"They Bought the Pennant "

Tonight - farm hand Chin Ming Wang goes for his 19th

Robby Cano and Derek Jeter race for the batting title

Melky Cabrera plays key roll

All home grown

So much for idea that Yankees have poor farm system

 

Johnny Damon -- bought
Bobby Abreu -- bought
Alex Rodriguez -- bought
Jason Giambi -- bought
Gary Sheffield -- bought
Hideki Matsui -- bought
Randy Johnson -- bought
Mike Mussina -- bought
Jaret Wright -- bought

Granted, no one's farm system is good enough to win any title on its own without free agent help. The Yankees' farm system has gotten better in recent years, but Philip Hughes might be the only significant prospect close to a Bronx promotion anytime soon.

 

don't forget giambi

 

Damn, how I could forget the guy that's dogging A-Rod out to reporters?

 

Better they get the money or Steinbrenner?

 

Dufus....

How much is Jeter getting paid?

Wang?

 

I don't know if you can count A-Rod. They traded a pretty good homegrown guy to get him.

 

The 'buying a title' is common misrepresentation put forward by anti-Yankee people during their recent successful years.

 

I'm not a Yankees fan but the thought that the Yankees buying the pennant is a one unique to them is ridiculous. Look at the Houston Astros last year and the year before. They had Pettitte and Clemens (not home grown in the Astros' farm system, at least), Bagwell, Beltran, Kent and more. They grew Berkman, Biggio and Ensberg (I believe), but even their catcher came from the outside.

 

The AL East is for sale.

Buying the WS ain't so easy.

 

The Yankees outspend the next highest team by an ARod.

Yes, it is unique to them in that NO ONE has ever spent so much money, or outspent the second-highest payroll OTHER than the Yankees.

 

Jeter and all the other legitimate farm guys got that designation until they started making $18 million a year.

Then, they are bought, since 75 percent of the teams can't spend that jingle to keep their kids.

What I would do to see the Yankees... for just one year.... have to have the same payroll as the 29 other teams.

No Jeter.
No Johnny Damon.
No Posada.
No Rivera.
No Bobby Abreu
No ARod
No Jason Giambi
No Gary Sheffield
No Hideki Matsui
No Randy Johnson
No Mike Mussina
No Jaret Wright
No Wang


They would be able to keep Melky and Cano.