Being the #1 spender guarantees nothing.
That said, only 2 of the last 15 champs were out of the top 10 in spending.
So NOT spending pretty much guarantees NOT winning, while big time spending only gets you a seat at the table
Pirates squeaked out game 1 of the double header with the Brewers. Milwaukee had the bases loaded with 1 out in the 9th but Vaughn hit into a double play to end it