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Help me out
Topic Started: Mar 25 2005, 07:44 PM (119 Views)
Strider
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Legend
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Yesterday I had to cover my school's girl's softball team. It was the season opener. Anyway, they got their asses kicked 12-1 (would have been worse if not for the mercy rule) and the article is short. The editor told me that they need to fill space and I could write about whatever I want. The first thing that came to me was the Yankees. This girl in the "newspaper headquarters" is a D'Backs fan and after I told her that Javy sucks, she went off on the Yankees being greedy and spoiled. I figured I could do a column that's a response to all those hatin' fools.

I consider you guys intelligent Yankees fans (most....some), so I figured I'd run it by you and get a reaction. Holla at me!

Quote:
 
[size=6]Stop Hating, Azzholes![/size]
by Your Nigga

Both on the field and financially, the New York Yankees are the most famous and successful organization in Major League Baseball. The most storied franchise and the face of our nation's oldest past time. Yet the argument is often made that they are bad for the league. Some even point to them as the poster child for what's wrong with professional sports, epitomizing money's corruption of the game.

The Yankees 2005 team payroll will be in excess of $200M. That will be over $70M more than their closest competitor and arch-rival Red Sox. More than twice that of the Devil Rays, Brewers, and Pirates combined. Because of this, some fans (and experts) view them as the main reason for a lack of competitive balance and the great disparity between the elites and the rest of the league.

Very often, the Yankees and owner George Steinbrenner are portrayed as the spoiled rich brat who uses its silver spoon to scoop caviar while everyone else eats generic brand apple sauce with a plastic spork. The greedy snob who already has everything but wants more. After the 2001 loss in the World Series, the Yankees acquired superstar first baseman Jason Giambi for $121M, although Tino Martinez had hit 34 homers for them the previous season. The following year, a first round loss to Anaheim was soothed with $53M worth of foreign remedies as they signed Japanese star Hideki Matsui and Cuban flamethrower (who flamed out), Jose Contreras. In 2003, after having lost again in the World Series, they saw Alex Rodriguez as the elixir. Rodriguez, regarded as the best player in the game, had signed a record $252M contract with the Texas Rangers. Having grown tired of the last place finishes, A-Rod wanted out and the Rangers, looking to rid themselves of his cumbersome contract, were more than willing to oblige. The first suitor was Boston, but the talks ended because Texas refused to take on $16M of the contract as the Sox had wanted. In came the Yankees. Those rich bastards did it again!

How fair is it that the Yankees, already the perennial favorites to win the World Series, can trade for the game's most expensive player and acquire the best pitcher (Randy Johnson) the following season? How fair is it for the Yankees to be drinking champagne in the AL East penthouse every year while the Devil Rays remain handcuffed to the radiator in the cellar? Very fair, if you ask me. The United States was built on capitalism. There is no restriction on how much money a person can make legally or how much one can spend. Major League Baseball was designed with a similar structure and the Yankees operate within the parameters designed by the league. In 2002, however, when a strike threatened to put an end to the season, the point of debate was competitive balance. While the owners of the other 29 teams supported a salary cap - which could be used as an excuse for not wanting to dole out large contracts - the Players Association and the Yankees were in favor of having the system remain as it were. An agreement was eventually reached and a new policy was adopted which stated that any team with a payroll over $120M would have to pay a luxury tax. Coincidentally, the only payroll exceeding that threshold at the time was the Yankees'. Because of this and revenue sharing, the Yankees paid over $64M to MLB last season. A good deal of that money is rationed and distributed to the small market teams in an attempt to bridge the void. Despite the revenue sharing, most of these teams rarely make prudent transactions and continue to struggle. For example, although those poor Devil Rays have been recipients of the "free money", they have a payroll that has gradually declined over the last 6 years from $61M in 2000 to $23M this season. Where does that money go?

Although the Yankees are thought of as "The Evil Empire", the only thing that Darth Vader is guilty of is wanting to win. There are a number of owners who are wealthier than Steinbrenner. The Cleveland Indians, who have the 4th lowest payroll in the league, are owned by the Dolan family (yes, that Dolan family). The Detroit Tigers are owned by billionaire Michael Illitch. The Twins are owned by the Polad family, Minnesota's version of the Dolans. The Yankees make the most and reinvest the most in hopes of fielding the best team each year. It’s a successful cycle.

Still, not all has been peachy in Pinstripe Paradise. Like the spoiled rich brat, the image of perfection and grandeur often veils the problems that lie beneath. While the brat may suffer from depression, eating disorders, or substance addiction, the Yanks have to deal with steroid allegations, hatred from the fans and media, and the constant pressure to succeed. They're a win now, win at all costs team and any season that doesn't yield a championship is considered a failure. No other team faces those expectations. Also, one of the most common complaints from baseball fans is: The Yankees buy championships. First of all, a number of organizations (Red Sox, Angels, Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, and Cardinals) spend exorbitantly on annual payroll. Secondly, the concept of "buying a title" has been proven wrong, mostly by the Yankees. In 2000, then with a $94M payroll (still within the fiscal stratosphere of other teams), they won their 26th championship. Since then, the payroll has increased each year without producing desirable results. In 2001 ($114M), with New York still reeling from the September 11th attacks, the seemingly invincible Mariano Rivera literally threw away the franchise's 27th title. In 2002 ($138M), the Bombers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs as they were hammered by the Angels. In 2003 ($169M), they lost to the "out of nowhere" Marlins who sported a $55,000,000 payroll. The high priced All-Star team wasn't able to handle the likes of newcomers Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, and Miguel Cabrera (fresh out of the minor leagues). In 2004 ($187M), the Yankees gained the embarrassing distinction as being the first team in the history of American sports to lose a playoff series after having jumped out to a 3-0 lead. They choked and the Red Sox moved on, easily dispatching the St.Louis Cardinals in the World Series. In dispelling the myths of the infamous "Curse", Boston celebrated its first championship since 1918. Babe Ruth Says: I tried, but even the Heimlich maneuver couldn't save them.

In addition to the recent failures, the current Yankees roster is comprised of a number of players who are over-the-hill and others who are overpaid underachievers. This season, they have almost $50M tied into Kevin Brown, Bernie Williams, Steve Karsay, and Jason Giambi alone. Based on recent health and production, New York most likely will not be getting their money's worth. The argument could even be made that with Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds, and Vladmir Guerrero all making less, Derek Jeter's $189M and Alex Rodriguez's $180M (what's left on his $252M) deals make them overpaid. One would imagine that $200M could buy everything you want, certainly all the necessities. Not the case here as the Yankees again begin the season with a lack of left handed pitching - Randy Johnson is the only left handed starter and there is no quality lefty in the bullpen - and a defensive liability in centerfield - Bernie Williams has struggled in CF since 2001 and has since been slowed by age (36) and injuries. Also, expensive acquisitions rarely live up to their billing once donning the pinstripes. Even Gary Sheffield, who finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting, saw his batting average plummet 42 points (.332 -> .290) from the previous year. Granted, almost every other team would sell its soul to Steinbrenner to be in the Yankees position and would gladly take on their problems. Still, for the rich brats, it’s like spending top dollar for a Rolls Royce and getting a BMW.

Since 2000, the Yankees have been the miserable old man, trying to buy happiness. Why hate them? Unless you're cold and heartless, you should pity their misfortune.
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Venom
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I'll read this later.
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Zidanman
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i think you need to clarify that although owners may be richer than mr steinbrenner in their personal finances, they are in the business to earn money and profit. the yankees have a lot larger revenue stream and bring in a lot more money than many teams combined. so, although, other owners could decide to take a loss with their business venture into sports and field a good team, most businessmen want to earn money and will not do that.

it's only fair to mention that. otherwise, it looks like you're being too biased and not flipping the coin like taught to.

aside from that, it was an excellent read. you clearly have mastered your english skills quite well.
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Strider
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Thanks. And you made a good point about the owners. I thought of that (and the fact that location and market plays a big part), but I figured that most of the readers wouldn't know and I'd atleast be able to conjur up a little sympathy for the Yanks. If I were gonna change that, I'd just remove it. I'll think about it.
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Zidanman
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Strider
Mar 25 2005, 06:59 PM
Thanks. And you made a good point about the owners. I thought of that (and the fact that location and market plays a big part), but I figured that most of the readers wouldn't know and I'd atleast be able to conjur up a little sympathy for the Yanks. If I were gonna change that, I'd just remove it. I'll think about it.

the nfl doles out revenue pretty evenly. so the giants make about the same from revnue as a team like the chiefs or seahawks. in mlb, the yankees produce probably at least twice as much as those two cities teams combined.
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YankeeBaseball
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I like your title and how you refer to the author. the rest is drivvel. ;)

Seriously, a fine piece of writin' by the Stryderrrrrrrr, although the paragraphs are too long and you mispelled professional in the first paragraph. I love your Babe Ruth joke. :peace:
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Strider
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I just made that headline up for the post. The sports editor does the headlines. I wish I could though. I've thought of some funny ones for other stuff.

And our rival newspaper (I'll eborate later) has a colum called "Bite Me" in which the writer goes off on whatever he wants. Its full of more cuss words than a CM/Strider conversation would be. If they can do that, then I should be able to have "Azzhole" in the headline.

Quote:
 
professional


I wish it had more mistakes in there. Give the editor something to do.

Quote:
 
I love your Babe Ruth joke.


Its actually from a signature I had back then. During the playoffs, I had those "___ says: ____" signatures. I had a "Babe Ruth says: Mariano Rivera has blown more saves (52) than I had losses in my career (46)." <- Nobody cared for that one. And after we lost, I had a cartoon picture of a guy choking and he's blue in the face, captioned with, "Babe Ruth says: Even the...."

* When I was in "headquarters" last week, the editor-in-chief from the rival paper came in and tried to pick a fight with our EIC. She was pissed that we were running a story (the big story) that she says her paper got hold of first. It was funny as hell cuz she was this short little Indian girl. Every short little Indian girl I've known has been quiet and passive. She was in there cussin' and fussin', wanting to fight our captain, who is atleast 6 inches taller. Everyone was all tense and sh*t, I'm cracking up. DRAMA! :laugh:
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Strider
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Had to bump this and highlight the important part. Cuz its so f*cking true. And I posted this in March. I seen it coming like I had a telescope, dawg.
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Mattingly23
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Very well written article, Strider. I wasn't around when you first posted it. I agree with most of your points, other than alluding to Jeter being overpaid. I could go into the reasons why he is not in the grand scheme of things, if you want me to, but other than that, I agree with just about everything else.
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Strider
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I think I have an idea of why most people don't think Jeter is overpaid.

All Star + 4 rings + marketable + homegrown + clutch (although I have questioned this) + face of the team + attracting silly 12 year old girls who are more likely to know his horoscope sign than his batting average = $189M.

To me, it doesn't. Pujols doesn't have 4 championships, but he's good looking and a better player. I know that the contract was signed when owners were throwing money around like MC Hammer, but it still doesn't change my opinion. He's overpaid. That and he hasn't been able to put up numbers like he did in 1999 and 2000. He's my second favorite player, but I'll be on his case until he hits .330+ again and does better than .200 in the ALCS and World Series.
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Mattingly23
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Well I think they're all overpaid if you want to really analyze things, but George messed up with Jeter. He waited until Boras and Hicks got together on that silly A-Rod contract before re-upping Jeter. There was a lot smaller deal, which was for something like 7 years and $13-14 million a year, sitting on George's desk for almost a year, and he kept delaying things. However, yes, all of those reasons you gave are reasons why his deal is not as bad as it could be. It's just too bad George is stubborn when it comes to taking care of deals that are out there. The same thing happened with Bernie.

You bringing up Pujols is perfect for this discussion. The Cards signed him to a long-term deal before he ever went to arbitration. It brought him through his arbitration years, plus past his free agency years. That's EXACTLY what George should have done with Jeter and Bernie. He would have saved a ton of money. Cleveland did that with all of their young stars in the early 1990s and it's how the A's were able to keep the Big 3 together as long as they did.
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Zidanman
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Apr 10 2005, 04:21 PM
Well I think they're all overpaid if you want to really analyze things, but George messed up with Jeter. He waited until Boras and Hicks got together on that silly A-Rod contract before re-upping Jeter. There was a lot smaller deal, which was for something like 7 years and $13-14 million a year, sitting on George's desk for almost a year, and he kept delaying things. However, yes, all of those reasons you gave are reasons why his deal is not as bad as it could be. It's just too bad George is stubborn when it comes to taking care of deals that are out there. The same thing happened with Bernie.

You bringing up Pujols is perfect for this discussion. The Cards signed him to a long-term deal before he ever went to arbitration. It brought him through his arbitration years, plus past his free agency years. That's EXACTLY what George should have done with Jeter and Bernie. He would have saved a ton of money. Cleveland did that with all of their young stars in the early 1990s and it's how the A's were able to keep the Big 3 together as long as they did.

isn't it george's belief that young players have to earn their millions, and for the sake of them playing for a contract, he won't sign young guys to extensions, since he can afford to pay them what they earn when they become a free agent? i remember hearing something like that.
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