Brewers, Rays Post MLB-Best 74-46 Records as Owners Push Salary Cap Case

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 12

Milwaukee and Tampa Bay both sit at 74-46 with about 40 games left, giving two low-payroll clubs the best records in baseball as MLB owners argue spending gaps make competition unfair.
The results undercut the league's "Level the Playing Field" campaign, which has highlighted the Dodgers' spending while seeking fan backing for a salary cap and possible lockout.
Payroll rankings cut against the owners' case: the Brewers are 19th, the Rays 23rd and the first-place White Sox 25th, while Cleveland ranks last in payroll and remains two games out of a wild-card spot.
Several high-payroll teams are struggling instead, including the Mets at 53-68, the Angels at 46-74, Toronto at 58-63 and San Francisco at 50-70.
The debate may still turn on October, when short playoff series can outweigh 162-game regular-season evidence and shape public support for a cap.