CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last week, we examined how the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers go about their business in starkly different ways. Here's a recap of our "Eyeing the Tigers" series, in which we explored the differences between the two American League Central rivals.

Part one: What role does ownership play?

Paul Dolan and Mike Ilitch operate in similar ways, but with vastly different resources. Both delegate power and decision-making to their front offices.

"Some bigwigs crave the spotlight. They garner attention with a hands-on approach or an unfiltered mouth. Others remain in the background and hand the keys to those under their employ. Dolan conducts business in the latter fashion. So does Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers, the Indians' chief rival in the American League Central."

What you said: TribeFan82: While it would be nice to spend like the Tigers have spent, in the end it hasn't translated to anything more than division titles for them. I like the role of the underdog, makes beating teams like Detroit that much sweeter.

Part two: Comparing market size, TV ratings, attendance and more

All of these factors shed light on the health of an organization.

"Both the Indians and Tigers ranked among the top five in baseball last year in average TV ratings. Regarding percentage of potential audience, Detroit finished second among the 30 teams. Cleveland finished fifth.

The Indians achieved a 6.17 rating, up from 5.5 last year and 3.9 the year before. Ratings for radio broadcasts also increased 15 percent in 2014. So, despite lackluster attendance, fans still paid attention.

The Tigers notched a 7.62 TV rating last year, according to Nielsen."

What you said: TheSmilingDog3: Attendance differences are simply due to building a tradition of winning. Also, fans understand that competitive balance leaves the Indians at a disadvantage. Yet the TV market tells you we are closer to Detroit than imagined -- in market size. But how can you cheer for a team when your best players are destined to go somewhere else? The entire team changes every few years. The FO has done a great job in building on a budget. Let us hope they will be able to keep the good players we are all getting to know.

Part three: Given the difference in payroll, how does each front office choose to operate?

The Tigers have much more money to throw at players, both already on their team and on the open market. The Indians operate differently.

"With one of the lower payrolls in the league, the Indians function on value. Antonetti has attempted to assemble a group of young, controllable players who have yet to reach their financial peak. Frankly, he has done just that.

The Indians paid American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber $514,000 in 2014. He stands to earn a similar salary in 2015 before becoming eligible for arbitration next winter. The team signed Gavin Floyd to a pact that includes a $4 million base salary. Floyd will earn about as much as the club's four other starting pitchers combined."

What you said: capmjh: Having a large payroll has all but guaranteed the Tigers with a playoff spot year after year. They do some tweaking, like letting Scherzer go, but then they acquire a Price and could very well keep him long term. It is very rare to see a large payroll team in the bottom of their division, with some exceptions.

For teams like the Indians, they can't guarantee playoff competitiveness year after year; they HOPE for that competitiveness for a 3-5 year, at most span. Then they trade away the stars, dropping down to the bottom of their division for 3-5 years, and rebuild yet again with a minimal payroll and generate new hope.

It is much easier for fans to support the Tigers; they get AND KEEP their stars long term. The Tribe never does. That's why the attendance tells the story as to what type of ownership the fans prefer.

zigg7006: A big payroll increases your chances to remain competitive. Not to win a championship. Year after year we see teams with big payrolls (like Detroit) come into the playoffs favored to win it all and fail to do so.

The playoffs are somewhat of a crapshoot. But a big payroll can make you a contender.....usually. Sometimes a big payroll does't even do that. But usually it does. It provides the team's fans with hope. Hope to win a championship.

Good news for the Tribe is that the 2nd wildcard has opened things up. It allows teams to stay in the race longer now.

Part four: Does perception match reality?

The Tigers are often perceived as the big, bad wolf. The Indians are considered a small-market club.

"Detroit might spend like a financial titan, but even team president/GM Dave Dombrowski said he considers the Tigers "more of a medium-market club." They aren't on the same level as the Dodgers, who spent about $230 million last year. Detroit had to bid adieu to hurler Max Scherzer, who signed a $210 million deal with Washington over the winter."

What you said: zigg7006: Yeah, the Tigers will be screwed in a few years paying outrageous salaries to middle aged players well beyond their prime. More than anything, it has been the Tribe's inability to draft well and develop those draft picks that has hurt them. Sure, it would have been nice to have kept some guys like VMart and Lee, but poor drafting has hurt more. Another problem is that they have given some big contracts to underperfroming/injury prone players. Hafner and Swisher come to mind. Spending a lot of money doesn't always work out well. Good news is that the Tribe has proven more adept at making trades more than anything else.