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Who Isn't A Contender

© Greg Spira

Over the course of the last few seasons, a lot has been made of the reality that some teams do not go into spring training with a real chance of winning the World Series. Of course, this has always been true; there were decades in which major league teams such as the Browns never even approached .500. And the rhetoric of recent years has bordered on the bizarre, with some claiming that only 3 or 4 teams have the chance to go all the way. The reality is that, despite the Yankees' recent domination, no sport is that predictable. Almost no one took the New England Patriots seriously as a contender in the NFL this past season, and they ended up winning it all. About 3/4 of major league baseball teams have at least a slim hope of ending up World Champions in the fall. Here are the exceptions - the teams without a realistic chance.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Traditionally, expansion teams have had to wait a long time for the taste of success. However, as the Diamondbacks proved last season, that is no longer the case. The Devil Rays, however, have managed themselves into the worst team in baseball. They've made a series of bad free agent signings and have produced little young talent. Their trading record from the beginning (Bob Abreu for Kevin Stocker) has been embarrassing. The franchise is a huge mess, and it's all the fault of the folks who run it.

Baltimore Orioles - Owner Peter Angelos has made this former great franchise into a laughingstock. Camden Yards has been a license to print money, but Angelos has spent it in all the wrong ways. The major league roster is now devoid of stars and there is little talent in the pipeline. No self-respecting baseball executive will work for Angelos, and players run the other way when the Orioles pursue them.

Kansas City Royals - The Royals play in one of baseball's smallest markets, and have little room for error. Unfortunately, they've made plenty of errors. They've had a lot of talent in their system for years, but they do not seem to be able to develop that talent. Manager Tony Muser has achieved little but a losing record, and GM Allen Baird hasn't impressed either. This is a franchise that is at a severe financial disadvantage but does little with what money it does spend.

Detroit Tigers - This has been a terribly run franchise for a decade in that has produced very little talent. Perhaps new General Manager Dave Dombrowski will change that.

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