The Philadelphia Phillies regularly have one of baseball\'s highest payrolls, something owner John Middleton doesn\'t regret at all.
Middleton surely has a desire to win, but he also recognizes an essential truth about team ownership.
\"It\'s remarkable how special this city is as a fan base. It\'s why I keep telling everybody, it may be a privately-held business that we own, but it\'s not a private organization,\" the owner told The Athletic.
\"It\'s a very public organization. It\'s a stewardship. We have an obligation. We are accountable to the fans and to the city. If you don\'t approach it that way, you shouldn\'t be an owner, in my opinion.\"