If they keep building it, will anyone come?
The thing that jumps out at you when you walk down The Strip in Las Vegas is how much construction is going on. Thousands of new hotel rooms are on the way at a time when you would think a lot fewer people will be able to afford to visit Sin City.
That's because these projects were started before anyone imagined where the economy was headed. The good news, I suppose, is that room rates are sure to plummet in time for my next pleasure trip here.
Of course, this is not a pleasure trip. I've been circulating among baseball's management glitterati for the past few hours and continue to get the sense that this offseason still has a severe case of free agent vaporlock.
Everybody's waiting for CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira to sign, and I heard Buster Olney say on ESPN that CC may even be waiting on Teixeira before deciding exactly where he wants to play. Just waiting to see if they show up here. I'm guessing they do.
It is Las Vegas, so you don't have to twist anybody's arm. Beat writer Jeff Zrebiec already has run into Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie and former O's starter Erik Bedard, neither of whom have any contract-related issues that require their presence. I've never needed much of an excuse to come here either, though this is a pretty good one.
Split loyalties: I'm here to cover baseball, but I won't be able to totally immerse myself in it for another few hours. I'll be on the Ravens pre-game show on WBAL (1090 AM) at about 7:15 tonight and probably will blog off the game from here before turning my attentions entirely to the winter meetings.
Comments
Dave said:
Unfortuantely the Orioles are all about making money for the owner, and are run that way. They will not be big spenders. Some teams are desperate to win and are run that way, others like the Orioles are run to make money. Angelos has folks duped into thinking he can't compete because his revenues aren't high enough. What's really important is income. Income equals revenues minus costs. The Orioles have decent income and low costs, their income is high.
Here is income from 2002 thru 2007 and the rank of
various teams. THE TOP TEN
team income rank
Indians 125.3 1
DRays 106.3 2
Orioles 101.3 3
Reds 98.8 4
Braves 95.1 5
Wh Sox 93.9 6
Mariner 90 7
Brewers 85.6 8
Cubs 83.1 9
Astros 75.9 10
THE BOTTOM TEN
team income rank
Bl Jays 22.8 21
Mets 22.3 22
Phils 22.1 23
Tigers 19.7 24
Dodgers 9.4 25
Rangers 2.6 26
Angels -15.1 27
DBACKS -22 28
Red Sox -42.9 29
Yankees -169.6 30
Conclusion Angelos is running this team to make money and doing a great job. Their income is 3rd in all baseball over a six year period. Oriole's income over a six year period is 270 million higher than the Yankees, a team desperate to win. This is how the Orioles will behave this offseason. Winning isn't everything, making money is. In the end expect a marginally competitive team with low payroll and high profitability, straight to the owner's pockets. Don't expect us to sign Burnett or Tex that money is for Angelos. Perhaps it's time to boycott everything Angelos.
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Pete's reply: Wait. You're saying the Yankees lost $169 million last year?
Posted by: Pete can you explain this | December 7, 2008 5:49 PM
Pete, Just bail on the blog and watch the game - come on, jeez - Ravens vs. Deadskins on Sunday night. Give yourself a break. Relax. Viva Las Vegas.
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Pete's reply: Okay, I took your advice. I didn't figure anybody needed my insight from 2000 miles away.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 7, 2008 6:09 PM
CBS sportsline says in the Padres-Cubs deal for primarily Peavy, it says that the Cubs are looking for a catcher, possibly. And with the O's possibly being the 3rd team in that deal, does that mean that Ramon could be dealt to the Cubs? Or does he have a no trade-clause?
Just saying a possibility.
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Pete's reply: I would be surprised if the Cubs were willing to take Ramon. They've got a pretty good young catcher.
Posted by: ryan | December 7, 2008 6:33 PM
Actually rates have been dropping and a few hotels have sent me offers for free weeknight deals even though I'm not someone who normally gets free rooms or much of anything from Vegas.
I'm curious as to how the rooms at Bellagio compare to other places on the strip. It is one of the few places I haven't stayed at on the strip, along with the Wynn and Mandalay Bay.
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Pete's reply: I've stayed at the Mandalay Bay (for the Rahman/Lewis rematch. It was nice. The Bellagio is classy, comfortable and luxurious. Can't complain about anything.
Posted by: Rich | December 7, 2008 7:01 PM
Isn't it highly likely that Bedard, because of injury, will be non-tendered? Thus, he is in Vegas, not only because it is almost winter in Canada, but because he needs to generate interest no matter how discretely he has to be since he is still an employee of the Mariners.
Posted by: Rusty | December 7, 2008 8:29 PM
if they actively persue quality players not the meadiocer type. offer them respectable contracts. i believe they will come.
Posted by: leonard | December 7, 2008 10:17 PM
People have said Vegas was overbuilt since Howard Hughes' day. Don't worry about it Pete, Sin City just keeps on keeping on.
Posted by: Dave | December 8, 2008 2:06 AM
According to Forbes over the six year period 2002 to 2007, the Yankees lost 169 million. We don't know how much Forbes factors the YES network into the calculations. IT does look like the Yankees are desperate to win, just like the Orioles are desperate to make money.
Posted by: Dave | December 8, 2008 10:28 AM