"Cheap billionaires" - Fans slam $1.9B worth Brewers owner for skimping on team spending amid high stakes Dodgers series

The Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers' National League Championship Series could hold significant importance in the current MLB landscape. While it might be a closely fought battle on the field, the stark contrast in both teams' payroll could have a profound effect on the sport's future.

The MLB is scheduled to have a meeting over the new Collective Bargaining Agreement next winter, with the implementation of the salary cap being a major point of discussion.

According to ESPN analyst Jeff Passan, the Dodgers had the biggest payroll in the league this year at $350 million ($500 million when including luxury tax), while the Brewers are ranked 22nd at $122 million. In his series preview on Oct. 13, Passan said the NLCS could be used as a factor to determine whether salary cap rules need to be implemented.

Several Dodgers fans took exception to Passan's report.

"It’s not our fault the Brewers owner is worth $1.9 billion and chooses to spend it on his home in Malibu instead of the Brewers," the fan wrote.

This sparked an online frenzy as those opposed to a salary cap took to the comments to share their reactions.

Maverick

@KimbleGathers

@baseballinpix MLB owners have money to spend. They chose not to. Dodgers doing nothing wrong . Wait for Tucker this off season.

"MLB owners have money to spend.They chose not to. Dodgers doing nothing wrong. Wait for Tucker this off season."

Sean Valsean

@SombreroSamurai

@baseballinpix Cheap billionaires.

"Cheap billionaires"

"Tired of this BS excuse. Dodgers have had high payrolls in the past with no post season success or titles to show for it. Suddenly it's a problem," a fan said.

Linda Huerta

@huerta_lin38302

@LAtweets22 Tired of this BS excuse. Dodgers have had high payrolls in the past with no post season success or titles to show for it. Suddenly it's a problem. 🙄

"I don’t think it only comes to money for the Dodgers. As a matter of fact, some players have taken less to be with this team. Its called “free” agency for a reason. Why limit a player’s choice on where they can play?" another fan said.

Joe

@MokaJoe68

@LAtweets22 I don’t think it only comes to money for the Dodgers. As a matter of fact, some players have taken less to be with this team. Its called “free” agency for a reason. Why limit a player’s choice on where they can play?

"Baseball doesn’t need a salary cap, it’s needs a salary floor," a fan wrote.

Mezza

@mezza_503

@LAtweets22 Baseball doesn’t need a salary cap, it’s needs a salary floor

"I been talkin mad s**t about The Dodgers but you know when you look at it this way you can’t even feel bad for other teams anymore," another fan said.

Tha Bunk

@BrokeBoy_15

I been talkin mad shit about The Dodgers but you know when you look at it this way you can’t even feel bad for other teams anymore

D.A. Savage

@damonalansavage

@LAtweets22 Brewers ownership pockets more from the team revenue then do the Dodgers. Its a free market save for the luxury tax that underspending ownership groups benefit from. Let games be decided on the field as always and understand sometimes the best roster construction wins the day!

Travitude_Gaming

@realKingpin_MMA

@LAtweets22 The Dodgers management spend a good portion of their revenue on salary. Other teams choose not to do that. Brewers spend around 40% of revenue on player salaries, Dodgers are closer to 75%

Despite a lower payroll, the Brewers posted the best record in baseball and had four more wins than their NLCS opponents. However, they have been blown away in the first two games of the series, with the Los Angeles pitching staff dominating the Brewers' offense.

Mark Attanasio's unwavering support of the way the Brewers have been run

In an exclusive with Sports Business Journal published on Oct. 10, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio weighed in on how the Brewers have remained contenders over the years with a limited payroll.

“We’ve been consistent in trying to compete. I know how hard it is to do what we’re doing, and we don’t take anything for granted,” Attanasio told Sports Business Journal. “And in case we were taking anything for granted, the first four games of the season took care of that.”

Since the 2020 season, when it finished fourth, Milwaukee has never finished outside the top two in the NL Central, despite never spending more than $135.2 million on its roster.