MLB: Race to the World Series

[Bree]

I was SO GLAD when the Skankees got eliminated last night. They're completely overrated and half the players on that team aren't worth the money they're being paid.

I don't care who wins the World Series this year, I'm just glad the Skankees aren't in it!

[DaysGal]

I'm also glad the Yankees didn't win. Steinbrenner is pissed and Joe Torre's ass will get canned!

[Roman]

The best thing about the Yankees getting knocked out is the silence that is now coming from ESPN, the Yankee/Red Sox/T.O. Programming Network. Now, how much any of you want to bet that the guys on Baseball Tonight will say that they LCS will be worthless because the Yankees got knocked out. I don't know what has happened to ESPN, but they have lost all objectivity.

I do feel for the Yankee fans on this board, but I don't feel for GS. Once again, paying the most money for a line-up just means one thing.....

You paid the most money.

[Ms. Walsh]

^^I know that FOX is extremely pro-Yankees. I remember during the playoffs (maybe 2002 or 2003) when the Yankees played the Red Sox, they broadcast the games on FOX and the announcers weren't even subtle about their favortism to NY. I think one of the announcers was actually related to a player on the team! It was awful! I had to turn the TV on mute and listen to the game on the radio from another affiliate.

I feel sorry for their fans. I'm a Red Sox fan, so I know plenty about your team choking in the playoffs (if they bother to make it! )...too well in fact.

The only thing that amuses me about the Yankees losing is b/c Steinbrenner is such an ass! I feel bad for Torre b/c he's actually a real nice man and he did do a lot for the team, but honestly, I think he needs to get far away from Steinbrenner and maybe try his hand w/ another team.

And again, for yet another year, it's proven that money doesn't always buy everything. Seriously...there's a definite Curse of the A-Rod. Ever since he joined the Yanks, they've always choked in the playoffs. They need to chuck his ass ASAP.

[PhoenixRising05]

I am one Yankee fan who was happy we lost. Something needs to be done and GS needs to realize that buying sluggers does nothing without pitching. This team did not deserve to win anything. I will be beyond angry if Torre gets canned. I like Lou Pinella but Torre deserves to serve out his last year of his contract and go off on his own. He earned that. Torre at least gets the team to the playoffs every year so to fire him that quick is unfair. Torre was not out on the field yesterday. Torre is not the one that didn't hit or pitch. Why doesn't GS fire himself because he is the blame for all that is wrong in baseball and with the Yankees. Oh how I long for the late 90's when we had a team that people could actually respect.

In regards to ESPN, I know many are going to say I am a Yankee fan and this is just me being unfair but ESPN is incredibly biased towards the Red Sox. They are located in Bristol, Connecticut so that is exhibit A and as soon as the Red Sox dropped out of the playoff hunt (especially after the 5 game Yankee Sweep) it was like a morgue on Baseball Tonight. Some of the anchors and ESPN media personalities looked like their puppy died. Now I know there is Yankee and Met bias too. There is bascially bias for all the big teams but the Yanks get alot more so I acknowledge that but ESPN specifically sickens me with the Red Sox bias. Although there is one particulat Baseball Tonight anaylyst that annoys me more then any other...and he is not a Red Sox supporter. His bias is totally obvious considering he held a job in the front office with NY's other team (ok easy hint there but you get the picture ).

Nonetheless, I am very happy for Detroit and Jim Leyland. I love him as a manager and will be rooting for them. It would be nice to see them win it after all their hardships and I love rooting for teams that haven't been there for awhile. I will also root for the Mets because I like Willie Randolph for all he did for the Yankess. He is a rootable guy so I will be on his side too despite me being a Yankee fan.

A-Rod needs to go as does Sheffield and pretty much everyone in the starting pitching minus Wang and maybe Mussina. Torre and Cashman should stay and GS should go. That is the beginning of my solution to solve the team's problem.

[Toups]

Yankees suck!

$200 million playroll and nothing....yet a team with a pay roll of less than $100 million (A's) makes it further than them. Take that Steinbrener!

I think Joe Torre is a great manager and he shouldn't be the fall guy. If anyone needs to go it's Cashman who built this team of individual superstars.

I thought the Yankees would win the World Series with Murderer's Row but I guess not! Great pitching always beats great hitting and I should've remembered that.

[Danni]

Psh... if all these other teams had a payroll as high as the Yankees, no one would be saying anything about those other teams. Look at the Mets. They have had the 2nd highest payroll in MLB for YEARS and no one comments on that. Why shouldn't Steinbrenner try to build a team to win? Why shouldn't he use his resources? Would you rather he be like owner for the Marlins (I cannot remember his name for the life of me), who after winning the World Series in 2001 shipped every single player he had out of Florida because he didn't want to spend any more money?

The fact remains is that we still have 26 WS victories, and no other team in baseball will ever come close to touching that.

[Toups]

The Boss and Cashman aren't using the money wisely. They go out and get another BAT (Abreu) and Corey freakin Lidle? LMAO!!

Look at the NY teams that won - they had people like Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neil, Bernie Williams, Jim Leyritz, Tino Martinez.....clutch guys.

And look at their farm system! They used to be able to bring up guys, not they've traded most of their talent away. When they won, their team was a mixture of having a good farm system and good free agency acquisitions.

Yeah, the METS have a high payroll, but they aren't as hated as the Yankees because they haven't done what the Yankees do year after year.

But hey, I love it when The Boss spends all of his money and LOSES. It just makes the Yankees losing feel a lot better. $200 million down the toilet! LMAO!

[PhoenixRising05]

The farm system has been replenished Toups. Cano, Wang, Cabrera, Proctor, Karstens, and Rasner all made great contributions and we have at least 5 impact players coming up with one SP who is said be a rising 20 game winner.

Cashman is not the fault. George and his buddines bascially ran the team from 2002-2005. George and his advisers overruled Cashman on several moves. Cashman was talking with Vlad Guerrero when George went behind his back and signed Sheffield for RF. Vlad would've been a better defensive option and a younger option. George also wanted Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson. The Abrue move was a good move because he fits in with the style of the old Yankees. He is not a home hitter but a guy who gets on base and does the things that Paul O Neil used to do. They had to take Lidle in the deal or they would not get Abreu. Cashman finally got power back this year because Torre and him threatened to walk last year so George vowed he would not interfere this year. He held to that and Cashman did a good job with the moves this year. Only problem is he had all of George's moves still there. I am hoping they blow up the team and somehow keep Joe but I doubt it. It is not his or Cashman's fault. It lies on the players and the owner.

I am hoping there are sweeping changes and that A-Rod goes most of all. He is the epitomy of everything I hate about baseball and I now realize Pujols outweighs him in every respect IMO. A-Rod doesn't have any value to me in terms of the game any longer.

I do agree with Danni though. If every team had an owner like George, they would be hated. I give the man credit for caring that much because along the owners of these small market teams have money but pocket it. However, no one should be allowed to do what the Yankees have. It is great that they attract so many to the park each year and that they have an owner to spend like that but enough is enough and this is coming from a Yankee fan. George can't be so stupid that he doesn't realize what wins championchips. Pitching, defense, and team play do not grand slams and egos the size of the clubhouses at Comerica park. It was great to watch during the season but what good is it without a ring? They will never do a cap so my hope is that George lets Cashman implement his plan to slash payroll, which he wants to do, and go younger and athletic or this cycle will keep repeating itself.

[Toups]

Only Cano, Wang, and Procter are currently contributing. Those other guys are too early to say anything right now.

But let's look at the current Yankee lineup and rotation and see all the wasted money.

1. Alex Rodriguez 25,680,727 - TRADED FOR

2. Derek Jeter 20,600,000

3. Jason Giambi 20,428,571 - FREE AGENT

4. Mike Mussina 19,000,000 - FREE AGENT

5. Randy Johnson 15,661,427 - FREE AGENT

6. Bobby Abreu 13,600,000 - TRADED FOR

7. Johnny Damon 13,000,000 - FREE AGENT

8. Hideki Matsui 13,000,000 - FREE AGENT

9. Jorge Posada 12,000,000

10. Gary Sheffield 10,756,171 - FREE AGENT

11. Mariano Rivera 10,500,000

12. Carl Pavano 8,000,000 - FREE AGENT

13. Jaret Wright 7,666,667 - FREE AGENT

14. Kyle Farnsworth 5,416,667 - FREE AGENT

15. Cory Lidle 3,300,000 - TRADED FOR

16. Ron Villone 2,250,000

17. Bernie Williams 1,500,000

18. Tanyon Sturtze 1,500,000

19. Mike Myers 1,150,000

20. Miguel Cairo 1,000,000

21. Sal Fasano 425,000

22. Robinson Cano 381,100

23. Scott Proctor 353,675

24. Chien-Ming Wang 353,175

25. Andy Phillips 331,150

Total Team Salary: 198,662,180

The Yankees spent $70 million more than the 2nd highest payroll!! I bolded teams that are still playing. Look at those A's!

1. NY Yankees 198,662,180

2. Boston 120,100,524

3. LA Angels 103,625,333

4. Chicago Sox 102,875,667

5. NY Mets 100,901,085

6. LA Dodgers 99,176,950

7. Chicago Cubs 94,841,166

8. Atlanta 92,461,852

9. Houston 92,101,503

10. San Francisco 90,862,064

11. Seattle 87,924,500

12. Philadelphia 87,148,333

13. St. Louis 86,912,217

14. Detroit 82,302,069

15. Baltimore 72,585,712

16. Toronto 71,915,000

17. San Diego 68,897,179

18. Texas 65,129,570

19. Minnesota 63,810,048

20. Washington 63,267,500

21. Oakland 62,322,054

22. Cincinnati 59,162,015

23. Arizona 58,884,226

24. Cleveland 56,795,867

25. Milwaukee 50,540,000

26. Kansas City 47,294,000

27. Pittsburgh 46,867,750

28. Colorado 40,791,000

29. Tampa Bay 35,417,967

30. Florida 14,344,500

Note:

Team salaries do not represent full team payroll. Number listed includes current salary for all players currently on the roster.

I'd take A-Rod on my team....but not as his current salary. LOL

Yeah, I do respect that he spends money....but he's not spending it wisely and he's over doing it. You don't need a 200$ million payroll. That's insane.

[PhoenixRising05]

Actually Toups Melky Cabrera played the whole year so he contributed alot and Karstens pitched in some big games down the stretch so those two were big.

Your layout of the players and the finances shows how absurd the Yankee situation is. I mean if I am saying this about my team that says alot. I won't even try to defend it becausr it sickens me. I was ok when the payroll was around 100 million but these past 3 years has been insane. If you are going to spend it, spend it on the right guys. Someone needs to tell George that. I prefer they slash payroll but I don't see that happening. A TV network and attracting all those fans to Yankee stadium plus a new ballpark coming-he will always want an all star team out there rather then a group of solid role players like the late 90's teams had.

[Ridge]

Along with the A-Rod curse, I would actually say it really started with Giambi. That's when the real curse started, 2002. 2001 was bad but they went all the way and came skin close to winning. They haven't had a chance at it since Giambi came on.

[DaysGal]

I agree with this part of your post. Joe Torre is a nice fellow but maybe he just needs to step away from the Yankees. He's been there a long time as he was with St. Louis.

Maybe Joe Torre should come back to St. Louis. I've had my fill of Tony LaRussa who also doesn't seem to go out and get the pitching that St. Louis has always needed. The Cardinals can't get to the WS on just Cris Carpenter's pitching about Albert Pujols hitting. I have no doubt that the Mets will cream them. LaRussa was really at his peak when he was with Oakland, but I think it's time that the St. Louis front office make a change in management.

[Bree]

The indivdualization of players that Toups brought up is one reason why I don't like the Yankees. They are not recognized as a whole by the sports industry in general. You always hear about A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and to an extent, Hideki Matsoui (sp?) and Johnny Damon, but what about the rest of the guys who aren't in the spotlight doing their thing? I know there are other teams that have "star" players, but it seems to be more prevalent with the Yankees.

Joe Torre isn't the problem. I think the real problem is that the players are overconfident and think they can beat these other teams in the playoffs, and those other teams step up and give it all they got, and the Yankees get creamed.

[Ms. Walsh]

I never noticed how biased ESPN was b/c I'm from New England, so I'm so used to hearing about the Red Sox, Yankees, and to an extent, the Met all the time. But it's really interesting how their games are always the highlight of the programs, no matter how crappy or lousy they were. I'm sure that they're biased towards the Red Sox. Here it's so hard to not get emotional about the Sox (or the Yankees if you're a fan of theirs). Like when the Sox kept losing to the Yankees this summer, it was like a funeral at the place I worked. There were a lot of Yankees fans there too (like my dad) who poked fun at it, and people would get so pissed off about it. I tried to just poke fun at it, like say, "Well, it's the Red Sox. What else do you expect?" but a lot of people take it as a personal blow when they lose.