Sunday, January 06, 2002
Reds Q & A with John Fay
One fan feels for Lindner
A few fans out there understand and appreciate what Reds chief executive officer Carl Lindner is trying to do by keeping the payroll down. One of them e-mailed this week:
Question, from Warren in Columbus: When the baseball power brokers forced Marge Schott to relinquish her controlling interest in the Reds, everyone had the same opportunity to pursue that ownership and controlling interest. Carl Lindner stepped up and put his money where everyone else's mouth was. This was business, not a philanthropic gesture. I applaud Mr. Lindner for working within the budget constraints of the game.
If the rest of the owners would take the same approach, we would see an effective revenue-sharing plan emerge. To date, too many owners mortgage away any future for a quick fix and a one- or two-year run, then dismantle the team and sell the franchise. This serves to keep alive the illusion of competitive balanceuntil enough teams suffer the inevitable financial crunch.
Kudos to Carl Lindner for holding fast to his budget constraints and spending within the means of the franchise. ... Quit criticizing Carl Lindner for the economic calamity befalling Major League Baseball. He did not help create the problem and he has not helped propagate the problem.
Answer: Warren, your next two scoops of cherry cordial ought to be free at UDF. You make a good point. But others were willing to buy the Reds — Larry Dolan, for one — but the limited partners had right of first refusal. That's how the team went to Lindner. The ironic thing is, now Dolan owns the Cleveland Indians and now he's trimming the budget.
Q, from Keith in Fairfield: With more than 100 free agents out plying their goods and very few suitors (except for the Yankees, Cubs and Mets for the superstars) will the MLB union scream collusion (that the owners have conspired to hold down salaries) because small-market teams cannot afford the salaries?
A: No evidence of collusion has been shown. From all indications, teams are merely trying to keep from bleeding money.
Q, From Cliff: I have been wondering for a long time, how long do you keep the purse strings double-knotted? Granted, as a small-market team, the Reds must stay within a strict budget, but there must come a time when you must spend now for the future. Deferred money only helps the team now; what happens 10 years down the road when they are facing losing a top name player when all the deferred money starts taxing future payrolls?
A: The deferred money owed Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin is one reason the Reds are reluctant to take on any more deferred payments. The Reds will open up the purse strings when the money starts coming in in 2003.
Q, from Greg: I heard that the Yankees were looking to trade Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez because they just got David Wells and they need outfield help and we've got a ton of outfielders. El Duque is not that expensive.
A: El Duque made $2.05million last year. That's about the major-
league average — in other words, way out of the Reds' price range.
John Fay covers the Reds for the Enquirer. He can be reached at jfay@enquirer.com. Please include neighborhood or hometown.
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Reds Q & A with John Fay
