How we compiled the MLB franchise rankings

USATODAY

Paste BN Sports' franchise rankings measures teams' success over a five-year period (2009 to 2013). We based the rankings on the following criteria:

1. Postseason success: Teams were awarded 12 points for winning a World Series, eight for losing a World Series, six for losing a league championship series, four for losing a division series and two for losing a wild-card game.

2. Regular-season success: Teams were ranked by their five-year winning percentages. No.1 was given 30 points; No.2, 29 points; No.3, 28 points; etc.

3. This season's regular-seasonsuccess: Teams were ranked by their 2013 winning percentage and awarded points in the following allotments:

1-3 in winning pct.: 10 points
4-6: 9 points
7-9: 8 points
10-12: 7 points
13-15: 6 points
16-18: 5 points
19-21: 4 points
22-24: 3 points
25-27: 2 points
28-30: 1 point

4. Drafting/signing success: Teams were awarded a point for each player they drafted or signed as a non-drafted free agent since 2007 who has reached the majors, regardless of with which team. Two points were awarded for a player among this group who won a Most Valuable Player or Cy Young award. An additional point was awarded for each player who won a rookie of the year award and for each All-Star appearance he has had in the major leagues. (2013 awards are not factored in, as they had not been announced at press time.)

5. Front office continuity: Teams started with 10 points and lost one point with every change of manager or general manager in the last five seasons.

6. Franchise value: Rankings in Forbes magazine's franchise values over the five-year period were averaged and teams were given points as follows:

1-3 in rank: 10 points
4-6: 9 points
7-9: 8 points
10-12: 7 points
13-15: 6 points
16-18: 5 points
19-21: 4 points
22-24: 3 points
25-27: 2 points
28-30: 1 point

7. Attendance: We multiplied teams' annual ballpark capacities over the five-year period by the number of games played there each season to arrive at a total capacity, then ranked teams based on percentage of capacity filled. We allotted points as follows (using attendance figures and capacities provided by major league teams and Baseball-Reference.com):

1-3 highest percentages filled: 10 points
4-6: 9 points
7-9: 8 points
10-12: 7 points
13-15: 6 points
16-18: 5 points
19-21: 4 points
22-24: 3 points
25-27: 2 points
28-30: 1 point

8. Affordability: We averaged teams' Fan Cost Index over the five-year period provided by Team Marketing Report. The Fan Cost Index includes "the prices of four adult average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two least expensive, adult-size adjustable caps." Figures for 2009 and 2010 factored in "two adult average-price tickets and two child average-price tickets" instead of four adult tickets. Points were then assigned as follows:

1-3 least expensive venues for a family: 10 points
4-6: 9 points
7-9: 8 points
10-12: 7 points
13-15: 6 points
16-18: 5 points
19-21: 4 points
22-24: 3 points
25-27: 2 points
28-30: 1 point

9. Payroll dollars per win: We averaged teams' payroll dollars spent per win over the five seasons, based on Paste BN Sports' opening-day payrolls and allotted points as follows:

1-3 in fewest payroll dollars per win: 10 points
4-6: 9 points
7-9: 8 points
10-12: 7 points
13-15: 6 points
16-18: 5 points
19-21: 4 points
22-24: 3 points
25-27: 2 points
28-30: 1 point

Rankings compiled by Chris Almeida. Contributing: Erik Anderson, Alejandro Zuniga Sacks, Maury Brown (BizofBaseball.com)

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