O/T - Yankees sign Teixeira [Archive] - Net54baseball.com Forums

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12-23-2008, 01:08 PM

Posted By: James FeaginAnother reason why I collect baseball cards, but am absolutely turned off by the current system. Buying playoff appearances and titles only lead to empty World Series titles....who cares? My Orioles could completely dismantle and build a world class farm system and still get out bought in the end. A complete sham and disgrace is major league baseball. Until a hard salary cap is instituted, I will never go to another game or even listen to one. James

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12-23-2008, 01:14 PM

Posted By: Jim VBYou non- Yankee fans can whine all you want. So far, the Yankee's payroll is still about $7-8 million UNDER last year! (Although they have offered Pettitte $10.0 million They have used the expiring contracts of Giambi ($23.4 million), Abreu ($16.0 million), Pettitte ($16.0 million), Mussina ($11.0 million) and Pavano ($11.0 million). I hope the current expendititures work out a little better. Time to renew my DirectTV MLB package. Edited to add - James, I understand your frustration but Baltimore was actually Texeira's favored team and their offer was competitive. He didn't go there because he didn't feel they were serious about winning, not because the Yankees offered more money. If you want to "fix" the Orioles, look first at the incompetent ownership.

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12-23-2008, 01:15 PM

Posted By: RichieInstead of the Yankees buying free agents. Wouldn't be cheaper for them to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays

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12-23-2008, 01:23 PM

Posted By: randthat post is freakin' funny. bravo! my only problem with the yanks and these free agents is the fact they are not worth that money. texeira getting 22.5m a year is a joke. he's not going to be a HOFer. what would these guys be getting if the Yanks were not in the picture. certainly not that much and that many years.

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12-23-2008, 01:27 PM

Posted By: davidcyclebackObjective odds are they aren't going to win the World Series this year either.

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12-23-2008, 01:29 PM

Posted By: Jason LIf baseball went the way of Socialism and concentrated on an equalized distribution of resources, we wouldn't have innovation and change that often results from participants trying to gain competitive advantage. For example, we wouldn't have the evolution of strategic thought that has risen from the efforts and talents of Bill James and Billy Beane. Without incentive, there is no effort. James, if you want real frustration, perhaps you should try switching over to become a Cubs fan. That is real failure. -because on Chicago's North Side, there has been deep pockets for decades, but accompanied by an aversion to spending money, in combination with at any given time, truly inept management, coaching, and player development! edited for grammar

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12-23-2008, 01:33 PM

Posted By: David GoffIf he was serious of winning, do you think he should have stayed with the Angels? Unless he only wanted to play for a east coast team, the Angels are going to competitive. So now I wonder if the Yankess will still go after Manny. Might as well since they have signed just about every big money player this off season.

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12-23-2008, 01:41 PM

Posted By: AnonymousRand, You're wrong on a couple of points. 1. He's not worth it? The Orioles offered 7 years and $140 million. Washington offered 8 years and $160 million. Boston offered 8 years $170 million. The Yankees offer was in the same range - 8 years, $180 million. They didn't overpay, nor did they set the market. 2. HOF? I'd hate to predict HOF for any 28 year old with just 6 years in the league, but his season averages are for 36 HRs and 121 RBIs. In addition, he has two Golden Glove awards (and didn't get consideration the last two years because he changed leagues both years.) If he continues those same hitting numbers he'll be at nearly 500 HRs and 1700 RBIs when this contract expires. And he'll be only 36. Those numbers would merit HOF consideration. David C, Won't win? Probably won't. I go into every season assuming three starters will blow out their arm, two position players will destroy their hamstrings, and one power hitting first baseman will decide he can only DH from now on. I was actually expecting them to sign Mark Prior and trade for Big Papi! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif">

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12-23-2008, 01:43 PM

Posted By: Jim VBDavid G., He actually told the Angels, during the season, that he wanted to be on an East coast team. I assumed it would be Baltimore, because that's home to him.

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12-23-2008, 01:46 PM

Posted By: James FeaginBelieve me, I am 100% thoroughly disgusted and appalled with Baltimore's management. However, I also realize that the uneven playing field that exists in major league baseball does not appeal to me anymore. I have been leaning on following only University of Arkansas athletics and the NFL for a long time now. This one decision, makes that decision so much easier for me. Major League Baseball as it stands is almost as competetive as professional wrestling and until a hard salary cap is instituted, I will not be back....ever.

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12-23-2008, 01:49 PM

Posted By: Rich Kleinto some friends that Tex would go to the Yankees for 8/136. Nice job by Mr. Boras to add that extra 44 Million. And this deal makes sense for the Yankees. Get Tex for the prime and just beyond of his career and fill up a gaping hole. The Yankees moves make sense and be ready for a fun year in the AL BEAST Rich

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12-23-2008, 01:50 PM

Posted By: davidcyclebackOne thing positive about the NFL is that the Green Bays and Tampa Bays not only can win the Super Bowl, they do win the Super Bowl.

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12-23-2008, 01:52 PM

Posted By: AlHal is obviously on a buying binge, never to be embarrased like last year's Yankee collapse. I hope they get MANRAM as well and spend a zillion dollars to get him and everyone else. I don't blame the Boras types, he's in it for all the coin he can haul to the bank, as are the players. However, it's the fans who continue to shell out their hard earned dollars to watch the spectacle. After all, it's America's passtime. Go before you have to cash in your 401k (what's left of it) to see a game. Oh, BTW, money does not buy or ensure performance, particularly when it is up front and guaranteed. Just ask the Braves about Mike Hampton. MLB contracts should provide for an ample salary, commensurate with stats and years of service, then let them be rife with clauses payable upon end of year stats. Red Sox Nation says...see you in October.

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12-23-2008, 01:53 PM

Posted By: Alan UThe Yankees still have so many problems and some of the other A.L. teams are still so good that this doesn't ensure the Yankees a playoff appearance, much less a championship. They are basically forced to overpay for these free agents to justify their new stadium ticket prices. As far as I'm concerned, the more teams beef up their payroll costs, the more fun it is to see them fail.

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12-23-2008, 01:56 PM

Posted By: Jim VBJames, Please don't get me wrong. I think the playing field isn't financially even. But I don't think that correlates to winning. If it did, you'd never see a Philly-Tampa World Series. The Yankees have more income (north of $250 million or so), because of a bigger fan base and better TV contracts, and I'd rather see that money end up in the hands of the players than the owners. You can't put in a hard salary cap unless you could void all local TV money and run it like the NFL. In that case the money would dry up because there are no national ratings until the Playoffs. This way, the Yankees are a better team, but there are no guarantees they will win anything. Every team in baseball has a chance to win with young talent. Witness Tampa Bay.

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12-23-2008, 01:56 PM

Posted By: James FeaginHa! It ain't home to Tex anymore. Judging by the lynch mob forming on the Orioles fan boards, Tex is fourth in line behind Angelos, McPhail and Boras. His Maryland citizenship is about to be revoked <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> Thanks for allowing me to vent folks. I know myself well enough that I will ammend most of what I say <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> Jim VB: Buying talent may not win titles, but more often that not, it allows for participation in the postseason. Big markets don't need farm systems as the rest of MLB are their feeders. James

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12-23-2008, 02:00 PM

Posted By: JasonThe only things impervious to a bad economy: Porn, the mafia, and the New York Yankees.

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12-23-2008, 02:06 PM

Posted By: Steve FYankees, the best team money can buy. Didn't Hank recently go back to the city for more dough?

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12-23-2008, 02:06 PM

Posted By: Greg ThebergeJason, Aren't those three one in the same? Greg

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12-23-2008, 02:07 PM

Posted By: Greg ThebergeSomething messed up, double post, sorry

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12-23-2008, 02:15 PM

Posted By: Jim VBJason, Great quote. You should credit Silvio, however. And I believe it was something like "...certain aspects of the entertainment industry, and this thing of ours." He obviously forgot about the Yanks.

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12-23-2008, 02:23 PM

Posted By: Ricky YNot suprising at all. Sports Illustrated wrote about the new Yankee stadium and I remember it predicted that they would go hard after Texeria and Sabathia. If they resign Pettite and Wang can come back strong..they will have addressed a big weakness...the Evil Empire will be heard from next year like it or not. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif"> Ricky Yo

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12-23-2008, 02:27 PM

Posted By: quanwhy is it every time the yankees do something we need to hear about it here? where's the rest of the kc fan? are we concerned management is bringing yet another low obp guy like mike jacobs onto the roster? i don't think that address some of our bigger concerns. will jose guillen be traded? p.s. mark grudzielanek means more to kc than jeter to the yankees? pps brilliant move by yankees to finally sign a clean slugger in his prime

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12-23-2008, 02:40 PM

Posted By: Marty OgelvieDid He actually SIGN or agree to a number? After the Furcal/Braves fiasco, i'm a bit skeptical when I hear news like this. marty

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12-23-2008, 02:50 PM

Posted By: TONY GalovichI am a lifelong Yankee fan BUT If Baseball had salary limits like the NFL the Yankees would have one of the worst teams in baseball every yr How many games would they win with a $80 million $$ team payroll? Not many Some of the players they sign are horrible & with injuries they have mediocre teams & we can see in the last few yrs spending big $$$ is NOT a guarantee to win the World Series Get a New G.M. & quit signing overpriced free agents

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12-23-2008, 03:03 PM

Posted By: Jeff LichtmanI'm in NY and excited by what the Yankees have done -- but it is an absolute disgrace. It's not their fault because they're playing by the rules that exist today -- and the Sox, another rich team, would have had him if the Yankees didn't. But unlike the Tampa Bay Rays, who cannot afford to make a mistake on a player that they pay plenty for, the Yankees keep getting mulligans over and over. And the Yankees have no problem bilking NYC over money/stadium issues -- and then use our tax money to overpay players. Just disgusting.

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12-23-2008, 03:27 PM

Posted By: John KThe Yankees seem to have made pigs of themselves again. An old, old story.

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12-23-2008, 04:36 PM

Posted By: JosephDon't you fellows realize that there are eight-year-old boys who've not yet experienced a Yankee championship? That's unbearable hardship that the organization is addressing here.

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12-23-2008, 04:43 PM

Posted By: Fred CI hate to say this but the NFL has a much better product than MLB. MLB just sucks when it comes to trying to create parity in the league. This is one reason why a lot of people just love to see the yankees eat crap and die with those huge salaries. There was a time when a yankee hater was someone that appreciated the raw talent of the team. Now it's a different reason to hate the yankees. They are able to spend the most on the team salary and that doesn't lend to creating parity in the league where every team can't spend huge dollars and have a chance to improve and become a contender. That only leads to people hating that team because they are the "haves" (and no the "have nots") and they don't care if anybody is offended by it.

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12-23-2008, 04:45 PM

Posted By: Jeff LichtmanFred, I agree re NFL v. MLB but let's be honest: football is way more exciting than baseball anyway. And again, I don't blame the Yankees, they're just doing what they're permitted to do. Any team with those kind of assets who wouldn't exploit them would get blasted even more. At least no one can claim that the Yankee owners don't do everything they can to win.

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12-23-2008, 04:46 PM

Posted By: JimCrandellI have never been a Yankee fan and every year root against the Bronx Bombers and for underdog teams that I identify with. After long being a Mets fan, I now also root against them as they follow a strategy of buying high priced free agents. Thus, I am delighted with this move. First, it makes the Yankees even more unlikable to me. Second, I love the system that allows teams to spend on free agents. I have become disenchanted with pro football and basketball due to the salary caps. If a team wants to spend $200 million on players great--capitalism at work.

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12-23-2008, 05:08 PM

Posted By: barrysloateDespite the profligate spending by the Yankees, there really is parity in the league. A different team wins the championship or pennant each year, and often it is a smaller market one. If the Yankees don't win it all in 2009, there is no sympathy for them. And if they do win it all with their quarter billion dollar payroll, then they are just boring. It's a lose-lose proposition.

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12-23-2008, 05:14 PM

Posted By: jdrumtake the field.

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12-23-2008, 06:12 PM

Posted By: Robi thought i read somewhere that the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement is due to expire soon, so in the near future there might not be a salary cap for a couple seasons?

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12-23-2008, 06:26 PM

Posted By: MikeThe Yankees are a 20th Century Team. No World Series Wins in the 21st Century. Teixeira could maybe just be the top switch-hitter of all-time before his career is over. He is probably already in the top ten. He has a way to go, my top three are ( Mantle,Murray and Rose).

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12-23-2008, 06:34 PM

Posted By: Todd SchultzJim, I'd have to disagree that this is capitalism at work, or if it is, it is far from the best example. Capitalism presupposes profit as the raison d'etre, and here the Yankees' objective is less profit motivated as it is ego motivated. The two are not mutually exclusive, of course, but Steinbrenner is more concerned with winning than gaining profit. In fact, the true capitalists in MLB, i.e. those who look primarily to make profit, are usually chewed up by the fans and media as in it for the wrong reasons. Capitalism exists in many forms, but is widely viewed as market driven, with risk association and, generally, with competition as the driving force. Here, as has been said, there is gross inequality of resources caused more by local geography and population centers than any business acumen. The Yankees face little risk because of their vast advantage in these resources. Taxes imposed against them, in effect a penalty designed to discourage them from taking advantage of their resources, are also of little effect. Also, in a true capitalistic model, someone could enter the New York market and try to build a better team than what is there. Of course, baseball's oligopoly will not allow that, and these things, combined with baseball's antitrust exemption, make baseball in general and the Yankees in particular as less than a glowing example of capitalism at work, IMO.

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12-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Posted By: PhilThere were only 2 teams last year that had to pay a luxury tax.....NY Yankees & Detroit Tigers...neither made the playoffs. Teixeira is far, far from a HOF right now. In this age of bloated offensive numbers, he is no different than a ton of players. My prediction: CC Sabathia - no more than 15 wins....gets hurt. Not a big market, big time player. For the record: I am a Red Sox fan.

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12-23-2008, 06:53 PM

Posted By: JimCrandellI think forced parity in sports is a bad thing. Football was the most interesting when the Packers were dominant. Basketball was the most interesting during the Celtics long run. Teams ought to be allowed to succeed and fail on their own and not be limited in how much they can or can't spend to field a team.

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12-23-2008, 07:09 PM

Posted By: CNGood for them I guarantee they will be sold out every game this year. Why make a ton of money if you can,t spend it. The Yankees print money. I am a Mets fan but being a New Yorker and a Champion of free enterprise why should the Yanks field an inferior team when they draw 4 million a year and have the YES Network raking in millions. Baseball is always better when the Yanks are good so you can root for them or hate them(like I do) CN

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12-23-2008, 07:10 PM

Posted By: Todd Schultzthose Packers and Celtics teams weren't built by owners being allowed to spend more than the next guy at all. If anything, they rewarded teams who were smart in drafting and trading. Modern baseball, by contrast and as others here have mentioned, allows the rich to make mistake after mistake and buy their way out of it.

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12-23-2008, 07:14 PM

Posted By: Bob ManningJim; "Teams ought to be allowed to succeed and fail on their own and not be limited in how much they can or can't spend to field a team." That's why a salary cap, or some other form of equity producing system, is vital to the continuing success of all of MLB. By the way, how much can a team spend to "field a team?" Do teams field themselves? Hardly. Plan until the revolution: Every spring the Yankees will form up some kind of supersquad, spending quadrillions of dollars on every ballplayer capable of whistling and making a puddle at the same time. Then, on April 1, there will be a giant ticker tape parade down Broadway, just like when Joe D was here. All the world will be on hand to cheer. "YAY!!! Yankees win again!!! Aren't they wonderful? Aren't all their fans wonderful too? Isn't New York wonderful?" Then their season will be OVER, and the rest of the teams will play each other until a true champion emerges. Sound fair? Bob

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12-23-2008, 07:34 PM

Posted By: JimCrandellBob, Except that the rich don't always win. I think the salary cap is one of the worst things to ever happen to professional sports.

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12-23-2008, 07:45 PM

Posted By: DaryleI'm a life-long Yankee fan and I wouldn't pay Babe Ruth that kinda money...........nobody on Earth worth that kinda money

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12-23-2008, 07:51 PM

Posted By: Bob ManningDamn! And they should win all the time, of course, being rich and all. That's why the plan I've outlined is so helpful. The Yankees (or any other team proclaiming greatness on the basis of monies expended) would succeed just by blowing away more loot than anybody else. The rich would win every time. What could be fairer? Fun? What's that got to do with anything? B

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12-23-2008, 08:18 PM

Posted By: john/z28jd I think baseball should have a salary cap but it should be where the top 2 teams can actually spend to. If its 140 million then let it be there,just dont let some team go crazy and blow everyone else out of the water. If they cant put a great team together for 140 million then theyre obviously not fit to run a baseball organization.If the Yankees get a world series title with that kind of payroll they didnt win it,they bought it,its not the same thing. So anyone who says they think the Yankees will WIN the world series this year...its not possible. I also love how everyone says,they have the money,then let them spend it. They have the money because they charge ridiculous prices for their tickets and everything in the stadium. I have a Pirates yearbook this year,it costs less than 1/3rd of the price of the Yankees but its printed on the same paper stock,same type and amount of content,why such a huge difference....because the Yankees love their fans more I guess and dont want them having the dilemma of what to do with their extra money. Heres a better idea,spend wisely and keep some of that thrown away money in the fans pockets,you know,the people who support your bad habits. Yankee fans always make excuses for their team,but dont realize that half of them cant even afford to attend one game a year with their family because the team is so foolish with their spending.

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12-23-2008, 09:51 PM

Posted By: DJThe part that I do not understand is...how much is too much and why are decisions made based exclusively on a small percentage of the money? In both instances, neither player wanted to play in New York. So basically Teixeira is making $2 million dollars a year to play for a team he would rather not play for. Over time, that is $20 million. How much is too much? When you add up a player's bank already, why not come to the conclusion that you will never spend all that bank and simply be happy. Sabathia wanted BADLY to play in the National League and on the West Coast. The Yankees, Cookie-Cookie, are in the American League and on the East Coast. It is sick what the Yankees do each year but it gives us reasons to hate them. They haven't won a thing this millenium and teams with solid farm systems overlap them. Have you seen their farm system? Anyone see Adrian Hernandez lately? Ian Kennedy? $30 and 3% interest per month... GHR! (inside shout out to Mr. 1956 PSA Registry Super Star). This DOES NOT make them better. They still have Alex Rodriguez. Sabathia fills Mussina's spot. Burnett is undependable. Chamberlain is needed in a poor bullpen where they will once again rotate arms from Scranton. And once again, the Yankees will look up at both the Red Sox and Rays....(yawn) Happy Holidays! DJ

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12-24-2008, 12:29 AM

Posted By: Paul DYou can not blame Teixeira. You can however, easily blame Bud Selig, the players union and ALL the owners, for allowing the BS that is 'baseball' to continue. I can't remember who said it but I agree that 'a league is only a league when everyone is on the same field.' Old George was once quoted as saying "I am dead set against free agency, it can ruin baseball." Then he promptly set out to prove it. And he did prove it. And I guess we can also blame Bowie Kuhn, who should have forced him to sell the his stake in the Yankees after his guilty verdict in '74. I just have to wonder if an admitted felon would still be allowed to keep a stake in an MLB team in today's world; even with the snake of Eden (Bud Selig) being in charge.

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12-24-2008, 04:19 AM

Posted By: Jeff LichtmanPaul, I agree with you -- it's not the Yankee ownership's fault: it's MLB's fault for allowing it to happen. At least the Yankee owners will do anything to win. A lot of the resentment here is, in fairness, sour grapes. You've got billionaire, penny-pinching owners that run their franchises like a business: profit over product. The Yankees just want to win; can't fault that.

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12-24-2008, 08:16 AM

Posted By: leonWhat are all of you guys talking about? I haven't really watched MLB in 25 yrs..... This kind of "buying of teams" should make it another 25....I could give a da**.....but I know the masses like it so please do carry on. I can't wait for my softball league to start again....

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12-24-2008, 08:34 AM

Posted By: Bruce Dorskind We have been dedicated Yankee fans for 50 years. Winning is a tradition - and the Yankees have a long tradition of making changes when they don't win. The fact that they are spending more money on their payroll than any other team is a tribute to the ability of a smart management to negotiate the rights to a billion dollar tv network, the fact that NYC is far and away the most important market in North America and the fact that what they are doing is perfectly legal. To argue that the Pirates program is half the cost of a Yankee program is silly. You sell everything at the highest price the market will accept. Receptionists at major consulting firms in NYC often earn $75-$100,000. Cleaning ladies and baby sitters earn $25-40 an hour and the better Manhattan restaurants cost $100 person- that's cost of doing business in the world's greatest city. As Yankee season ticket holders, we are not pleased that our tickets have gone from $60 a seat to nearly $600- but if we don't buy the seats- there are 1000 other guys who will. Whilst the recent economic crisis has hurt some individuals and caused some people to stay away from the market- the demand for the very best Yankee tickets- much like the demand for other truly special items, albeit expensive items, has not dropped. There are enough ultra wealthy folks in the NY area- that the Yankees will not be hurt by crisis. And, when all is said and done-what could be more important than providing a winning team. God Bless Capitalism God Bless America Bruce Dorskind America's Toughest Want List

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12-24-2008, 08:41 AM

Posted By: barrysloateBruce- I will predict more empty seats this year than you might imagine. Maybe the very best seats will still be bought by the very richest fans, but at some tier there will be price resistance. They are charging too much, and many diehard fans will not be able to attend games.

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12-24-2008, 09:12 AM

Posted By: Bruce Dorskind Barry The Yankees draw a million more people than any other team We are certainly willing to wager that they will reach 90% capacity for the season. Unless someone cancels the season who drops a nuclear bomb on NYC there is no way that they don't sell out 65 games and reach 90% attendance at the others. Demand from tourists, businesses and the millions of fans is just too high. We don't anyone who is not going to go because they raised their prices- lots of people complain Of course, some people won't go for free Happy holidays to Judy and you Bruce

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12-24-2008, 09:26 AM

Posted By: barrysloateThanks Bruce, and happy holidays to you. It will be interesting to see if you are correct. There is a point where people would love to go to a game but simply can't afford it. And are your tickets really going from $60 to $600 a game? That's a 1000% increase- seems a little hard to believe.

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12-24-2008, 09:26 AM

Posted By: BobThe New York Yankees have the luxury of being in New York City. If the Yankees management team lived in Minnesota or Oakland or had a $50 million dollar payroll, they would be where the Pirates are every single year. It's easy to pick and choose players you want on your team, but difficult to build a farm system only to rebuild it every year and try and get your fans to buy in. The Marlins have had much success and the Rays will have to do so as well from here on in. Bob

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12-24-2008, 09:49 AM

Posted By: Bruce Dorskind Yankee tickets 2003-60 2004 75 2005 110 2006 150 2007 200 2008 250 2009 600 Regards. Bruce

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12-24-2008, 10:03 AM

Posted By: jay woltBruce you're seats must be fantastic. I just checked the yankee website and the season tickets that are avialable are.... Bleachers $12 per Grandstand $20 & $25 Terrace $40, $55 & $65 Main $45, $60, $75 & $100 Field $75, $100, $150, $175, $225 & $325 The $600 seats weren't even listed, so they must all be sold. You could save a fortune by slumming it and buying "average" seats.

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12-24-2008, 10:19 AM

Posted By: Todd Schultzthe Yankees could get some bounce out of their new stadium this year, but less than 90% capacity is still possible, especially in this economy. BTW, they do not draw more than a million more fans than every other franchsise, ever. Also, in terms of their attendance, they finished 2008 fifth in % of capacity at 92.3%, and were smoked by the Red Sox, Cubs, Tigers and Phils. Also, 2008, the swan song for the Stadium, got them their highest % of occuapncy for the decade at tha 92.3. They just topped 90% in 2006 and 2007, but didn't hit the 90% mark for 2004 and 2005, and didn't even hit 80% for 2002 or 2003.

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12-24-2008, 10:32 AM

Posted By: barrysloateSo let's work this out. An 80 game home schedule at $600 a seat costs $48,000 for the season. And those are not the most expensive seats, as there are some as high as $2500 per game. Those work out to $200,000 for the season, and for a pair you can double that. For that amount you get to see maybe 10 great games, with the other 70 ranging from very good to downright boring. It still costs $2500 to see the Kansas City Royals on a Tuesday afternoon in April, perhaps in the cold and drizzle. And all this during a deep recession. Never has so much money bought so little.

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12-24-2008, 10:34 AM

Posted By: jay woltBarry, so you buy the $40 Terrace seats and you save a fortune. Like getting a free car if you make the downsize

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12-24-2008, 10:39 AM

Posted By: Anthony S."Never has so much money bought so little." Barry, I think you're forgetting about Barry Zito.

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12-24-2008, 10:49 AM

Posted By: brockThe red sox's can not be brought into the conversation about seating because there stadium only holds 5 people. Old yankee stadium held up to 57,545 and the new one holds 52,325. And my ticket prices are just fine and i live 3 hours away and plan on going to around 4-8 games this year. The $2,500 seats are for the special suites.

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12-24-2008, 10:54 AM

Posted By: barrysloateAnthony- you are right, Zito gets about a million dollars a win! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="happy.gif">

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12-24-2008, 11:08 AM

Posted By: Bill ToddThere's another POV on the competitiveness matter. Look at the MLB standings from the last five years. You'll see that two or three teams end the season above .600, and two or three teams below .400. The rest are all bunched between .400 and .600. How is that not competitive? Look at other major sports. You've got teams ending the season at .206. That is not competitive. (OK, so the '03 Tigers weren't competitive.) I guess that if the baseball season only lasts from October 1 to October 31 for you, you could find reason to gripe. Bill

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12-24-2008, 11:16 AM

Posted By: Rob D.Todd, I've noticed you have this interesting habit of delivering actual facts -- rather than just spewing hyperbole in the form of facts -- to make your points. I find it refreshing.

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12-24-2008, 11:17 AM

Posted By: john/z28jd Bruce I wasnt arguing about the price of programs but since you brought it up,let me know where you can get a Yankees YEARBOOK for JUST TWICE THE PRICE of a Pirates one? Yankees fans are brainwashed,youre getting the same exact content as I get for over 2 times the price and you think its ok because people are willing to pay it....what is their other option,not getting it? Baseball fans want yearbooks no matter what team they root for,Yankees probably sell at least 5x the amount of yearbooks to begin with but theyre greedy enough to take extra money at every turn because the brainwashed think its ok as long as they spend a ridiculous amount on the players on the field,even if its unwise. How Brian Cashman kept his job is beyond me. If someone gave me $1000 to buy their kids Christmas presents and I came back with a dishwasher that works half the time and $200 worth of toys they wouldnt be happy I got the toys and they certainly wouldnt give me more money next year to make sure I got enough presents. No one who roots for the team asks why they cant have a 150 mil payroll,take that 60 mil savings plus the 20 mil extra they pay in revenue sharing,and lower the ticket prices by that amount so the average fan can take their family to actually see the team play in person. You're paying extra money for their stupidity and waste.

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12-24-2008, 11:29 AM

Posted By: CNRegarding Yankee tickets I have a brother who sells tickets as a side job(HE is a pilot for American Airlines and has plenty of free time). He has 14 tickets for the Mets,8 for the Yanks,6 for the Rangers,4 for the Giants and was making about10 to 15 grand extra a year selling tickets for a slight premium. He noticed a pattern of people always wanting 3 tickets and most sellers having either 2 or 4. He took a chance and bought full season premium seats for the Yankees but only 3 seats. I just got off the phone with him and he told me he is over halfway sold already and has already broken even. It shows like Bruce said in New York people are willing to pay more for the best CN

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12-24-2008, 11:35 AM

Posted By: barrysloateIf you're a tourist and you are making that big trip to NYC, I agree price may not matter. But what about the fan who typically saw 10-20 games a year, and now has to cut back to 5 or less. Doesn't he get some consideration as far as being priced out?

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12-24-2008, 11:35 AM

Posted By: Jim VBRob D., "I've noticed you have this interesting habit of delivering actual facts -- rather than just spewing hyperbole in the form of facts -- to make your points." Personally, I think this sort of thing is just a fad. It will never catch on. Most people find that "facts" just get in the way of what they believe.

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12-24-2008, 11:51 AM

Posted By: Rob D.Jim, I guess you could say posting hyperbole and half-truths as facts has become a tradition for some.

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12-24-2008, 12:18 PM

Posted By: jdrum"How Brian Cashman kept his job is beyond me." Maybe he is evaluated on spending money and not winning as most GMs are.

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12-24-2008, 01:07 PM

Posted By: Jeff LichtmanAgain, every person who is pissed about what the Yankees are doing are just envious that either a) their team doesn't have the cash to spend; or b) their team's owner won't spend the loot. As pointed out, the Yankees care more about winning than making money. While I agree that what is going on is abhorrent, blame it on Selig and the dopey owners for allowing it to happen. It's freaking grotesque.

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12-24-2008, 01:13 PM

Posted By: dan mckeeI completely agree with James Feagans above. Though I was impressed that the Orioles made a strong offer at 140 million. And of course the kid had to take the extra 40 million the Yanks offered, I don't knock him for taking it nor the Yanks for being able to offer it. Baseball stinks because of no salary cap. Football is great because of it. I was a die hard 49ers fan and still am and the salary cap killed my team. But I still love it. It gives all teams a chance. Baseball was decent when you built a farm system that fed your professional club. Now it is just pathetic. <img src="" alt="<span">www.danmckee.com/pictures/types001.jpg>

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12-24-2008, 01:20 PM

Posted By: Jim VBYou know what the good side of this is? The actions of the Yankees have spurred some other, "inert", owners into action. Before Steinbrenner took over the Yankees, NONE of the teams seemed interested in spending any money. Not for players (before free agency.) Not for ballparks (They'd still prefer to spend taxpayer money.) All leagues were boring. Now you find a few owners in every sports league willing to spend to win. Most do it badly, but it still spurs competition. I would not mind if MLB exoanded their revenue sharing program, but I'd like to see a way to force the teams receiving money to spend it on players. Right now, some of those owners can just pocket that money. If you're going to set a max payroll limit, (or tax any amount above a certain point), then you have to set a minimum limit also. I think to players union is pretty happy with it the way it is, however.

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12-24-2008, 05:32 PM

Posted By: john/z28jdBefore I post I will say that this is my last post in this thread because it is Christmas eve and also there is no reasoning with Yankees fans who have it engrained in their minds that they are supposed to win every year no matter what the cost. The jealousy defense that they are taught on day one of brainwashing 101 is a laughable defense. They are a fan of a team that they chose to root for. They werent forced to root for that team and the same thing goes for every one else who roots for any other team. No one is handed a hat of their team as theyre leaving the womb and has guys in suits stop by their house every March 15th to make sure theyre still rooting for that team. No one in their right mind can be jealous of a choice made out of free will. So if you root for a certain team then you cant be jealous of someone who roots for another team,its no possible. Even when you try to reason with Yankee fans and say hey wake up,you pay for their mistakes,Carl Pavano,Kevin Brown and Jaret Wright still cost you money everytime you buy something Yankee related,it goes right over their head. Its engrained brainwashing,win at any cost,even if I'm the one paying extra for it when in reality I shouldn't have to. The owners of the team have money to spend because the fans are forced to pay their prices if they want to see them. They arent spending their own money on the team,they are spending your hard earned money. The Yankees couldn't charge the prices they do and spend 80 million on payroll,the stadium would get burned down by angry fans. They can apparently make it less family friendly and more corporate friendly and still make tons of money and get away with it though. I'll never be jealous of a store bought team that can't actually remember what it was like to win a world series so they feel the need to keep trying to buy one. Winning the series now for them would be like an adult winning a 3rd grade spelling bee. Sure you could lose but if you win,what did you really accomplish?

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12-24-2008, 07:34 PM

Posted By: JimCrandellThe things baseball could do to make things better start with getting rid of the luxury tax. Let every club spend what they want with no repercussions and please get rid of the revenue sharing and the absurdly high minimum salaries. The worst thing baseball could do would be to install a hard salary cap and see the sport go down the disastrous road of pro football.

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12-24-2008, 08:06 PM

Posted By: Greg EcklundIf the disastrous road leads to becoming the most popular sport in the country, then I would think that at least 90% of MLB owners would gladly follow the path that pro football has taken in the last decade or more.

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12-24-2008, 10:36 PM

Posted By: MVSNYCi got my "lifetime" Yankees Seat from Jay...it's from 1923! <img src="/images/wink.gif" height="14" width="14" alt="wink.gif"> my buddy & i are talking about going-in on Yankees season tix (41 game plan), will probably be upper deck...seems like the upper deck in the new stadium is closer then the old one... p.s. merry x-mas to all!

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12-25-2008, 07:06 AM

Posted By: dan mckeeJim my friend, you may want to take a look at the ratings between current baseball and current football. Dan.

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12-25-2008, 07:57 AM

Posted By: James ToddI've been hearing a lot of out cry over the Yankees and their spending. The fact is, the Yankees at this present moment are a cheaper team than they were last year. So in effect, there is nothing to be angry about. Secondly, over the past 9 seasons 8 different teams have won the World Series. So all the talk about the Yankees buying empty championships doesn't make any sense. What have they bought other than an expensive team? And how has their spending eliminated competition? Also, what is the relation between spending and winning? Thirdly, the Yankees won their championships with a core of players that were home grown, some of which will be future HOFers. Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Ramiro Mendoza, Andy Pettite, and Jorge Posada were the core of the championship teams. None of these players were bought.

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12-25-2008, 08:26 AM

Posted By: JimCrandellDan, If there was 162 football games the ratings might drop. Just think football was a lot more interesting when they had the dynasties and dominant teams. Also just disagree in principal with the forced spending restraints on teams. Jim

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12-25-2008, 12:52 PM

Posted By: Bob ManningFootball dynasties no more? Patriots? Steelers? NY Giants? Colts? But every year, any team can improve to the point that it may very well be in the hunt all the way through. Think the Pirates will do that this year? Sure they will. Just check the Pgh. Post Gazette. While the Yanks made their signings, the Bucs were chasing Rocco Baldelli, Derreck Turnbow and Chris Bootcheck. Big things ahead. Stay tuned fans, plenty of fine seats still available out here.