With the signing of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira, the cries of “the Yankees are trying to buy another championship” have reached a fevered pitch. I have heard some form of this complaint for several years. Here’s the thing: the last time the Yankees won the World Series was 2000. If they have been trying to “buy” a championship for all these years, it seems to me that it doesn’t work. So if you were a Yankee hater, wouldn’t you want the Yankees to attempt to “buy” a championship?
The “trying to buy another championship” attack is based on pure ignorance. The team with the highest payroll does not always win the World Series. Player development, a smart front office and manager (ones who like OBP and plate discipline), injuries (rather the lack of) and pure luck all factor into the equation.
I don’t want to get into a debate whether the Yankees spending hurts or helps the game of baseball. All I can say is that the Yankees play within the economic rules laid down by MLB. Teams take in more money from MLB revenue sharing than they spend on their payroll (Marlins). A team has to cut payroll because the owner is going through a divorce (Padres). Another team trades away (arguably) the league’s best pitcher because they won’t pay what he will ask in free agency, while the billionare owner is building a publicly funded stadium, and then miss the playoffs by one game (think the Twins could have used Johan?). You tell me what is worse for the game.
I will never criticize a team that spends money in an attempt to win. Isn’t any team that spends money on a free agent trying to “buy” a championship? Or is it just the Yankees? I won’t apologize for the Yankees for trying to win. The question is: Why isn’t your team?
