Salary Showcase: Bronx Bombers

Welcome to the blog's new feature, the Salary Showcase. Here, you will get a brief but informative breakdown of each team's salary.

Now, we get to see who is overachieving, underachieving, and who is getting the most bang for their buck. Unsuccessful managers with a high salary team are sure to be feeling the heat from their fan base.

I am going based off the current roster, not the drafted roster. Big ups to Chris for the idea and Shea for the headline.


Bronx Bombers
Manager: Chris
2010 salary: $143,375,000
Hitting salary: $82,504,000
Pitching salary: $60,871,000
Highest-paid hitter: Derek Jeter ($22,600,000)
Highest-paid pitcher: Ryan Dempster ($13,500,000)
Lowest-paid hitter: Mark Reynolds ($833,000)
Lowest-paid pitcher: Jamie Garcia ($400,000)
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The rashness of opening week

One of the things I love most about opening week is seeing the scramble to pick up guys who have a good game.

Some will argue that early-season pickups can make your team. Some certainly would point to Mark Reynolds as proof of that last year.

Most won't pan out, though. And this year, it's a bit tougher with only two moves per week. Do you scramble to grab that starting pitcher who threw a good game or do you hold onto the move in case you need it on Saturday?


So far, the transactions list has been moving at a nice pace.

We've had Yadier Molina picked up, cut and picked up by another team; we've had Dallas Braden snagged before he finished his first outing; we've had Milton Bradley picked up and dropped in a 48-hour span; we've had Vernon Wells picked up just in time for three home runs; we've had Shaun Marcum picked up shortly after flirting with a no-hitter.

How many of these guys will be on teams in two months? I'm guessing fewer rather than more.
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Assessing the draft: Bronx Bombers

(Editor's note: This is the latest in a series of posts briefly breaking down each team's draft. It will culminate in the debut of the 2010 Power Rankings at the end.)

Chris, from all reports, has actually gotten over last season's unbelievably dramatic loss in the final week of the regular season. He's ready for a new season of baseball, especially after his Bronx Bombers (the real ones) captured No. 27. But oh what I wouldn't give to see another ending for the Bronx Bombers (the fantasy ones) like last year's!


Focus: Hitting. Chris took Mark Reynolds with the first live pick, making him the only manager in the league with two 40-plus homer guys. He stacked up with hitters early and often, using his first three live picks on them and six of his first seven.

Storyline: Chris is usually one to speak his mind during the draft, chat with the other managers and give his two cents. But there was very little of that, prompting one to wonder if this is a new Chris we are seeing? A new, more focused manager lacking trash talking?

Headscratcher: For some reason, Chris is obsessed with Carlos Quentin this year. He's completely overvaluing the outfielder, hardly taking into account how injury-prone he is. He took Quentin in the 10th round over proven, healthy guys. But the bigger headscratcher came when Chris declared Quentin would hit 40 HRs and 110 RBIs!
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The Mark Reynolds Debate

After I came out with the Midseason Awards, there were of course a few grumblings here or there about exclusions. Sure, that was to be expected.

One of them came from Bob, who thought his pickup of Mark Reynolds - or Joe's dropping of him - should have been considered for an award, or at the very least honorable mention.

"Did you know Mark Reynolds is rated as the 10th best fantasy player in Yahoo?" Bob asked me at the time.

I gave it a quick chuckle, didn't think much of it and went on with the rest of my day.

Bob didn't, though. He brought it up again Thursday night after Reynolds clubbed his 19th homer of the season, helping Bob to a 9-8 lead over Shea.

More after the jump.


"I think Mark Reynolds deserves an apology for not being considered in the worst drop, best pick up categories," Bob said Thursday. "He told me earlier that he's going to use that as motivation for the rest of the season."

Well OK then, look out league. But, let's revisit this for a couple minutes. Here are Reynolds' stats, going back to Tuesday when the awards came out: .267, 18 HR, 49 RBI, 98 K. Pretty darn good, for sure. But Edwin Jackson (Chris) won the award for best pick-up, with Chris Carpenter (Jack) and Jason Bartlett (Joe) as honorable mention. Hard to argue with any of them, especially Bartlett (.370 AVG/.988 OPS/14 SB currently) because of his position. So who gets the boot for Reynolds?

The worst drop is a little more debatable. I gave Tommy Hanson (Dave) the award because of his upside and promise, most notably his keeper potential on a team with an expiring contract. Matt Wieters (Adam) was on there because of his potential as well at such a limited position. The third one, Huston Street (Ken), is probably where Reynolds could have gone. Street's had a nice season, sure, but he hasn't been as valuable as Reynolds.

I guess if Reynolds is the reason Bob beats you one week you have me to blame!

So, with that said, what's everyone else think? Does Bob have a point? Who would you have put in there?
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