"They Bought the Pennant "

[Boom_70]

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

 

[Oz]

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.

 

[fever_dog]

don't forget giambi

 

[Oz]

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

 

[heyabbott]

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.

Better they get the money or Steinbrenner?

 

[Columbo]

Dufus....

How much is Jeter getting paid?

Wang?

 

[More hideous than Ben Seaver]

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

 

[Buck]

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

 

[alleyallen]

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.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

The AL East is for sale.

Buying the WS ain't so easy.

 

[Columbo]

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 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.

 

[Columbo]

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.

 

[heyabbott]

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.

That team is called the Baltimore Orioles

 

[Gold]

Shame on you, Boom. You forgot Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera (OK, maybe some other team signed Rivera, but he wasn't a big free agent pickup)

 

[cranberry]

That other teams choose not to invest in their on-field product is not the Yankees' fault. When McClatchy steps aside next month (assuming such reports out of Pittsburgh are accurate) take the time to understand how much money he will have made on his initial investment over the decade he's been involved.

 

[Columbo]

That other teams choose not to invest in their on-field product is not the Yankees' fault. When McClatchy steps aside next month (assuming such reports out of Pittsburgh are accurate) take the time to understand how much money he will have made on his initial investment over the decade he's been involved.

No.

It is purely a lucky sperm club situation that the Yankees have that many people living within 50 miles of the stadium. Using the Richards line: They were born on third base and think they have hit a triple.

God, was that a bizarre assertion... The Pirates can keep up with the Yankees.

 

[bigpern23]

Waaaahhh! Nobody else can compete with the Yankees because they spend the most money!

Except the Marlins, Angels, Indians, White Sox, Red Sox, Diamondbacks.

 

[Frank_Ridgeway]

Tonight they passed 4 million in attendance. They do that because they don't cheat the fans.

Does The New York Times buy Pulitzers?

 

[KP]

That other teams choose not to invest in their on-field product is not the Yankees' fault. When McClatchy steps aside next month (assuming such reports out of Pittsburgh are accurate) take the time to understand how much money he will have made on his initial investment over the decade he's been involved.

No.

It is purely a lucky sperm club situation that the Yankees have that many people living within 50 miles of the stadium. Using the Richards line: They were born on third base and think they have hit a triple.

God, was that a bizarre assertion... The Pirates can keep up with the Yankees.

If Richard Branson or someone wants to go in and buy the Pirates and spend the money, he can. Sure, he may lose money, or he can say, if I buy a winner people will come, create demand and make money through higher ticket sales, higher radio/tv rights. Longshot? Sure. Impossible? No.

 

[indiansnetwork]

Tonight they passed 4 million in attendance. They do that because they don't cheat the fans.

Does The New York Times buy Pulitzers?

As much as I think that baseball needs a salary cap and better revenue sharing you have to respect Steinbrenner for going all out ever year. There are teams who don't care enough to play for players that can help them win. Teams like the: Indians, Royal, Devil Rays, Pirates and Marlins (some years) just do not care to pay for quality talent because they are either watching the bottom lines or they are using their teams as tax write offs.