Salary Showcase: Fireballs Ten

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.


Fireballs Ten
Manager: Rick
2010 salary: $156,926,000
Hitting salary: $84,912,000
Pitching salary: $72,014,000
Highest-paid hitter: Albert Pujols ($14,596,000)
Highest-paid pitcher: CC Sabathia ($24,285,000)
Lowest-paid hitter: Howie Kendrick ($1,750,000)
Lowest-paid pitcher: Clay Buchholz ($443,000)

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Demise of the Fireballs?

One thing that shocked us all last week was Rick's terrible loss to winless Ken. Now at 2-4, Rick has his back against the wall.

But, he's been in that position before and he's made it out OK. This year, though, things just seem different. These do not seem like the Fireballs of old.

Rick has made the playoffs every year, and he has a title. But after last week's 15-4 loss to Ken, what's going on?


"It was a great matchup and I'm proud of the way my guys played," Rick said. "No team in this league is an easy win. You've got to go out there every week and play your best - that's all you can do. I think my guys did that and as long as we keep doing that we'll be all right."

Albert Pujols has obviously been good, but Joe Mauer has been battling injury, and CC Sabathia gives up more runs than he should.

Rick is 11th out of 12th in home runs, 10th in RBIs, 12th in runs, 10th in total bases, and 10th in OPS.

Clearly lacking a power punch, though, Rick doesn't seem worried.

"If you look at our matchup last week, it was extremely close and was won on Sunday," Rick said. "Also, our team stats were each above average in most categories and average in others compared with the rest of the league. We were No. 1 and No. 2 in at least two categories as well."

Will Rick make any changes or hold a team meeting any time soon? A loss this week would really be damaging.

"very good team makes adjustments throughout the season," he said, "so don't expect the Fireballs to be any different."
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