Karma or What Goes Around, Comes Around

I told you I would comment on some other things. I couldn't pass this one up. I just saw this article about Somali Pirates who drowned while making away with their share of their ransom money. I found it terrifically ironic, and even somewhat poetic. While I can't fully understand the quality of life issues for those living in Somalia, I think it's pretty safe to say that being a pirate is only acceptable if your name is Captain Jack Sparrow.

Follow the link to the article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28589921/

Money Makes 'Em Smile

What do all of these pictures have in common? Okay, of course the Yankees jersey. But just look at their smiles! Mark Teixeira has a $180 million-dollar smile. CC Sabathia has a $161 million-dollar smile, and AJ Burnett has a $82.5 million-dollar smile. And why wouldn't you smile when you're making that much money, playing for the most storied franchise in professional sports?

I know, I've already heard all about the Yankees spending so much money, nobody else can compete with them, blah, blah, blah. I just can't fault the Yankees for spending money that they have. It's not like they are in violation of the salary cap (there isn't one) or don't have the money to spend (the value of the Yankees is $1.3 billion) or even that they are spending more than they did last year (they're not).

As a matter of fact, their payroll for 2009 is going to be $20 million dollars less than 2008's payroll. By shedding the contracts of Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu, Mike Mussina, and Carl Pavano (who's that?), the Yankees freed up $80 million dollars in payroll. Of course, that still puts their payroll in the $200 million range, which is much larger than any other team.

But really, is it about money? The Rays made it to the World Series with a low payroll (around $40 million) and the Phillies won the World Series with a much smaller payroll than the Yankees ($105 million). We know that money doesn't buy championships. You can argue that it does buy talent. And talent is exactly what was purchased in the free agent market by the Yankees this off-season.

Teixeira will put up big numbers, Sabathia will put up big numbers, Burnett will be decent and the Yankees darn well better get into the playoffs. My own expectations are that with the offensive talent they have and the solid pitching staff (Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain, and any other 5th guy), the Yankees should have a 100+ win season and get to the World Series.

While I personally get none of the big money shelled out, and in my own way actually contribute to the Yankee Money Machine, the money does make me smile, too. How can it not make any Yankees fan smile?

How do I feel about the Yankees not making the playoffs?

I've heard the question asked a few different times, usually in a mocking tone. They talk about how money can't buy championships (they're right), and how it was nice to have other teams in the playoffs (maybe for them, but not for TV or MLB). But honestly, I was okay with it. I think because they had been in the playoffs every year for the past 12 years and have won 3 championships that it makes it more palatable. But as a fan, I grew used to watching them every post-season and yeah, they didn't make it this year, but I'm okay. I'm even more okay with it because the Red Sox DIDN'T win it all. If I can take solace in anything, it's that the Red Sox didn't get another championship. That almost made it worth it. Throughout the playoffs, my favorite team was the team that squared off against the Sox. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Besides, in the end, it's going to take a while for the Red Sox to be mentioned in the same breath as the Yankees in terms of championship-winning teams. Like the shirt says, Do the Math. I love the rivalry, but love it more when the Yanks hand it to them.

Universal Sign for Choking

Okay, this is really just for my colleague, Mr. Meddings. He really loves the Mets (and also went to New York this summer to see them play). Given that the Mets have had two major end-of-the-year collapses in a row, I like to tease him. Yeah, I know he can say that the Yankees didn't make it to the playoffs, blah-blah. True, but unlike the Mets, they also didn't have the biggest end-0f-season choke job in the history of baseball, either. They earned their non-playoff status in '08 by consistent inconsistent play throughout the season.

First Post

So, this is my first posting with my new blog account. I had another account at www.realyankeefan.com/blog that just got overrun with spam, so I'm trying out a new one and hopefully won't get spammed to death. I have to admit that when my wife created the page for our family, it got me thinking about improving my old blog by creating a better one. So, I will give credit to my wife for helping me talk even more about the Yankees. She will love that. I just want you to know that while most of the talk will be about the Yankees, believe me, I have plenty of other stuff to talk about. I did get to visit Yankee Stadium (I guess they'll call it "Old Yankee Stadium" or something) this last summer and it was an awesome experience. I think I'll throw in some pictures from the trip every now and then. I do actually follow the Yankees and have a pretty good idea of what's going on with them, so, unlike some really lame Yankee blogs out there, I'll at least try to sound somewhat educated. But I'm really just looking for a place to rant and rave...even if nobody listens.