Teams like the (payroll ranking) Marlins (30), Rays (29), Athletics (28), Twins (24) and Diamondbacks (23) have always interested me as someone who studies baseball. They are winning despite having some of the lowest payrolls in MLB. These are the top ten reasons that they are succeeding. Check out my interview with Pat Listach, the Manager of the Iowa Cubs, on Micah Hoffpauir at the Vine Line’s Cubs Club Blog.

10. Bomb Droppers
This doesn’t apply to all the teams because power does come late for many young hitters and most of these teams are extremely young, but for the more developed teams like the Marlins who are second in the NL and the Diamondbacks who are fourth, the home run is a major part of how they score runs with low team batting averages.

9. No overpriced fading former stars
Without black holes in their lineups, i.e. players that can’t be released because of hefty contracts and are worth nothing on the trade market (Carlos Delgado), they can use their free money on locking up their young talent to long term contracts (Evan Longoria), being able to afford players they trade for (Dan Haren) or in player development (B.J. Upton). Now they can go after free agents where need-be and make a real run at the World Series (like the Marlins and Diamondbacks do).

8. They win at home
All these teams play extremely well at home and by winning at home they make it less important to win on the road, which can be very tough for many young teams.

7. Have developed players in system or traded for top prospects
Instead of trying to buy World Series through free agencies or through trading away young talent, these teams have taken the time to develop their draft picks (Tampa Bay, Arizona) or trade for other teams top prospects (Florida, Oakland). This way they can use the five years of arbitration before they can get a free agency contract. This is key for these low budget teams if they don’t decide to sign their young players to long-term “cheap” contracts (Longoria, Hanley Ramirez).

6. They score despite bad batting average
Without a ton of firepower these teams have shown they can put up enough runs to win. The Twins rank fourth, the Rays rank fifth and the A’s rank sixth in runs scored in the AL. Also the Diamondbacks and Marlins rank third and sixth in the NL. Now these are not huge rankings but they are scoring enough to win games, which is all that matters.

5. They get on base
These teams do not hit the ball very much, but they have made those hits count because they increase their scoring chances by getting on base. The Athletics are first in the AL in walks, while Tampa Bay is fifth in OBP. Arizona has also separated itself by ranking third in the NL in walks.

4. They win in their own division
Every team but Oakland has a winning record in their division and teams like the Diamondbacks have absolutely dominated their division, separating themselves from everybody else in it. By winning in your own division you not only get a win but push the teams you beat even farther back making the division title even more likely

3. Limiting free base runners
The next two are the most important thing that these teams have learned to do…pitch. They do not let runners on for free, or in other words via the walk or HBP. Minnesota is first and Oakland is third in the AL in walks given up, while Tampa Bay is first in HBP. While in the NL Arizona gives up the fewest walks. All these teams don’t hit for high averages and need to keep the other teams out of as many scoring chances as possible (runners), so by limiting free bases these teams decrease the chances of runs allowed and increase their chances of winning.

2. Don’t allow runs
Because of this trend these low budget teams do not give up a ton of runs. Tampa Bay is fifth and Oakland is third in AL ERA, while Arizona is second in the NL. By decreasing the number of runs allowed these low budget teams can still win without top-level talent on offense. Or in other words without scoring a ton of runs.

1. What separates the Rays from the rest: Fielding
What makes the Rays the best team in the AL? They field the ball. Tampa Bay has committed the fewest errors in the major leagues. They do not make mistakes that put base runners on and advance others on the base paths. Their solid fielding ability is what the other low budget teams need to emphasize in order to make that next step that the Rays have.