Congratulations Sox!

[GeoffM]

Ya, but you know what guys, just because they don't make prime time prospects, doesn't mean they spend more. Jeter was a farm product, and he makes close to $20 million a year now. I think they have simply diverted much funds out of player development in the minors and put it right towards their major league roster.

As guys leave, guys will come in. Lieber, gone, Quantrill, gone. They are cutting salaries yearly from unnecessary players and adding each year.

They will make a big move again next year. This is I believe the most profitable MLB team, despite carrying that massive payroll, so perhaps that justifies their payroll.

[jimmytheg]

[quote=GeoffM]Ya, but you know what guys, just because they don't make prime time prospects, doesn't mean they spend more. Jeter was a farm product, and he makes close to $20 million a year now. I think they have simply diverted much funds out of player development in the minors and put it right towards their major league roster.

QUOTE]

And that's a short term answer to a long term problem. These aren't just interchangeable parts like in a machine, they're ballplayers. The Mets have tried that approach for years and they have one world series loss to show for it. You throw all these high priced supposed stars together and expect them to become a team? It just doesnt work. And they do spend more by always going the free agency route, because they are forced to shell out the highest price for the guys they bring in. yes, jeter was a farm product who they had to pay top dollar, but he's not worth 20 mil, and they only gave him that much because he is the "heart" of the yankees

[GeoffM]

The Yankees have no long term problems. As long as Steinbrenner is in charge of the well, it will not dry up. I would not consider division champions of the last 8 years as long term problems. And their only short-term problems are not winning the whole enchilada the last few years, but as long as they make it every year, they will win their share.

[jimmytheg]

Of course they do. They didnt win their championships by just going out and signing the highest priced guys on the market. They built a team with a couple superstars and a bunch of team first guys who played hard. During their title run, guys like Brosius would hit the game winning home run, or tino martinez. They emphaized pitching, and had the best bullpen in the game.

Now, they have one front line starter in Mussina, an aging Rivera who the Sox got too twice in the playoffs, and really nobody else. Their cant just go out and sign everybody, and they have no talent in the wings to fill in holes.

And they havent made the series every year, twice in 4 years, and in 2003 they wouldnt have made it if not for the Pedro debacle in Game 7.

The problem isn't having money, they will always have money.. the problem is decision making....think about what has beaten them the last 4 years....pitching, and clutch team hitting, things that the Yankees used to do. The Mets have a ton of money too, but they dont use it wisely. Nor did the Orioles for a long time, or the Dodgers.

To say they have no long term problems is just wrong. Too much money on not enough players, coupled with no farm system to fill in holes, and a mindset from the front office that all they need to do is throw money at the problem....is a problem.

[GeoffM]

Well, I'll pretty much guarantee they win the division again next year, and they will definately bolster their pitching staff. Not much you can do when you lose your 1-2 in Clemens and Pettitte, and there was little pitching on the market besides them last year. This year they will be able to get a guy like Johnson and possibly Pedro. That ought'a straighten their pitching out.

Rivera is aging but is still magnificent. Top to bottom they have the most stacked lineup in baseball, and adding pitching, they would be scary.

Lets not forget they were 3 outs from making the series. And 1 game in total. They ran into a slump when they absolutely could not. Their only glaring weak spot is at 2nd base, and the prototype 2nd baseman does not cost a lot to obtain. Jeff Kent perhaps? I think adding a couple of lefties in the bullpen wouldn't hurt either.

Lets have this argument when they aren't posting the highest profits in baseball, and when they actually have to start developing a better farm system. Until then, they can throw the money around all they want because they are consistently in the BIG season and that is the only way to win a championship, is to make it there.

[jimmytheg]

I'm not sure what you mean by big season. And you can't know for a fact that they have the highest profits in baseball because MLB doesn't release those numbers.

Glaring weaknesses include 2nd base, 1st base, center field, their entire bullpen except for Rivera, a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th starter.

And if they do intend to get Randy, they will need to part with at least Posada, which makes catcher a glaring weakness. But I don't think they will get Randy, and definately not Pedro.

You say they were only 3 outs away from the series this year, but the sox were only 5 outs away with a 4 run lead last year....and in 1986 the sox were 1 strike away from winning the series. Doesn't mean anything till you finish the game.

Yeah, they lost Clemens and petite, but there was pitching on the market, hence the sox getting schilling. and brown and vasquez, who ended up bombing but were expected to be horses.

Their lineup is great 1-4, but there's a big dropoff afterwards. In fact, from 1-9, the Sox have a better lineup, and had one last year. The Sox were the top offense in the league last year. The Sox were better than the Yanks in every single category except for home runs...that includes hits, runs, 2b,3b,rbi, batting average, obp,slugging, and ops.

If the Nomar trade had happened earlier in the year, this sox team would have run away with the division. I beg to differ with your guarantee the Yankees will win the division next year.

[GeoffM]

1st base, is Giambi not coming back next year?

CF? While not the players they once were, Lofton and Williams are nobody to wave sticks at either.

The D-Backs won't demand Posada in a trade. There is no sense in them paying Johnson so much when they suck. I think they will realize that finally and the Yankees can throw cash their way, something they need.

The Yankees made somewhere around $80 million last year, and so I assume no other team makes more. I'm sure their merchandise sells more than any other team, and they have their own TV station to air games. Add the fact they sell out all the time, and year-in, year-out are playing home playoff dates when the players aren't paid, that's all profit.

I guess we'll find out soon what happens. But they will win their division, they will simply buy what's missing like they do every year. I hate them, don't get me wrong, but I also have to respect the fact that they will continue to buy their teams and top teams until baseball comes up with a more strict salary system, something hockey is looking to do now.