Baseball goes against economic curve

Forbes’ annual study of the value of major league franchises sent a distinct message counter to what’s happening with the rest of the country.

And that message is: Slumping economy? What slumping economy?

The New York Yankees, who failed to make the playoffs in 2008, saw their value shoot up 15% from last year -- to a staggering $1.5 billion.

The second-ranked New York Mets almost reached the billion barrier, their value assessed at $912 million.

The Dodgers and Angels both ranked in the top six. The Dodgers’ value climbed up 4% to $722 million, earning the team fourth place. The sixth-place Angels were valued at $509 million, up 2% from last year.

Best value? The defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays checked in at $328 million, earning them 26th place, four slots ahead of the last-place Florida Marlins ($277 million).

Overall, team values increased 1% from last year to an average all-time high of $482 million.

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Trivia time

Which player had the most career at-bats against Nolan Ryan without ever striking out?

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New media, old media

The Kansas City Chiefs’ trade of Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round draft choice had football fans all atwitter last week. Market research by the informatic software company Spiral 16 showed that 53% of Twitter postings across the country disliked the trade and 43% approved of the trade -- most likely living in or near Atlanta; 4% were neutral.

Meanwhile, in the Kansas City Star, columnist Joe Posnanski voiced the feelings of Chiefs fans when he wrote: “Let’s be honest: There isn’t much sentimentality in pro football. Jerry Rice finished his career with the Seattle Seahawks. John Unitas threw his last pass for the San Diego Chargers. Emmitt Smith gained his last yards for the Arizona Cardinals. Reggie White made his last sack for the Carolina Panthers.

“And so Gonzalez, the greatest pass-catching tight end in football history, will probably catch his last pass for the Atlanta Falcons. No, it doesn’t seem right. But football rarely has proper endings.”

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Trivia answer

Fernando Valenzuela, with 12.

(Question and answer provided by reader Alan Stern of Shadow Hills.)

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And finally

Heavyweight boxer David Haye, to the Associated Press, on his June 20 fight against Wladimir Klitschko: “There is no chance the fight will go 12 rounds, unless he gets a chin transplant.”

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mike.penner@latimes.com