This issue highlights why I don't really understand the grocer's whole stance on the payroll right now. I see it in two ways. First, if he has serious liquidity issues and this is a serious "batten down the hatches and weather the storm" situation, then I understand the current view on the payroll cap.
However, if he/the organization currently have liquidity the payroll makes no sense. The way I see the current economic environment is that the companies with adequate liquidity and strong balance sheets are going to come away from the recessionary environment as big winners. They be defined as such because they are going to be able to acquire attractive assets at signficantly depressed valuations. You are seeing the exact same thing in the free agent market currently. If the Astros could acquire players like a Wolf, Sheets, Garland, Wigginton etc. at basement bottom prices, the economic benefits just makes obvious sense if they had the cash. If the economy doesn't turn, and the Astros are losing you will be hearing crickets in that stadium. People aren't going to shell out the same cash just to sit and watch a loser on a given night--those Friday, Saturday, Sunday casual fans ("why isn't bagwell playing first base?") in particular. Economy be damned, it would be packed in a hot pennant race in the late summer months, and I'd think you'd see a nice return on those relatively cheap investments (FA signings).
I'm not saying Drayton is cheap at all. I just don't think the organization is capitalizing on a buyers market that could position the franchise for a couple winning seasons and generate the organization some nice returns on their investments back into the franchise.
