does money equal success?

Right now, in Major League Baseball, some of the best teams have the lowest salaries. The D-backs rank first in their division and 23rd (out of 30) in salary. Meanwhile the Dodgers are 7th in salary and trail Arizona by four games (despite having a salary that is twice as high). The Mets, with the second highest salary in baseball, rank second to last in their division. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has one of the best records in baseball while they have the second lowest record.

These are not simple exceptions. Oakland, who has the third lowest salary in baseball, continues to stay competitive year after year. Why is this the case? My first thought is that superstars are overrated. The A's play as a team, with each player making up for another's weaknesses. They take the time to train players and coach them well in their farm system. Moreover, the A's are innovative. Rather than following tradition, they utilize data to drive counterintuitive decisions that often lead to victory. The biggest difference I see is that the A's seem to have fun. Just watch the bench of Oakland and New York. You can almost feel the difference.

When I think about my school, I want us to be more like the A's. I think it's possible. However, we need to realize that it's not going to the work of a savior, working as a lone ranger to garner fame and attention. We don't need a Derek Jeeter. Nor will it require a great facility. I realize that we don't get the special treatment that other schools get. We aren't the Yankees. Yet, the success of the A's and the Devil Rays demonstrates that the greatest capital is human capital.

We need to work together as a team and do what it takes to fulfill the common goal of making sure students learn. Like the A's, we need to develop firm roles for everyone and check our ego at the door. We will need to use the data, even when it seems counterintuitive. But also, we need to have fun. We need to play together and laugh together as a team.