In sports, it is always safe to hate on management.
(Roy Betancourt / IOS / PR Photos)
They are ungodly wealthy and have exclusive control over something that is so important to us. To quote Eddie Cicotte’s character in Eight Men Out “You don’t understand how a ballplayer can agree to throw the World Series? That’s because you never worked for Charlie Commiskey.”
Stu has given Rays fans a lot of use for their torches and pitch forks this year. He allowed the roster to turn over removing several fan favorites, a sign some fans saw as a fire sale. Then he picked several fights complaining about attendance and threatening further roster cut backs. Those were unpopular, albeit necessary, problems Stu and the Rays had to endure to allow them to be primed for another title run next spring.
But, if we are going to criticize Stu — whether fairly or unfairly — then we have to give him credit when credit is due. Last night Stu completed a $9.5MM investment in the Rays future by completing the signing of all of the Rays top picks from June’s draft. That is no small feat or small investment.
Last winter, when the Rays completed their stockpiling of draft picks, two questions arose. Is there enough talent for the Rays to make those picks worthwhile? And, less discussed, can the Rays afford signing bonuses for all those players? We obsessed over the first question but paid short shrift to the second. In fact, the conspiracy theorist in me was curious as to whether the Rays intention was to allow some of their high picks to go unsigned to create picks in the 2012 draft ( in fact, I wondered if they were setting up a perpetual draft bonanza by acquiring future picks by drafting and not signing every year).
But, Stu showed he cares about winning. He invested $9MM in a group of players that could be the next core of talent in Rays history. For that, he deserves a thank you.
Stu deserves credit for a lot more than that. He is one of the best owners in baseball and has transformed an organization that was terrible on the field and in the community (thanks Vince!) into one of the best on the field and the best as far as being fan friendly. I am not aware of any other professional sports team that offers free parking and lets you bring food into the stadium, and those are just a few of the sweet things the Rays do for its fans. The ticket swap for season ticket holders is awesome too, but I don’t know if other teams do that. I do know that you will not find a better experience for your money at any other ballpark, and that all starts with Mr. Sternberg.
He is also a really nice guy and is extremely approachable and down to earth. That said: Stu- if you are reading this, you said you would work on having a hat day again, and we are still waiting! I need a new Rays hat. Also, I know you said there were issues with the vendors but there has to be a way to get hot dog guys in the trop. Despite what you have been told, it has never really been tried and I know I am not the only one who hates leaving my seat to go get a dog.
Now that you mention it, they don’t sell hot dogs in the seats. How did I never notice that? Bizarre.
I do appreciate Stu as much as any other educated fan…sure I get disgruntled as hell when he calls out the fans, but at the end of the day I know that it’s business posturing and unfortunately I’m simply a customer metric at the end of the day.
But I do feel the need to point out a problem with Mike’s reply…the “free parking” which used to be a very decent deal is a farce now. It’s only for carloads of 4 (no change from the past in that rule), for the FIRST 100 CARS OF THE DAY. That’s complete crap, and I wrote a feedback letter to the Rays (as well as other members of my family) regarding this hidden change to something they very publicly tout.
Also, while it’s understandable to keep the concessions “free market”, because apparently that’s the only way a society can be happy and thrive, they are out of control. During a recent Yankee game (Platinum) all of the concessions ran out of the “souvenier” cups, but instead of pricing to match, they just duped folks into paying for a large beer with “souvenier” pricing. I only noticed it because I’m at the Trop a lot so when my dad bought me and my brother a round and got sticker shock I noticed why and told him. We asked the concessions (multiple) about that and they shrugged…because it’s our problem that we want to buy beer at the ballpark.
For the record, my step-mother for that reason, won’t be buying us sets of tickets for Christmas anymore, and she wrote them as much in a letter…they didn’t respond. Little things like that don’t go unnoticed in a fickle community such as ours.
There seems to be no shortage of sports fans who think that owners should all be billionaires happy to throw their fortunes away on the biggest names and contracts. But I think that most fans, deep down, want team owners that they feel are looking out for them. Fans will put up with alot from an owner they believe is in their corner and have no patience for one they feel isn’t.
Stu gets alot of credit for, well basically, Andy Friedman; one of the best GM’s never to wear the title. But where Stu & his crew have always failed is exactly where they fell down at SLK. No marketing savvy; not very good at public relations and a poor connection with the average person (fan). That sense of distance is made worse by the sense that the only time he’s actually in town is to tell us what rotten fans we are. Bud sent Stu on a Fool’s errand. But Stu was the fool who signed up to be the stadium scarecrow for The Commish. At least three-quarters of the team’s money disadvantage is from the local TV deal. But that won’t get any play because it both takes away from the attempt to paint the team as fan-poor, only salvageable by new digs. Plus, the seemingly intentional low-ball deals for great coverage for both the Rays & Marlins would remind people that MLB is committed to baseball in Florida. Something that also detracts from their posturing.
Stu is young as an owner and has no background in some key areas. But just as SLK were great operations people, hence Goldman’s interest in buying them, Stu has put together a solid operations group. If the baseball fans in Florida become convinced that he cares about them, they’ll step up. Until then, it’ll continue to be the stand-off it is now, including languishing attendance and declining tv ratings.
What worries me the most, is losing Friedman or Maddon. They are both great at what they do, but when do they say f*** it and take a more lucrative offer elsewhere. An offer that would also not include all of the cash restrictions they deal with every year. Cubs, Dodgers? In my opinion, this would be a more devastating blow to the Rays organization then any of their current problems.
Friedman is probably the most likely to go. Joe has a contract. Andrew does not. I see Andrew in Houston or Tampa. But Joe could be lured by a return to Southern California. The only thing is, if you’re Joe Maddon, you have realize the amount of freedom you have to try new things here. I don’t think the Dodgers/Cubs are going to put up with no batting practice or Matt Joyce hitting leadoff.
Joe’s contract only last through 2012. If the Rays FO doesn’t lock him up this off season, I see him leaving. I don’t think the FO can pull the same stunt they did a few years ago with Joe. In my opinion I think other teams would let Joe be Joe. He has proven time and again that his methods work. Conversely, if he doesn’t get that freedom he might stay…
Are you worried about Friedman leaving? I wouldn’t even begin to think of a viable replacement. Maybe the Rays have a just as good FO farm system.
Honestly, I am not that worried about Andrew leaving. Like most GMs, I think he gets an unfair amount of credit and blame for the Rays successes and failures. There is a lot of talent in the Rays front office and I think things would go on seamlessly.