Takeaways From Mark Attanasio's Spring Training Remarks

[Jack Stern]

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio, flanked by president of baseball operations Matt Arnold and president of business operations Rick Schlesinger, addressed the media on Tuesday morning. Among other topics, Attanasio discussed the Brewers' current competitiveness, where they want to improve, and the organization's player development system. Here are a few key notes.

After Last Year's NLCS Defeat, Brewers Are Still Learning From the Dodgers (and Others)
The Brewers have been one of baseball's most forward-thinking front offices for the last decade, but Attanasio said they are constantly looking for shortcomings or flaws in their process. That includes looking at what other successful clubs do that they can emulate.

"You somewhat stay in your lane, you're self-aware and know what you're good at, but you have to be open to what others are doing," Attanasio said.

In making his point, Attanasio pointed to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the Brewers in last year's NLCS and are again projected to have a luxury tax payroll of around $400 million. While the Dodgers' spending has been at the heart of a brewing labor dispute that figures to lead to a lockdown next offseason, Attanaio focused on a reality that isn't acknowledged as often: the Dodgers aren't just rich; they're rich and smart. Many of baseball's brightest executives work under Andrew Friedman.

"Everybody talks about the Dodgers' payroll, but it's probably the smartest group that there is," Attanasio said. "Whatever we can add in players, they've got more. Whatever guys Matt can hire [in the front office]—and he hires the best and the brightest—they have more. And when we play them, we're smart enough to see they're doing some things maybe we're not. So Matt and his group think about that."

Player Development Regulation Changes Could Become Another Obstacle to Navigate
As a small-market team, the Brewers allocate much of their budget behind the scenes to player development. It's a key reason why they've remained competitive every season for nearly a decade, while developing one of baseball's best farm systems.

"I think anyone will tell you we have a state-of-the-art facility here in Phoenix and a state-of-the-art facility in the Dominican," Attanasio said. "I can't hang a banner for Baseball America's top farm system, executives of the year across the board, and Grade-A facilities, but I'm saying it starts from this macro perspective. Because if you get that wrong, it doesn't matter."

Part of that success stems from the Brewers tracking and applying the right analytics at those facilities. To this point, teams could determine which data was most valuable and choose which tracking systems to install at their facilities to collect it. This year, MLB is regulating the use of that technology. All 30 teams must use the same league-mandated devices across all levels, just as all 30 MLB ballparks use Hawk-Eye cameras for Statcast tracking.

That change could help teams that are behind the times analytically, but it also forces those on the cutting edge to tear down their existing information systems and adopt what they consider inferior technology. Attanasio said the Brewers won't use it as an excuse.

"We feel that whatever the system is, whenever it looks like the cards are stacked against us, we're going to compete," he said. "We've done that for 21 years."

However, he also acknowledged that forcing the smartest teams to change how they operate could negatively affect competitive balance, even if the intent is to improve it.

"We're trying to have competitive balance so the fans can come out and have hope for all 30 teams," Attanasio said. "If there are some advantages that certain teams have because of what they're doing, you've got to be careful about taking those advantages away, because then maybe you disrupt balance somewhat."

No Public Updates on Pat Murphy's Future
Murphy is entering the final season of the three-year contract he signed when the Brewers named him their new manager before the 2024 season. Most teams extend their current manager before their final contract year to avoid a lame duck situation, but there have been no updates about Murphy's future. Both sides have sidestepped the question, which Attanasio did again on Tuesday.

"Everybody loves Murph, there's no doubt," Attanasio said. "But we don't talk about contracts. We do talk about stability. We've had a huge amount of stability here, and that's the goal."

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[Ron750]

I’m resigned to accepting bites at the apple, without hoping for a World Series championship. The Brewers can’t win a WS unless their is significant payroll disparity reform. I’m 69, it probably won’t happen in my lifetime. 
Maybe the fact that the MLBPA President couldn’t keep his hand out of the till, or keep it in his pants will speed up reform, but I doubt it. 

[cragi]

that seems crazy to force teams to utilize the same technology, killing any competitive edge they might find in a sport that already favors the rich. Way for MLB to find ways to kill competition

[Jason Wang]

3 hours ago, cragi said:

that seems crazy to force teams to utilize the same technology, killing any competitive edge they might find in a sport that already favors the rich. Way for MLB to find ways to kill competition

Based on the article by Eno Sarris, it looks like it's actually a step in the right direction. It seems like the wealthier organizations just had more to spend on/invest in analytics tech and MLB wants everyone to be working with the same data.

Where the wheat gets separated from the chaff is how each organization ends up using the data. It's similar to things like BaseballReference/Savant/FanGraphs which area easily accessible to everyone but contain troves of information that many often gloss over.

So to be fair I think it moves towards parity in the right direction and it still seems like organizations have some optionality on how they get their data, as long as it's approved by MLB. 

[Turning2]

MLB INC won't be satisfied until they have stripped small markets from any possible path to a WS Championship. The only way things change is if enough fans would walk away and starve the beast financially. But that will never happen and the monied men of MLB know it.  Between a TV viewing package and attending 2 games with my family, I contributed at least $500 to this insulting nonsense last year. Not sure that I can justify spending that much again unless the competitive / financial balance gets fixed. 

[GasserFace]

We'll see, but Manfred's comments recently are moving towards eliminating local TV deals and taking the whole viewing package to market in 2028.  If he can get that done, the table is set for more equitable revenue sharing and competitive balance.

If he can get that done, that would be the grandest accomplishment by a MLB comissioner.