Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - Alan Trammell spent 20 years playing baseball for the Tigers and won a World Series ring (1984), but he has to know it will take him several years to return to the Fall Classic if he remains as Detroit's manager.

Playing in a small market is usually a ticket to a losing season because owners can't afford to keep too many veteran players on their clubs, as they command high salaries. There have been some exceptions, as noted by the Minnesota Twins and Oakland Athletics last year. Yet, it will remain tough for these teams to win consistently.

It's the circle of life for smaller market teams in the majors. With today's economics in baseball, highly-touted prospects who rise up through the farm system and make it on teams like the Twins, A's, Royals, Pirates, or Expos aren't likely to remain there for many years.

Last year, the Twins and A's both won their divisions despite being low on the totem pole in salary structure. Minnesota had a payroll of just over $40 million, while Oakland was barely under that mark in 2002. Still, the Twins won the AL Central Division and Oakland captured the AL West. Yet, the A's and Twins each had young guns propelling them to the top.

Oakland's pitching trio of Tim Hudson (27), Mark Mulder (25) and Barry Zito (24) remain young, but how long can they remain on the same team knowing they will ask for huge contracts?

Minnesota is lucky to have a decent corps of outfielders in Torii Hunter (27), Jacque Jones (27) and Michael Cuddyer (24), but will they remain in the Twin Cities or go elsewhere for more money once they become free agents? The Twins, who are trying to secure money to play in a new ballpark, have already been mentioned for contraction.

The NL champion San Francisco Giants had the 10th highest payroll last year at just over $78 million, while the World Series champion Anaheim Angels were 15th at just under $62 million. While the Giants trimmed their salary a bit this year, they will still remain a force because they were able to spend money on big-name free agents like Edgardo Alfonzo and Ray Durham, who came over from Oakland. Anaheim still has the core of its players back this year.

As for the Tigers, they aren't in such a small market compared to teams like the Royals or Cincinnati Reds. However, owner Mike Illitch, who also is in control of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, seems to have more interest in the success of his hockey team than the Tigers.

Trammell took over a team that finished 55-106 in 2002, marking the Tigers' worst season since they posted a 53-109 mark in 1996. Problems continued in the first week of the 2003 season, as Detroit was winless in six games. The troubles may continue for Trammell's team knowing the hand he's been dealt.

Detroit has gone with a true youth movement this season. Jeremy Bonderman, who is 20-years-old, has been inserted into the starting rotation. Veteran Damion Easley was cut by the team just before the start of the season. That left the Tigers will a starting infield of young no-names in 24-year-old Carlos Pena at first base, Ramon Santiago (23) at second, Omar Infante (21) at shortstop and Eric Munson (25) at third.

The Cleveland Indians had no choice but to unload first baseman Jim Thome, who signed a six-year, $85 million contract with the Phillies in the offseason. There was no way Indians owner Larry Dolan, who bought the team for $323 million in 2000, would unload that kind of money to keep their slugger, especially since the total payroll for the Tribe last year was approaching $79 million. Now they are in a rebuilding phase with youngsters like Travis Hafner (1B), Brandon Phillips (2B), Casey Blake (3B) and Josh Bard (C) playing in the infield because they don't command a lot of money.

The Royals started the first week of the season at a franchise-best 6-0 and Tony Pena's club may be special this year if young hurlers Runelvys Hernandez and Jeremy Affeldt can remain healthy.

Lloyd McClendon's Pirates began the season at 5-1 and Pittsburgh has been fortunate so far with the expert pitching of young Kris Benson.

However, it's nearly impossible for smaller-market teams like the Royals, Twins, A's, Brewers, Expos and Pirates to be winners each year. All of these clubs were in the bottom third of total payrolls among the 30 major league clubs last year.

It used to be that a major leaguer would get a chance to have a thriving career with one team throughout his career. The shameful part to all this is a major leaguer is now likely to leave a small market club in the prime of his career to play for teams like the Yankees, Mets, and Boston Red Sox. Again, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

As the young players mature, they will demand more money and it will be almost impossible for owners to retain them. That opens the door for owners like George Steinbrenner of the Yankees to grab those top-notch players. With a huge TV contract from the YES Network, King George has extra income whereas other owners don't have that luxury.

And then there are the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, whose entire team makes less than Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez. Lou Piniella said he wanted to return home to manage. Well he got his wish, but unfortunately for him he is stuck with the club that had the lowest payroll in the majors last year.

Well, Lou what goes around comes around. You were the manager of Steinbrenner's team from 1986-88 and last year you were in charge of the Mariners, a club that had the eighth highest payroll. Live with it.