Reese Kaplan -- The Little Engines That Couldn't

We all know the story of the Little Engine That Could – “I think I can, I think I can” – until finally it makes it up and over the hill when the bigger and more powerful engines refused to even try.  When that little red engine crested that hill it then sang out, “I thought I could, I thought I could” which has become a tale inspiring the value of hard work, determination and effort against all odds.

When the post-season began there were a few Little Engines That Could , including the quickly eliminated Oakland A’s and the just deposed Milwaukee Brewers.  Considering that the Mets have interviewed the Brewers’ executive Doug Melvin, many people were watching fairly closely.  Some felt that success by the upstart Beer Town faithful would send a message to the Mets that it is possible to come out on top without breaking the bank. 

Of course, reality smacked the Brewers and others across the face badly when the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to win 5-1 over Milwaukee.  That triumph, combined with the Boston Red Sox championship in the junior circuit underscored the lesson many Mets fans have been shouting from the rooftops for the past decade or more – “It takes money to make money!” 

A quick perusal of the MLB payrolls you discover that the Red Sox actually did have the highest payroll in baseball.  They are now being matched up against the Los Angeles Dodgers who come in not far behind at number three.  (For reference, down at number 12 with a number of ill-advised contracts are the New York Mets). 

Now bringing up the rear in payroll were the aforementioned Oakland A’s at 28^th and the Milwaukee Brewers at 22^nd.  What does that tell you?  Well, to me it suggests that if you spend intelligently, you can get into the post-season.  It also suggests if you spend appropriately for the market and relative to the competition you can also reach the post season. 

Personally, as much as I’d like to see the payroll increased through the additions of people like Manny Machado and Craig Kimbrel and Yasmani Grandal, the likelihood of the Mets forking over another $30 million plus $18 million plus $14 million – a total per year of $62 million in additional payroll – is about as likely as the Wilpons deciding to sell the team.  It’s not happening.

Therefore, I put my hopes on the other direction – spending more intelligently, building a young core that can replicate success for several years.  I don’t want to see more over-30 players brought in with long injury histories or simply scheduled for their inevitable decline.  You wind up paying for what they did rather than what they will do. 

The last administration was loathe to find and offer opportunities to young position players.  They were seemingly obsessed with wild, hard throwing relievers.  Hopefully they will use more than veteran free agency to try to reinforce the roster.  As Oakland and Milwaukee showed, it’s possible to succeed without breaking the bank.  Once you are back in the wins column, then you can push for more spending.