While We’re Waiting… MLB Payroll Increases And Success, Browns’ Year In Review, And Shurmur Reflections

While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com. Leading off at The Hardball Times, Glenn DuPaul talks payroll increases and win totals. It doesn’t necessarily bode well for the 2013 Cleveland Indians, eh? “Last week, I discussed the issue of teams “going for broke” and how significant increases in payroll may affect overall success (win totals). One of the more interesting findings in that piece dealt with teams who had great success the season before they increased payroll. I found that from 2001 to 2012 there were 28 teams who won at least 88 games in the year before they increased payroll by at least 20 percent. Of those 28 teams, only 14 teams were able to get back to that 88-win threshold in the subsequent season. This result sounds surprising when taken at face value. In most cases, the assumption would be that the in...