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General discussion

Did I miss the thread on the NY Yankees?

Feb 16, 2004 10:05PM PST

Just how deep are King George's pockets?

What's the payroll now $200M? What's the luxury tax he's paying? He's paying more for the left side of his infield (THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INFIELD) than the entire payroll for the 2002 World Series Champion Anahiem Angels.

Good job developing this team.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Did I miss the thread on the NY Yankees?
Feb 16, 2004 10:13PM PST

Hi Rick:

The Yankees discussion actually began within an unrelated thread. The link to the first post on the A-Rod deal is below:

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6130-0.html?forumID=50&threadID=11951&messageID=137406

Even some of us die-hard Yankee fans think this is too much. I'd have been perfectly happy if they'd made a deal for Joe "the Joker" Randa of the KC Royals. He's dependable defensively and hits around .250, not great but better than Scott Brosius's average most years.

The Yankees' probable starting lineup:

1. Kenny Lofton (CF)
2. Derek Jeter (SS)
3. Alex Rodriguez (3B)
4. Jason Giambi (1B)
5. Gary Sheffield (RF)
6. Bernie Williams (DH)
7. Hideki Matsui (LF)
8. Jorge Posada (C)
9. Enrique Wilson (2B)

Even if one or two of them spend some time on the DL, nobody else will have a chance.

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Oh and add Greg Maddux to King George's
Feb 16, 2004 10:44PM PST

list of purchases.

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The Yankees aren't talking to Maddux
Feb 16, 2004 10:49PM PST
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That's a couple days old
Feb 16, 2004 11:03PM PST

Word around here is Maddux signs with the Yanks today or tomorrow.

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Re:That's a couple days old
Feb 16, 2004 11:20PM PST

This was all I could find on it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1736923

The two sources mentioned -- WABC-TV and the Bergen Record -- have nothing about this at their websites.

I think Maddux is over the hill anyway but even so I hope they don't sign him.

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It's official: Maddux signs with Cubs
Feb 17, 2004 10:00PM PST
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Heard this a.m.
Feb 17, 2004 10:37PM PST

Glad to hear that too. I hope he reaches 300 with his first team.

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What's your point?
Feb 16, 2004 10:59PM PST

You sound mad at the George and the Yankees for something. George took a flagging team and turned it into the most valuable sports franchise in the world. What's wrong with that? Does he spend a of money? Sure. But that's an option open to every other owner in the league. None of these guys, or companies, are less than fabulously wealthy. Sure, he gets money from TV deals. Now. I remember in the 70's watching the games on TV and during some of the later inning breaks there would be no commercials. He changed that.

Sometimes people sound like all of this just landed in George's lap like a gift.

Dan

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I think what he is doing is wrong and detrimental to baseball
Feb 16, 2004 11:08PM PST

Just because he can afford it doesn't make it right.

If he wants to purchase another WS I am powerless to stop him. Hell the only other team even close in payroll is the Bosox and they are $80M behind.

I think it's bad for the league and bad for competition. They need to contract and make things more competitive. Drive down salaries as well.

I do hate the Yankees by the way as well as the Mets.

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What's he doing?
Feb 16, 2004 11:50PM PST

And why is it bad for baseball?

You hate the Mets? ? Why bother? I'm always surprised that anyone even gives them that much thought.

Dan

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Buying the best players
Feb 16, 2004 11:58PM PST

from the other teams to guarantee a WS.

It's bad by making it necessary for other teams to spend as extravagently in order to compete or for those that can't, which is just about every other team, play for second place. It drives up salaries which drives up all other costs including ticket prices.

The only upside is that the Yanks have Kenny Lofton.

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Re:Buying the best players
Feb 17, 2004 12:02AM PST

Rick, the 2002 and 2003 World Series should be ample proof that you can't buy a championship, nor do you need to spend a lot of money to win one.

I agree with you on the ticket prices though, and the concession stands. A soda at Yankee Stadium is around $3.50 or something ridiculous like that. No doubt the prices will now go up again.

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I hope you're right
Feb 17, 2004 12:19AM PST

and the 2002/2003 trend continues.

I don't want the Yankee All Stars to start a new trend.

I really think a salary cap would do wonders for MLB. It makes the NFL pretty competitive and unless you really suck Falcons you have shot at the playoffs. I think the players union is the major cause against a competitive sport.

Do you think Torre lasts the year?

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Re:I hope you're right
Feb 17, 2004 12:28AM PST

I'd like to see a salary cap too, but the players' union would never allow it. Too many guys making more than the amount at which the cap would likely be set, and no, they're not all Yankees. Happy

I think Torre will be able to sleep on the bench with this offense. They'd have to really screw up for him to get fired. This is the last year of his contract and he's already pretty much said he won't be back in '05. That's why they promoted Willie Randolph to bench coach. He'll spend the year getting groomed to take over as manager.

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Re:Re:I hope you're right
Feb 17, 2004 12:38AM PST

I think that Joe's safe for the year, but it will keep him awake watching his pitchers!

Don't you think they're setting up Mattingly for his job?

Dan

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Re:Re:Re:I hope you're right
Feb 17, 2004 4:05AM PST

I don't think Mattingly would take it. It was all they could do to convince him to take the hitting coach's job and I wouldn't expect that job to be very demanding with the current lineup.

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I think it's $4.50. And it's hurting them.
Feb 17, 2004 12:25AM PST

They only drew three and a half million fans last year.

Wink

Dan

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Those that can't
Feb 17, 2004 12:20AM PST

The teams that aren't competitive have no one to blame. Every owner has enough money to field a better team, but they must have the will to do it. In any case, George only hires 25 players. The other owners all have a part in setting salary levels, too.

It's not the league, it's the teams. If the owners are losing money they should get out of the game and let someone buy the team. Maybe the new owner will be more interested in making the needed investment.

Dan

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I actually don't want others to spend more
Feb 17, 2004 12:33AM PST

I think the players union needs to be broken. Teams should build through scouting and player development. MLB needs a salary cap. Only problem is a lockout now may destroy baseball. The last strike was tough to recover from but I think fans, atleast the smart fan, would back the owners in a lockout.

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If the owners don't like it they sould sell.
Feb 17, 2004 12:44AM PST

If the game is such a burden for them they should just get out of it.

I don't remember where, but I read one sports business analyst saying that every team in the league could be sold at a good profit and not deplete the pool of people wanting to buy. OK, not alot of people have the Billion or Billion and a half to buy the Yanks, but some of the other teams could be had for what, $300 million? A steal.

Dan

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Re:Those that can't....or simply won't
Feb 17, 2004 12:33AM PST

The Anaheim Angels were whining last year about not being able to compete financially. This is a team that was owned by DISNEY. They have more money than half the countries in the UN; they simply chose not to spend it on their baseball team. How is that Steinbrenner's fault?

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Be reasonable!
Feb 17, 2004 12:39AM PST

Disney just doesn't have the resources to finance or promote a team. Umm...do they?

Dan

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Re:Be reasonable!
Feb 17, 2004 12:43AM PST

I always thought Disney was a real Mickey-Mouse operation.


sorry.....

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I cannot forgive you for that! ;-) nt
Feb 17, 2004 12:59AM PST

.

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Re: What's he doing?
Feb 17, 2004 3:13AM PST

Hi, Dan.

When there's such a disparity (A-Rod's salary is more than the entire team salary for a couple of teams), it makes it impossible for many of the small and mid-market teams to compete on the field, and thus survive.

-- Dave K.
Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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Re:Re: What's he doing?
Feb 17, 2004 3:18AM PST

That's only because they choose not to spend the money. All of these owners have the money, they just keep it in their pockets. If they invested in their teams they'd have a better chance of compeating. If they don't want to risk their own money they should sell the team and get out of baseball.

Dan

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Re:Did I miss the thread on the NY Yankees?
Feb 17, 2004 2:40AM PST

I think Rick's reasoning makes the most sense here. King George struts around like a peacock and has good reason to, but IS he good for Baseball? Joe Torre will last as long as the Yankees are winning. But I'm surprised he has'nt told King George to stuff it. Don Zimmer did.

George

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Torre
Feb 17, 2004 2:48AM PST

Why would Joe antagonize his boss? Would you without good reason? Why should George keep him around if he didn't win?

Just because a guy's a jerk doesn't mean he's bad for baseball.

Dan

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Re:Torre
Feb 17, 2004 3:23AM PST

I think you mixed it up Dan. I think the Boss is antagonizing Joe.

George

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True, but...
Feb 17, 2004 3:26AM PST

Torre can't fire George!

Wink


Dan