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MLB Franchise Notes: D-Backs Payroll Expected To Drop Due To Low Attendance

In Phoenix, Zach Buchanan reports the D-Backs are "on pace to draw a franchise-low 2,029,751 in attendance this season, and the financial hit from that will affect next year's payroll." D-Backs President & CEO Derrick Hall "expects it to drop" to the $100M range after "beginning this season at a franchise record" of around $112M. Hall said, "The formula that really works for major-league teams is to try and keep your payroll at about half of your revenues. For us, that's what we're looking at. We're going to be budgeting right around $100 million. If we think we can spend more, we're going to" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/12).

KEGS RUNNING LOW? In Milwaukee, Rich Kirchen noted the Brewers' recent "on-field swoon has not hurt ticket sales at Miller Park," but an "increased number of no-shows is starting to dent merchandise sales at the stadium." Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger said that the club is "on target to hit 2.8 million in attendance this year," which would represent a 10.7% increase over '13. The Brewers "remain in the hunt for a wild-card game in the playoffs, which could stoke fan interest" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/10).

BREAK OUT THE CHECKBOOK: Red Sox Chair Tom Werner appeared on WEEI-FM's "Dennis & Callahan" on Thursday and "assured that ownership will spend the money needed to help return to the team to the top." Werner: "I wouldn’t say that we have limitless money, but we’ve got a lot of money to spend and we’re determined to go into the free agent market and improve the team." He added, "I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s very difficult to repeat, but I think that we probably put a bit more stock in our younger players performing at the level we expected them to" (WEEI.com, 9/11).

KEEPING UP WITH THE FLOCK: In Baltimore, Dan Jones Jr. reports the Orioles "recently joined a growing number of teams to institute additional security procedures to prepare" for MLB's requirements at the beginning of next season. The added measures currently are only "in effect at some entrances to Camden Yards" (Baltimore SUN, 9/12).

MILLION DOLLAR BABY: ESPN's Keith Olbermann said of former Mets Senior VP/Ticket Sales & Service Leigh Castergine suing the team for discrimination due to pregnancy out of wedlock, "If this vice president you fired actually managed to sell any tickets to this team that (Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and Owner Fred Wilpon) have systematically run into the ground for the last seven years, you should have given her a million dollar bonus and hired that baby to run your advertising department" ("Olbermann," ESPN2, 9/11).

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