37 replies to this topic

[terryjohnson16]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...r_deal_wit.html

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232008/sport...eira_145598.htm

Now, all they have to do is get Manny Ramirez, if they can't agree with Abreu.

[terryjohnson16]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...8&fext=.jsp

[Mike_The_Golfer]

Ridiculous. They just spent 425 million on 3 players, yet they keep going back to the city asking for money to help build the stadium.

[rgwp96]

truly pathetic just like the yankee fans who see nothing wrong with this. So you are not happy Terry and want Manny too? Give me a break. If I was the city of NY. I would give the yanks squat toward there stadium. Another embarrassing blow to mlb.

[devilsfan0405]

Mike_The_Golfer, on Dec 23 2008, 04:36 PM, said:

Ridiculous. They just spent 425 million on 3 players, yet they keep going back to the city asking for money to help build the stadium.

Well, the dumb*** government should grow some balls and tell them to take a hike when they cry poverty. As far as free agency, they're playing by the rules. There's no salary cap in baseball.

That said, I bet the Yankees miss the playoffs again in '09. This reminds me of the 80's when the Yankees tried to build an All-Star team instead of a true baseball team. Winning doesn't simply involve snapping up the best free agents. How many big-money players were on the 96-00 Yankees teams?

[satellite_eyes]

Someone should do some research and see how much $$$ the Yankees generate for NY. Anyway why do people get mad at the fans? The team is doing nothing wrong by signing whoever they can afford. They aren't breaking any rules. If you want to get mad at someone get mad at the union. Yet another that has gotten too strong for it's own good and will eventually do more damage than good (see the auto industry). But Terry, this means that there will be no Manny, sorry. This is much better anyway.

[rgwp96]

satellite_eyes, on Dec 23 2008, 05:45 PM, said:

Someone should do some research and see how much $$$ the Yankees generate for NY. Anyway why do people get mad at the fans? The team is doing nothing wrong by signing whoever they can afford. They aren't breaking any rules. If you want to get mad at someone get mad at the union. Yet another that has gotten too strong for it's own good and will eventually do more damage than good (see the auto industry). But Terry, this means that there will be no Manny, sorry. This is much better anyway.

because they expect an all star at every position, ex=Terry. Too bad you guys dont root for a small market team, than you would see where I am coming from. I was a pirate fan, losing your players every year gets old after a while. At least in football you know your team has a chance every year even if they sucked the year before,ex=Dolphins. In baseball Pirate fans already know they are not getting above .500 before the season starts.

[robbbs]

rgwp96, on Dec 23 2008, 11:58 PM, said:

because they expect an all star at every position, ex=Terry. Too bad you guys dont root for a small market team, than you would see where I am coming from. I was a pirate fan, losing your players every year gets old after a while. At least in football you know your team has a chance every year even if they sucked the year before,ex=Dolphins. In baseball Pirate fans already know they are not getting above .500 before the season starts.

Rgwp96 -- I'm delighted at the Yankee moves.

[icehater]

terryjohnson16, on Dec 23 2008, 03:37 PM, said:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...r_deal_wit.html

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232008/sport...eira_145598.htm

Now, all they have to do is get Manny Ramirez, if they can't agree with Abreu.

And while they are at it they might as well dig up Babe Ruth and pay a doctor to put his DNA in someone and on the side pay off the rest of the teams to let them win. The yankees as a tean aren't winning next year, their money power is. I personally think it's sad for baseball when you see a team get this glutinous and then it turns around and asks the taxpayers to bankroll their stadium so that they can buy a championship. The yankees are starting to look like the wall street crowd.

[icehater]

satellite_eyes, on Dec 23 2008, 05:45 PM, said:

generate for NY. Anyway why do people get mad at the fans?Someone should do some research and see how much $$$ the Yankees The team is doing nothing wrong by signing whoever they can afford. They aren't breaking any rules. If you want to get mad at someone get mad at the union. Yet another that has gotten too strong for it's own good and will eventually do more damage than good (see the auto industry). But Terry, this means that there will be no Manny, sorry. This is much better anyway.

That's exactly what the billionaires on Wall Street, who made the economy a shambles while getting super rich, woud say if they were brought to trial.

[robbbs]

icehater, on Dec 24 2008, 02:45 AM, said:

And while they are at it they might as well dig up Babe Ruth and pay a doctor to put his DNA in someone and on the side pay off the rest of the teams to let them win. The yankees as a tean aren't winning next year, their money power is. I personally think it's sad for baseball when you see a team get this glutinous and then it turns around and asks the taxpayers to bankroll their stadium so that they can buy a championship. The yankees are starting to look like the wall street crowd.

Ice -- That made me laugh. As a selfish Yankee fan, I like the moves. However, I absolutely recognize the issues related to money, parity, and advantage. The rules, however, are unlikely to change as long as a winning Yankee team makes money for themselves and, more importantly, for all of baseball. Opposing teams love it when the Yanks come to their city; that's when they get the biggest crowds, especially if it's a power house Yankee team. Let's face it, people in opposing cities are not going to get excited about seeing teams like Kansas City, Tampa Bay, or even a world series team like the Phillies (except for Mets fans due to the rivalry). So the advantages start even before the money. Does New York as a city have a broader appeal (negative and positive) than Minnesota, Cleveland, Seattle, and any number of other cities? You bet. I recognize the unfairness, but as long as the money is there, it won't change. We had this discussion a year ago and I'm sure we'll have it next year and beyond. Of course you're correct about the money advantage. But I don't think anyone will dare touch it as long as money is being made. Now if this economy tanks even further and puts some teams on or over the edge, and/or hurts Yankee attendance (4M annual) that could be the catalyst for change. Otherwise, it will keep going.

[terryjohnson16]

rgwp96, on Dec 23 2008, 05:25 PM, said:

truly pathetic just like the yankee fans who see nothing wrong with this. So you are not happy Terry and want Manny too? Give me a break. If I was the city of NY. I would give the yanks squat toward there stadium. Another embarrassing blow to mlb.

I partially agree that they are spending too much money. But, as a Yankees fan, we need it. Before people were bashing the players for not being tops and producing on the field. Especially the pitchers, and players with RISP. How much money do they have saved up vs. how much they make each season on tickets and other stuff? Can they even promise to even have that much money on hand each year without going bankrupt?

[terryjohnson16]

robbbs, on Dec 23 2008, 09:26 PM, said:

Ice -- That made me laugh. As a selfish Yankee fan, I like the moves. However, I absolutely recognize the issues related to money, parity, and advantage. The rules, however, are unlikely to change as long as a winning Yankee team makes money for themselves and, more importantly, for all of baseball. Opposing teams love it when the Yanks come to their city; that's when they get the biggest crowds, especially if it's a power house Yankee team. Let's face it, people in opposing cities are not going to get excited about seeing teams like Kansas City, Tampa Bay, or even a world series team like the Phillies (except for Mets fans due to the rivalry). So the advantages start even before the money. Does New York as a city have a broader appeal (negative and positive) than Minnesota, Cleveland, Seattle, and any number of other cities? You bet. I recognize the unfairness, but as long as the money is there, it won't change. We had this discussion a year ago and I'm sure we'll have it next year and beyond. Of course you're correct about the money advantage. But I don't think anyone will dare touch it as long as money is being made. Now if this economy tanks even further and puts some teams on or over the edge, and/or hurts Yankee attendance (4M annual) that could be the catalyst for change. Otherwise, it will keep going.

Very true. Yankees bring money to other cities, and vice versa. Boston vs. Yankees, and some others.

[satellite_eyes]

You know the more i think about it this is probably a pretty ideal situation for MLB. Yankees spend the most money to put a team on the field that everyone wants to come out and see (even on the road, no arguing that) and yet someone else wins the WS every year. Nothing will change until the Yanks have another run similar to the late 90s. In the meantime every time the Yanks hand out a $100M contract people will scream it's unfair for a while but that will eventually fade as long as someone else is winning it all.

And just for the record, as a Yankee fan i love all these moves. As a baseball fan i am completely in favor of a different system, like a salary cap. There are a lot of changes i would make to baseball if i were in charge actually.

[NittanyLion]

To everyone who hates the Yankees for this, would you feel the same if it was your team?

Also why do they have money? Marketing, attendance, SUCCESS, good business. They have money because people will pay to see them, sorry for everyone else's teams who don't. Can't really get mad at them for being good.

As some would argue capitalist society, not socialist.

[icehater]

NittanyLion, on Dec 23 2008, 11:23 PM, said:

To everyone who hates the Yankees for this, would you feel the same if it was your team?

Also why do they have money? Marketing, attendance, SUCCESS, good business. They have money because people will pay to see them, sorry for everyone else's teams who don't. Can't really get mad at them for being good.

As some would argue capitalist society, not socialist.

I'm a diehard yankee fan from the past and a lot more proud of how those teams were put together in a competitive level playing field way rather than a top of the ladder out-purchase the world way. The NFL has done it's best to keep large cap cities from having such an unfair advantage so you have long-term players for the same team and a very competitive sport. It's my belief that is one of the major reasons why football is doing so much better than baseball in public interest. Baseball has a two pronged issue that has to be solved. Their really isn't a lot of incentive for some small market teams to even be competitive. In this day and age you can field a team at $30mln a year in salaries, pocket $60-80mln in rev share and salary interest penalties (plus whatever revs the team brings in) and make a heck of a profit with little or no risk as the public pays for your stadium. That's the problem at the low end. The problem at the high end in the large cap cities is that you need to field a very expensive team that is always in the mix to hold your fan base and media revenue. The bottom of the world scenario for the yankees is a bad team that they are stuck with (which can happen with the contracts they give). That doomsday scenario is low ad revenues on YES from a team that is out of it early, reduction in ticket sales, lower concession revenues and sky high fixed salary costs that they can't get out of. If that day comes the yankees will join Wall Street in looking for bailout money. YES ratings fell through the floor late last summer and the ad revenue got threatened and seriously undermined in September. That is why they are spending all this money this year. Lucky for the Yankees that it came at a time when many of their free agent signings from years past were in their last year and a lot of salaries were expiring. Otherwise the Yankees would have been stuck with the dreary September of last year for the whole upcoming season in a brand new ballpark.


One thing I'd expect this year is a problem between Girardi and his players. He's really set up for a small market team and he's managing the biggest market team in baseball and several of the yankees did not like him last year (and it's not the ones that left).

Also why do they have money really is a question of why others don't have money

In most cases it's because they play in much less populous areas and couldn't draw the revs the Yankees have if they went 173-0 through the WS for 2 or 3 consecutive years. Less people = no network, lower ticket sales, lower concession revenues. lower municipality funds and many of these areas have a much lower per capita income base to begin with. If you were starting BB today under existing rules and had a drawing for the cities to play in, everyone would want NY as it immediately brings a big advantage.

[metfan4life]

Stupid Skankees. Let another team have a chance of picking up a good player. That is why the Yankees are the most hated team in baseball.

[NittanyLion]

icehater, on Dec 24 2008, 12:01 AM, said:

I'm a diehard yankee fan from the past and a lot more proud of how those teams were put together in a competitive level playing field way rather than a top of the ladder out-purchase the world way. The NFL has done it's best to keep large cap cities from having such an unfair advantage so you have long-term players for the same team and a very competitive sport. It's my belief that is one of the major reasons why football is doing so much better than baseball in public interest. Baseball has a two pronged issue that has to be solved. Their really isn't a lot of incentive for some small market teams to even be competitive. In this day and age you can field a team at $30mln a year in salaries, pocket $60-80mln in rev share and salary interest penalties (plus whatever revs the team brings in) and make a heck of a profit with little or no risk as the public pays for your stadium. That's the problem at the low end. The problem at the high end in the large cap cities is that you need to field a very expensive team that is always in the mix to hold your fan base and media revenue. The bottom of the world scenario for the yankees is a bad team that they are stuck with (which can happen with the contracts they give). That doomsday scenario is low ad revenues on YES from a team that is out of it early, reduction in ticket sales, lower concession revenues and sky high fixed salary costs that they can't get out of. If that day comes the yankees will join Wall Street in looking for bailout money. YES ratings fell through the floor late last summer and the ad revenue got threatened and seriously undermined in September. That is why they are spending all this money this year. Lucky for the Yankees that it came at a time when many of their free agent signings from years past were in their last year and a lot of salaries were expiring. Otherwise the Yankees would have been stuck with the dreary September of last year for the whole upcoming season in a brand new ballpark.


One thing I'd expect this year is a problem between Girardi and his players. He's really set up for a small market team and he's managing the biggest market team in baseball and several of the yankees did not like him last year (and it's not the ones that left).

Also why do they have money really is a question of why others don't have money

In most cases it's because they play in much less populous areas and couldn't draw the revs the Yankees have if they went 173-0 through the WS for 2 or 3 consecutive years. Less people = no network, lower ticket sales, lower concession revenues. lower municipality funds and many of these areas have a much lower per capita income base to begin with. If you were starting BB today under existing rules and had a drawing for the cities to play in, everyone would want NY as it immediately brings a big advantage.

Good to hear a business minded viewpoint.

metfan4life, on Dec 24 2008, 12:24 AM, said:

Stupid Skankees. Let another team have a chance of picking up a good player. That is why the Yankees are the most hated team in baseball.

Actually listen and search around, the Yankees are no longer the most hated team. According to SI, the Red Sox are now #1. But there is still plenty of hatred lol.

[Jimrin1967]

Just a quick comment about players not liking Girardi. I would have to guess Robbie Cano is one of them. But you know what? You don't have to like your manager or coach. You have to listen to him and play hard. Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells were like oil and water in New England. But Bledsoe realized he had the best years of his career under Parcells and when Parcells went to Dallas, Bledsoe wanted to play for him again. Its not about a hug fest. Its about a common goal.

[hens13]

NittanyLion, on Dec 24 2008, 01:30 AM, said:

Actually listen and search around, the Yankees are no longer the most hated team. According to SI, the Red Sox are now #1. But there is still plenty of hatred lol.

Yeah, I think that mostly comes from the fact that the Red Sox have 90% of the fans rooting for them on the road.