The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Rich Exner and Bill Lubinger used their computer-assisted reporting skills to dig into the economic slate of Major League baseball today.

Does maximum cash equate to winning?

It’s an interesting report, but flawed in many areas and just not broad enough overall.

It is obvious from the onset Exner and Lubinger may be examining a sport they know little about:

But while reviving the call for a cap on major-league salaries that many owners believe would give teams equal footing, Red Sox President Larry Lucchino reminded the media, “An old adage says [there's] three things money can’t buy — love, happiness and the American League pennant.”

But a Plain Dealer comparison of payrolls and team performance over the last 13 seasons (1996-2008) suggests that, yes, Larry, you can buy your way into the postseason.

Making the postseason and winning an American League pennant are two different things guys.

Obviously there is going to be a direct correlation with spending money and making the playoffs. Baseball has always been an uneven playing field.

The reporters offered these bullet points in their story:

• Nearly 80 percent of the 104 playoff teams since 1996 ranked among the top half in payrolls.
• Eight of the 13 World Series titles were won by teams ranked among the top 10 payrolls.
• Last season, the three teams with the highest payrolls — the Yankees, Detroit and New York Mets — sat out the playoffs. But other high payroll teams dominated: No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 all reached the postseason.

The top half in payrolls is a broad spectrum. There is a huge difference between the 2008 Yankees who had a payroll of $209,081,579 and the No. 15 team, the Milwaukee Brewers, who had a payroll of $81,004,167. The Indians came in at No. 16 with a payroll of $78,970,067.

The Brewers were the only playoff team of that group.

The Top 10 payrolls are also interesting. The No. 10 team last year, the Atlanta Braves, had a payroll that was half of the Yankees at $102,424,018. Heck the No. 2 team, the Detroit Tigers were far behind the Yankees at $138,685,197.

While a team may be in the top 10 or 15 of payrolls, it doesn’t mean they are throwing around a lot of cash. There is just such a huge difference after you get past the Yankees.
Click here to check out everyone’s payroll from last season

But what the report really ignores is how Major League baseball is beginning to close the economic gap through revenue sharing.

In 2001 the revenue sharing system circulated $169 million dollars throughout all of Major League Baseball, according to Sports Illustrated senior writer Tom Verducci in his new book, the Yankee Years. By 2008 the figure jumped to $408 million dollars.

This has allowed teams like the Tampa Bay Rays the ability to sign some of their premiere young players, Like Evan Longoria, to long term deals.

Now that small market teams can afford to buy out their star player’s arbitration years (six years), players are not hitting the free agent market till they are about 30 years old. Making there attractiveness to possible buyers less then they would be if they were hitting the market at 25, reaching their peak years.

This leaves the free-wheeling Yankees, who like to purge free agency, with choices that are getting closer to the downside of their career.

While there is always going to be a disparity between the top payrolls and the lower payrolls, teams are starting to catch up just by being economically efficient as well.

Which, Exner and Lubinger tried to cover in their second story:

Only Oakland, Minnesota, Atlanta, Houston and St. Louis graded out better (than the Indians) in analyzing the combination of win totals and opening day payrolls over the 13 full seasons since the 1994-95 work stoppage.

Not suprisingly, the Oakland A’s — with their dollar-stretching ways made famous by the 2003 book Moneyball — got more for their money than any other team in baseball.

Adam Miller missed his scheduled appearance Friday because of pain in his surgically repaired finger.

“He had a  little soreness in his finger,” manager Eric Wedge said Saturday. “”I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. We just didn’t want to push it.”

Miller pitched in only six games for Triple-A Buffalo last year, missing most of the season after undergoing an operation to repair his right middle finger. He returned to throw in the fall instructional league and made eight appearances in the Dominican Republic Winter League.

Tribe officials are hoping that Miller makes a strong bid to win a spot in the bullpen.

SAME GAME? – It was a vastly different kind of baseball than the Indians experienced in their first two games, when opposing teams amassed  41 runs.

But after a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday, the Tribe dropped a 1-0 decision to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, as each team managed only three hits.

Edward Mujica gave up the only run on two hits in the seventh inning and has given up five earned runs and five hits in two innings.

Otherwise, the pitching news was good for the Tribe, as Carl Pavano, Scott Lewis and Rafael Perez each threw  two hitless innings.

“It was nice to see a good pitching day out here,” Wedge said.

MEDICAL UPDATES -- Wedge reported that closer Kerry Wood had no back pain when he threw a bullpen on Friday.

“He threw the ball well,” said the manager, who did not predict when Wood would appear in an exhibition game. “Everything was positive.”

Sidearming reliever Joe Smith is recovering from a viral infection, but it will be awhile before he pitches in a game.

“We have to get him strong again, build him up,” Wedge said. “”But I would say he’ll be in there in a week or less.”

David Dellucci and Travis Hafner appear to be on the same track.

“They both will probably play toward the end of the week,” Wedge said.

Hafner is coming off shoulder surgery, and Dellucci had to take three stitches in his thumb after slamming a door on his hand before coming to camp.

REPLACEMENT PLAYER – Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies will take the place of Grady Sizemore, who dropped out of the World Baseball Classic on Friday because of a groin strain.

With Vernon Wells also a recent scratch,Team USA is left with  little in the way of power. Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and David Wright of the New York Mets are the best home run threats remaining.

MARCHING ONWARD – The Indians return to Goodyear today to play the Colorado Rockies. Zach Jackson will start against Aaron Cook. In the bullpen will be Jeremy Sowers, Jensen Lewis, Jack Cassel, Kirk Saarloos, Tomo Okha, John Meloan and Hector Rondon.

The Cleveland Indians signed right-handed pitchers Kirk Saarloos and Greg Aquino to minor league contracts today. The two will be non-rsoter invitees to Spring training.

Saarloos is a journeyman pitcher who began his seven-year career with the Houston Astros. He has also pitched with the Reds and, most recently, the Oakland A’s. His career record is 29-30 with a 5.02 ERA.

Aquino, another journeyman, is a converted infielder with a 2-4 record and 17 saves in his five years as a pitcher. Aquino led the Arizona Diamondbacks with 16 saves in 2004.

The Indians have now extended 7 non-roster invitations to minor league free agents: RHP Tomo Ohka and catcher Damaso Espino. Infielders: Andy Cannizaro, Jesus Merchan and Wilson Valdez.

I like this story by the Canton Rep’s Josh Weir on possible Comeback-Player-of-the-Year candidates – including two Indians in newcomer and right-handed pitcher Carl Pavano and All-Star catcher Victor Martinez. Of course, designated hitter Travis Hafner could have easily made the list as well.

Around baseball: Several players hope to recapture old magic in new locations

Barry Zito
The Giants are hoping for a little return on their $126 million investment.