As a Yankees fan, I will say this: It's starting to get ridiculous. The Yankees are targeting both Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee, the two most prized free agents this offseason, and will likely offer each of them lucrative contracts. It's getting out of hand. There's just too many insane free agent signings and contracts in New York. It's getting harder to be a fan, as the brass is, and I will say it, trying to buy a championship. People have said it for years, but now it really is coming true.
Imagine the Yankees with Crawford and Lee. It isn't unrealistic to say every man in their lineup could make the all-star team, if Gardy can break out and Jorge has some bat left in him. I mean I honestly don't know what I'd say, as a Yankees fan, when someone comes and tells me the Yanks try to buy championships, because it's a reality. Last year their payroll was roughly seven times that of the Pirates, who's $34,943,000 million was the lowest of the 30 teams. And here's something that might not surprise anyone, but is ridiculous nonetheless. Alex Rodriguez's salary last year was 33 million. What that means is the whole entire payroll of last year's Pittsburgh Pirates team was less than two million more than one player's salary.
And then there's Teixeira and Jeter and Sabathia and Granderson and Burnett and Cano and Rivera and Posada and Swisher.....all, either currently or at one point, all-star caliber players, all with huge salaries. Speedster Brett Gardner, at 452K last year, was the only value player in the lineup, the only guy getting paid below the league average. Shouldn't all these players be able to bring a 28th parade to the Bronx?
Sure. The Yankees need starting pitching. They have two solid starters heading into this year, if you count Phil Hughes who began to fall apart as the home stretch of the season rolled around, and wasn't any better in September. But you figure he's still a solid starter with great potential. Sabathia is in the Cy running annually. So that's two guys. Pettitte has most likely thrown his last pitch.
Then there's A.J. Burnett. Huge contract. Analysts talked about how overpaid he was the day he signed to play in pinstripes. He was said to be barely above average by some. But what none of the Yanks brass predicted was his season in 2010. 10-15 record, which, if you can believe it, was inflated by his solid offense, considering: 5.26 ERA, 1.51 WHIP. Yeah. That'll make Brian Cashman think twice about that move.
But it's all okay in the Bronx, because the Yanks can just pick up yet another superstar in Cliff Lee for some 7 years/150 mil. And since the above-average outfield isn't good enough, Crawford can be included in the budget as well.
I've been incredibly busy lately and haven't written in five weeks, but I can guarantee there will be a new post early this week and regularly after that.
The fact is baseball loves its underdogs. Remember when the A's won over 100 games in 2002? Their payroll was $39.8 million, the third-lowest in Major League Baseball.
ReplyDeleteI, as a Yankee fan, neither despise winning nor dislike the luxury of a huge budget. Sure, a lineup full of all-stars is great to have, but it can compromise the competitive nature of Yankees baseball.
Many people would point out that the Yankees are a prime example of the lack of parity in baseball and their should be a hard salary-cap instituted. That would be a huge mistake. We all know that baseball loves its underdogs, but when everyone is equal, there are no underdogs. We will no longer have the thrill of seeing a team like the A's face the mighty Yankees.
Sure its a bit tacky to look at the Yankees lineup - it looks like a loaded fantasy team. As dedicated a Yankee fan as I am, it's neat seeing a scrappy team like the A's beat the Yankees once in a while. It's a David v. Goliath match up. Fans love to see those types of games. There is always the hope the underdog will prevail this time. Or maybe the juggernaut will crush the underdog once again.
Instituting a salary cap would actually take the fun out of the game. The awe and wonder of baseball, which has dazzled fans through the years, would be gone and replaced with parity.
Not to get too economic, but Americans don't like parity when it comes to money. You want to be rich! It's capitalist to be rich. It's American!
In light of the Red Sox signing Crawford and trading for Gonzalez, however, the Yankees ought to throw the kitchen sink at Lee. Give him anything and everything.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Red Sox have no right to complain about the Yankees spending anymore.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the 2008-9 offseason for the Yankees. Ah, good times.
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