I have to laugh at......

[ChatterRed]

I was listening to the Two Angry Guys, Lance McAllister, Jim Rome, etc........after the Yankees won the first game of that series. They were all pretty much talking about how the Yankees play the game right and how Detroit was the "JV". I was laughing then and I'm laughing now. Everyone of them was talking arrogantly too like it was a done deal that the Yankees would sweep Detroit, as if Detroit was pathetic because they stumbled down the finish line.......and New York was the almighty because they nearly everyone on their roster had been an All-Star at one time.

One game does not make a series and I tried and tried to call in earlier in the week when the arrogant comments were being made, but to no avail.

I am laughing hysterically at all of them now. There is nothing better than to see the $250 billion dollar Yankees falter year after year. They are everything that is wrong with MLB. No wonder the NFL, with it's salary cap and growing parity are heads above MLB.

Maybe if other teams could compete financially, MLB would be more interesting for fans of all teams that could honestly hope their team could win it all.

Is Pujols and all those young Detroit phenoms and the Twins and White Sox best players destined to be signed by the money tree known as the Yankees?

I think what amazes me even more is that Steinbrenner spends far more than everyone else BUT STILL CAN'T PUT A ROSTER TOGETHER THAT CAN WIN IT ALL. It should be a gimme but even he can't do it.

That is hilarious.

[guttle11]

You know, I've never thought of it like that...

[Redsfan08]

[dman]

I'm just thankful we don't have a New York "Subway Series" this year for them to talk about.
I really like the point of your post though, great point of view.

[camisadelgolf]

A personal theory I have on why the Yankees can't win is because most salaries are based on what the players have already accomplished, and that can cause players to subconsiously think, "Why should I give it my all? I received my high salary because of the 50 homeruns I hit last season--not the 50 I'm supposed to hit this season."

If you'll notice, generally, the players putting out the most effort are the younger ones trying to earn a big contract--not the ones who are already getting paid tens of millions.

[UC_Ken]

The Yankees lose because their expensive pitching is old. Their offense didn't play well either but good pitching beats good hitting in the playoffs. Mussina and Johnson are slightly above average pitchers making $36 mil. Most teams that win have pitchers in the prime of their careers, not upper 30s, early 40s type pitchers.

Cashman is to blame, assuming he made the calls on their free agent starting pitching. If these are Steinbrenner's calls then its his fault. None of this is Torre's fault.

[mth123]

A personal theory I have on why the Yankees can't win is because most salaries are based on what the players have already accomplished, and that can cause players to subconsiously think, "Why should I give it my all? I received my high salary because of the 50 homeruns I hit last season--not the 50 I'm supposed to hit this season."

If you'll notice, generally, the players putting out the most effort are the younger ones trying to earn a big contract--not the ones who are already getting paid tens of millions.

This is a generalization and is not always true by any means. But there is some truth to this.

[mth123]

The Yankees lose because their expensive pitching is old. Their offense didn't play well either but good pitching beats good hitting in the playoffs. Mussina and Johnson are slightly above average pitchers making $36 mil. Most teams that win have pitchers in the prime of their careers, not upper 30s, early 40s type pitchers.

Cashman is to blame, assuming he made the calls on their free agent starting pitching. If these are Steinbrenner's calls then its his fault. None of this is Torre's fault.

This actually is much more true.

[Slyder]

This actually is much more true.

A personal theory I have on why the Yankees can't win is because most salaries are based on what the players have already accomplished, and that can cause players to subconsiously think, "Why should I give it my all? I received my high salary because of the 50 homeruns I hit last season--not the 50 I'm supposed to hit this season."

If you'll notice, generally, the players putting out the most effort are the younger ones trying to earn a big contract--not the ones who are already getting paid tens of millions.

Kenny Rogers= 41
Tom Glavine= 40

Dodgers had Greg Maddux who was one of the reasons they were even in it.

You can't tell me that Kenny Rogers wasnt out there giving it his all. Its about the person not their contract status.

[mth123]

Kenny Rogers= 41
Tom Glavine= 40

Dodgers had Greg Maddux who was one of the reasons they were even in it.

You can't tell me that Kenny Rogers wasnt out there giving it his all. Its about the person not their contract status.

If your point is that there are some good older pitchers, I agree. But Maddux was the #3 or #4 in LA, Glavine somewhere in the middle in NY and same for Rogers in Detroit. Johnson and Mussina were counted upon to be #'s 1 & 2 in NY from the outset. If Wang would not have developed beyond expectations, they may have missed the play-offs completely. (Probably not, Boston had too many injuries and Toronto disappointed.)

[kbrake]

MLB does not need a salary cap. The NFL does so much better because it has a product that is much more exciting. I find the NFL to be much more predictable than MLB anyways. As for the Yankees they lose because they dont ever have pitching that is all that great. That and they always seem to get guys too late and while they are on the decline.

[Slyder]

If your point is that there are some good older pitchers, I agree. But Maddux was the #3 or #4 in LA, Glavine somewhere in the middle in NY and same for Rogers in Detroit. Johnson and Mussina were counted upon to be #'s 1 & 2 in NY from the outset. If Wang would not have developed beyond expectations, they may have missed the play-offs completely. (Probably not, Boston had too many injuries and Toronto disappointed.)

My point is it depends on the player not their contract status. If you have a hard worker its not going to matter if they are in a contract year or set for the rest of their GREAT GRANDKIDS lives they are going to go out there and perform. My other point was with Harang and Arroyo we wouldnt neccessarily require someone to come in and be #1, but I'd rather pay an extra few mil for a guy with a history of being very good (like Rogers this past offseason) rather than throwing less (but still significant amount) at a crap shoot like Vincente Padilla. We saw what B-C level shopping gets you in pitchers (Eric Milton).

[UC_Ken]

I'm wasn't saying that these players can't be succesful. I was saying you shouldn't build your rotation around them. Schilling was a huge part of the Red Sox winning two years ago. But you need to build your rotation around guys in their prime not the old guys. Rogers is playing the Schilling role in Detroit right now.

New York would be much better with guys like Arroyo and Harang as the meat of their rotation. I'd imagine if we're in the ARod sweepstakes they'll demand one of these guys.

[Slyder]

I'm wasn't saying that these players can't be succesful. I was saying you shouldn't build your rotation around them. Schilling was a huge part of the Red Sox winning two years ago. But you need to build your rotation around guys in their prime not the old guys. Rogers is playing the Schilling role in Detroit right now.

New York would be much better with guys like Arroyo and Harang as the meat of their rotation. I'd imagine if we're in the ARod sweepstakes they'll demand one of these guys.

They are big fans of the long ball and working counts maybe ARod plus Cash for Dunn and Milton (Heck Milton would probably do decent in Yankee Stadium).

[mth123]

They are big fans of the long ball and working counts maybe ARod plus Cash for Dunn and Milton (Heck Milton would probably do decent in Yankee Stadium).

I can't see the Yankees being interested in Dunn. Even if Sheffield goes, they have Cabrera, Matsui, Damon and Abreau in OF/DH and Giambi at 1B and DH. They'd want Harang or Arroyo and probably Bailey. They may want EdE to play 3B with A-Rod gone.

I think Milton would be better in Yankee stadium as well. Maybe we could pawn him off for payflex and maybe a bullpen arm. I won't hold my breath.