stream(attendance/TV). When ownership purposely falls well under those levels and starts whining they no longer have the Revenue…..along with Cranny crying along with him……WITHOUT acknowledging this dynamic……its truly the heights of hypocrisy

Goldfan -You should probably read some of the logical and informational posts on this thread. About how things have gotten so out of balance because of media dollars. It’s a complicated problem, that the Cardinals are struggling with.

Perhaps the Dewitts and Partners should not pay themselves until they right the ship??? I think they’ll get by for a couple years don’t you??
Destroying the product and then whining about lack of Revenue to GRAND……

[45s]

As attendance/ticket sales/revenues started decreasing, they have decreased spending hand in hand. Doesn't appear they will invest another penny of their own money over "budget" to re-invest in the organization.

You are right, but it’s wrong. BDW paid 150 million for a team now valued at 2.55 billion. Where’s the reward for that? The fans consistently packed the house when they had a team they believed in and it didn’t even require a top 10 payroll. His “budget” is a self imposed number that does not cover the cost of a premium product.

Businesses have to stand on their own.

And there is ALWAYS a minimum level of Star Talent and Winning required to maintain the Revenue Stream(attendance/TV). When ownership purposely falls well under those levels and starts whining they no longer have the Revenue…..along with Cranny crying along with him……WITHOUT acknowledging this dynamic……its truly the heights of hypocrisy

Goldfan -You should probably read some of the logical and informational posts on this thread. About how things have gotten so out of balance because of media dollars. It’s a complicated problem, that the Cardinals are struggling with.

Perhaps the Dewitts and Partners should not pay themselves until they right the ship??? I think they’ll get by for a couple years don’t you??
Destroying the product and then whining about lack of Revenue to GRAND……

When you struggled at times in your career…..did you turn down your paycheck?

[Goldfan]

When allocating needed money to improve the Cardinals. Isn't he a billionaire? The Dodgers spent $300 million this season on salaries. They've won the last two World Series. The Cardinals haven't even been to the playoffs for the last three seasons. DeWitt needs to put 2 and 2 together.

I’m all for spending as long as it is done WISELY.
You don’t just spend for the sake of spending!
Who do you propose they spend the $$ on?????

And now he finally has a POBO who (hopefully) will spend it wisely unlike the former POBO who wasted hundreds of millions of his payroll dollars.

Exactly, Cranny always chiming in with lower Rev…..big markets have so much money
How about not spending as STUPID as MO did for YEARS….that’s the other side of the coin. 2 sides to the financial ledger

Fowler 70mil Wasted
Carp 45Mil Wasted
Miller 39mil Wasted
MIles 50mil Wasted
Matz 36mil Wasted
And Gray at 30mil for 5’10 180 guy who can’t pitch in the heat past his 35th birthday is insane
What 2-3 actual ALL-STAR could’ve been signed to long term contracts instead of wasted on several either NO return or very little return.