Dry Your Eyes, Baseball

December 26, 2008 Posted in Pro, Sports

Following in the wake of the Yankees’ signing of star first baseman Mark Teixeira is the deluge of tears flowing from the eyes of other team officials around the league. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio complained that he spent $220M for his entire organization, while the Yankees just spent $423.5M on three free agents this month.

But am I missing something here? Yes, they committed themselves to pay out $423.5M in future salaries, but that is over an eight-year span. Next year’s payroll only assumes $62M of that money ($23M + $22.5M + $16.5M), which is still $26.5M less than the $88.5M that came off the books this offseason. So why was nobody whining when last year’s Yanks were watching the playoffs on TV with a much higher payroll?

Last I checked, the entire league didn’t resemble a nursery room full of whining babies when the Chicago Cubs signed their name on the dotted lines of nearly $300M in future salaries in the winter of 2006 after finishing with a disgusting 66-96 record. So why all the fuss now over another off-season spending spree?

Because of the state of the current economy? No.

Then why? Oh yea, because we are talking about the New York Yankees – the 26-time champion New York Yankees who have kept franchises like the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays afloat since the dawn of the luxury tax. Teams like the envious Brewers and Marlins need to stop talking about a salary cap and start putting the revenue and profit margin they generate back on the field instead of in their pockets for the fans to enjoy – the same way the Yankees have been doing it for decades.

(Image: NYTimes.com)

Check out these great posts from our partners

Comments

493592 ResponsesDry+Your+Eyes%2C+Baseball2008-12-26+15%3A55%3A01Jason+M.+Williams to “Dry Your Eyes, Baseball”

mistertony25 says:

December 26, 2008 at 9:20 am

Jwilli, you're an idiot. The Brewers just made the playoffs and have re-signed one of their main cogs to an 8-year deal; Ryan Braun, perhaps you've heard of him. So, they ARE using their revenue to better their team. Perhaps you could educate yourself and not make such a short-sighted and misinformed opinion. The point is that the same 6 teams go after all the top free agents each year and are the only teams mentioned at the trading deadline every year. Maybe the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels and White Sox can just play each other 50 times a year. That would be great for all involved. Then the players union wouldn't have to concern itself with the fan bases of so many teams…how annoying that must be, huh? Why should Brewers fans or Rays fans get excited about their teams more than once every 7-8 years. Maybe with this "super league", spending all of that disgusting money will actually result in a championship; since there are only a handful of teams to compete against; which of course means less jobs at the big league level. But why let facts get in the way of the Yankees making headlines.