Here are the first two I’ve seen of what I am sure will be many sour grapes reactions to the Yankees’ title today:
Kevin Cowherd of the Baltimore Sun:
I hate the Yankees. I feel like crying whenever they win. Still, it was inevitable that the season finish this way. The Yankees were the best team in baseball — the best team money could buy AGAIN.
Scott Miller of CBS Sports.com:
The World Series takes personal checks. Credit and debit cards, too. Score one for the Yankees, and their bankers. Hideki Matsui as World Series MVP? Maybe. The three home runs were clutch, and the World Series record-tying six RBI in Game 6 were smashing. But the chief bean counter who sat behind the desk last winter and approved the expenditure of nearly $425 million to hoist CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett aboard the U.S.S. Yankee? Now there’s a true Yankee.
Personally I find this line of reasoning to be tired and lazy. Everyone has their own ideas of what ails baseball from a business perspective, and certainly the Yankees are playing a different game than everyone else these days. But counting the Yankees’ titles and chalking them up to dollars alone is nonsense.
The Yankees payroll is obviously gigantic, but it did not come out of general lockstep with all of the other teams until around 2002. Before then they didn’t always lead the league — they were behind the Orioles in 1998, for example, – and when they did lead the league, only a couple of million bucks separated them from a pack of the next highest payrolls. In fact, 2002 was the first time they were as much as $10 million higher than anyone else. Before then: four titles in the Jeter era.
The Bombers’ payroll exploded in 2002 and continued to escalate through 2008. They somehow managed to buy no titles during that time. Much is made about signing Sabathia and Teixeira this year, but their 2009 payroll is actually lower than 2008′s.
I’m not going to drink the Yankee-fan Kool-Aid and say that there’s some level playing field out there. But if the past fifteen years have shown anything, it’s that even if you can buy general competitiveness, you can’t simply buy a World Title. To get that, you have to be smart, you have to execute and you have to be a bit lucky too.
The Yankees were all of those things this year, and to leave any part of that out is to fail to tell the whole story.
-
- Jason @ IIATMS - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:31 AM
-
it’s such a tired, lazy, hackneyed, trite line of reasoning. Hate the system, not the team.
and where were these clowns last year, when the Yanks did nothing? Yelling “Money can’t buy a title”!!!!
Haterade tastes particularly wonderful this morning.
-
- Yankee Fan in Boston - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:34 AM
-
Thank you for saying this. I have no forum for expressing this, but people think the Yankees bought titles going back to Mantle and Berra. The 4 in 5 was a bunch of gome growns with key trades for veterans (O’Neill). If anything, the years since 2002 show what money can buy you: a lot of expectations, a lot of disappointment, and a lot of early exits.
The one place the money helps is in mitigating the rebuilding years. But if you think money buys the World Series, it really doesn’t.
-
- Jason @ IIATMS - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:38 AM
-
Obama’s redistribution of weath strategy contains litigation which calls for the Yankees redistributing World Series trophies to Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
-
- Tom H. - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:43 AM
-
Of course you need luck and execution and yada yada yada but if you can offer more money to the best free agents in baseball than anyone else, why wouldn’t it be considered “best team money can buy.” It’s the truth! Whether it’s tired or lazy, it’s still true. Last year we made fun of the Yankees just like we are making fun of the Mets now.
Yankees fans, please don’t take this personally (haha, lost cause), but if it were the Royals that spent more than anyone else in baseball and continued to do so year in and year out, we’d hate them too. Baseball needs competitive balance and will only be reached when there is a salary cap.
-
- Pilothawkeye - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:57 AM
-
Wasn’t there a Broadway show back in the 1950′s called “Damn Yankees”, where a ’40-something’ Washington Senators fan sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for his youth, and he helps bring a pennant to Washington? Also, was not the movie “Major League” somewhat similar, except this was a rag-tagged bunch of Cleveland Indians who somehow beat the Yankees for the pennant? Point I am making is that is have always been “in vogue” to hate the New York Yankees for their continued success. This all goes back to the years 1947 – 1964, when the Yankees won the AL Pennant 15 times, and the World Series 10 times. I do believe the quote back then was “Cheering for the New York Yankees was like cheering for US Steel”. Money does not buy championships; on the field execution is what wins games. However, having the most skilled players increases the likelihood of delivering a championship. The Yankees were very lucky to win the Series this year, as the Phillies have an awesome team. And yes, I am speaking as a Yankees fan.
-
- comeonman - Nov 5, 2009 at 10:59 AM
-
I DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS CRYING IN BASEBALL, FUNNY THING IS THE SAME PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT PAYROLL WHEN THE YANKEES WIN DON’T COMPLAIN WHEN THE YANKEES LOSE WITH BIG PAYROLLS.
THANKS TO CHARLIE MANUEL WHO IS A GREAT MANAGER AND KNOWS ALOT OF BASBALL FOR SAYING AWESOME COMPLEMENTS TO YANKEE PLAYERS, HE HAS CLASS.
THANKS TO GEORGE FOR ALWAYS PUTTING OUT A GREAT TEAM FOR THE FANS, YOU HOLD THEM TO A HIGHER STANDARD FOR US, FROM DAY ONE YOU SET A STANDARD THAT ONLY NEW YORKERS UNDERSTAND, THIS ONE IS FOR GEORGE.
THANKS TO JETES, JORGE, MO AND BIG GAME ANDY, FANTASTIC LEADERS, YOU TOO HAVE SET A STANDARD, YOU LEAD BY EXAMPLE. TO THE REST OF THE TEAM, YES YOU ARE WELL PAID BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PLAY, WONDERFUL JOB.GIRARDI AND THE COAACHES WONDERFUL JOB, EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE YANKEES, GREAT WORK.
TO THE CHAMPIONS OF BASEBALL, THANK YOU, A YANKEE FAN
-
- Pilothawkeye - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM
-
I agree with your comments, especially the setting of a higher standard that the rest of the sports world should try to attain. Very well said.
-
- Bill@TDS - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:06 AM
-
Oh, I have plenty of hatred for the system. And I don’t begrudge the Yankees for taking advantage of the system. My problem is with the cockiness that many of the fans (and most of the players/executives) have, like New York is just where the trophy belongs because the Yankees are really just honestly that much better than everybody else. I just can’t even imagine how I would react to all this “it’s been such a long time coming” nonsense if I were a fan of, say, the Cubs, Rangers, Mariners, Padres, Astros, Indians or Giants.
Of course you can’t buy a title. But you can buy a much, much greater chance than anyone else has the opportunity to get of obtaining that title. It’s not the Yankees’ fault for taking advantage of that, or their fans’ fault for celebrating when it works. It just seems a little…problematic.
-
- YankeesfanLen - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:09 AM
-
Putting a well-made product out for the public’s consideration is Un-American? The sin in baseball is not the Yankees, it’s David Glass running the Royals like a Wal-Mart and wanting profit above value.
-
- Bill@TDS - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:14 AM
-
This is exactly what I mean…this idea that the Yankees are about winning above profit while the other owners are just greedy. It’s true that, on the extreme margins, some “small market” owners have pocketed way too much of their team’s money. But this suggests that the Yankees would do just what they’re doing if they didn’t have access to the biggest sources of profit in all of professional sports…
-
- Danny - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:17 AM
-
whoever wrote this article I wish I could met and punch them in the face.. for years they keep saying the same over and over. but the yankees and NEW YORK want the best and we get the best. Most of the players want to plat for NY.. and other teams have as much as money as the yankees but the are too cheap to spend it… so There.. so MR Craig Calcaterra.. please show your face so I can punch you in the face for being stupid and repaeting yourself over and over.. this is an old subject. Give it a rest!
-
- Kat - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:19 AM
-
AMEN to “comeonman”‘s comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So sick of hearing the Yanks bought the Series. $$$$ is one of many elements a team needs to get the ring. If money were the answer, why haven’t the Yanks one every single freakin’ year??? Stop the crying and wish the classiest group of guys in sports (ok, I am SOOOO biased) a big congrats!!
-
- Mark - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:19 AM
-
I don’t blame the Yanks for operating the way they do. I know I would do the same thing if I were them. But the deck is stacked and I think Craig dismisses that a bit too easily. If you knew nothing other than the payroll of each team and had to play that hand you would play the Yankee hand every time.
The payroll argument Craig has above is a very narrow definition. All he does is illustrate the Yankees relative to the 2nd highest payroll. Digging further, 1996; the Yanks were $6MM ahead of the #2 team but $20MM ahead of the #8 team, 1997; $9MM ahead of #2 but $25MM ahead of #7, 1998; actually #2 to Balt. but $15MM ahead of #7, 1999; $1MM ahead of #2 but #20MM ahead of #8 and so on. So while they haven’t been as far ahead of everyone in payroll as they are now they have been on a very short list of teams that can buy the players they need and more importantly survive the moves that don’t work out (Pavano, Unit).
Clearly, saying they just buy titles is incomplete but so is Craig’s counter to that by saying they had no titles from 2002-2008. Sure they didn’t win any titles but I think they won more games than anyone during that stretch. His last point is dead on, “you have to be smart, you have to execute and you have to be a bit lucky too”. But if the Pirates (bear with me, here) and the Yankees are both smart, execute and have some luck wouldn’t you still bet on the Yankees?
-
- Craig Calcaterra - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:20 AM
-
Danny — do you read only the headlines as a rule, or did you pass out before you could get to the actual content of this article before commenting? I mean, I know you didn’t read it, because if you did, you’d probably realize that you and I probably don’t disagree on much.
-
- Dennis - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:23 AM
-
Just curious if we should take back the NLDS win from the Phillies over the Rockies since the Phil’s payroll is over $30 Million more? At the end of the day money puts players on a team to fill the seats and sell the t-shirts etc. It doesn’t win you championships though. See every team since 2000 who won the World Series for proof. Its a tired excuse and I think all haters should come up with something new. How about steroids….oh wait….that one has been used too much too. Fact is haters will be haters.
-
- frank - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:23 AM
-
Last year the Tampa Bay Rays put together a solid WS team with a very low salary so it can be done. However, it is much harder… when a certain team buys their players, just ask the Cleveland Indians (Lee, Sabathia). It will never change unless all the teams agree to a cap. No matter who you are a fan of. My only beef is that NY teams get all the press and accolades always. BTW, Joe Buck sucks
-
- Bill@TDS - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:24 AM
-
and other teams have as much as money as the yankees but the are too cheap to spend it… so There..
The part where you want to punch Craig for saying more or less what you’re saying is funnier, but this little bit is just so wrong on so many levels.
-
- wreckanize - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:24 AM
-
Bitter Philly fan. *tear*
-
- KimG - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM
-
The Yankees played great this year and won the series outright. Yippee, good for them! I loved the grant fundamentals, the base stealing by Johnny Damon, the hitting of Jeter and Matsui, but, being an Indians fan, and seeing my great players going to where the money is because the Indians have no money, it outright stinks. Yankees fans can’t see that because the big lights and big money get in the way of their vision. It hurts to have a good organization like the Indians, but not have the money to keep the great ones around, especially since there is no loyalty in baseball. It also hurts to hear A-Rod or any other Yankee or Yankee fan say, “it’s been a long time since we won.” GIVE ME A BREAK! 1948 since your last title is a long time. It’s more than my lifetime. Big money will always win out, as you can tell by our country…baseball is just a microcosm of what is going on in the “real world.” Congrats on 27.
-
- jl - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:27 AM
-
Oh please… the better team won… Phillies had a hell of a year and to make it to the series two years in a row is an accomplishmewnt. Money doesn’t buy you titles – execution and luck win you titles… the stars were aligned for the Yankees this year – Job well done guys… Give this old tired subject a rest already.
-
- mick-7-1961 - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:29 AM
-
Money doesn’t win games, players do.
Deal with it, Yankee haters!
-
- TomD - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:29 AM
-
To Danny,
Please don’t use the word “we” when referring to the Yankees and their fans. You represent are exactly what so many people dislike about the team and the fans. Had the Phillies prevailed, would you punch them out , too? Next time you have a thought…
As a Yankee fan since the early 50′s, I can’t distance myself enough from you and your stupidity.
-
- Mike Z - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:30 AM
-
1 season a team had a higher payroll. The Yanks had the second highest, and every other season they had the highest. And only a handful of teams were close in salary. Even if it is just a few million it is still more then every other team. Now it is $50 million more though.
The Yanks are spending $40 million a year for 2 free agents they picked up last off season. Those 2 pitchers combined for 32 wins in the regular season. That is more money then the entire Marlins payroll.
Its just as bad on the NL side also. Its getting to the point where the only teams that have a chance are the Mets, Phils, Cubs, Astros, Braves and Dodgers(maybe not for a few years now though with all their issues).
I feel for the Indians, great farm system that continuously develops great talent but can afford to keep them around when they hit their prime. Having Cliff and C.C. as your 1-2 in a 7 game series would be almost impossible to beat.
-
- Jason - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:32 AM
-
How can you POSSIBLY be a Royals season ticket holder and settle into your seat in the first week of April and think “this is OUR year”? It’s never going to happen. EVERY TIME we hear a report of a BIG free agent being available, who are the teams they ALWAYS mentioned as front-runners? Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, Cubs? The haves… It must SUCK to be a fan of just about EVERY other team knowing your team has about .000001% chance of winning it all that year.
-
- MM - Nov 5, 2009 at 11:37 AM
-
If you would like to see parity, how about a minumum and a maximum salary cap. Pirates can no longer spend 30 million Yanks can no longer spend 500 million ( I know they are not that high YET ) Cap of 80 to 100 million per team per year no exceptions. If a team tries to spend under or over that amount, they would be imposed a tax of 500% of the difference.
If you want to see a pure game, that depends on the skill and heart of the players, not the size of the owners wallet….
