I don't think very many fans worry about saving money for the owners. They worry about the front office not spending wisely because they know that hurts the quality of the team on the field.
Wrong.
They went over by about 2.5 million.
Their final tax bill was about 11.95 million.
First 20 million over @ 20% = 4 million
Next 20 million over @ 32% = 6.4 million
Last 2.5 million over @ 62.5% = 1.55 million
There is a pile of randomness in baseball.
It's time for me to recite what Mike Mussina said again. Mussina said that out of 32 starts, he would have 8 where everything was working, 8 where nothing was working, and 16 where something was working.
That may be a fair point. Of course what starters are asked to do, go 6-7 quality innings, is much different from what relievers are asked to do, so it's a bit of apples-oranges.
To me the hilarious part is that MLB decided to PROVE the ball is juiced this year by introducing it in AAA ball, where the homer rate has increased by 50%.