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• This might come as a surprise, but some Yankees fans are a bit sensitive about the outrageous allegation that the Bronx Bombers bought their championship.
The Yankees' opening-day payroll was $201,449,189, about $52 million more than the Mets' payroll, which was the majors' second highest. Only seven other teams had payrolls higher than $100 million, including the Phillies, seventh highest at $113 million.
Yankees fans, however, point out that the Bombers this summer also had more homegrown players (56 percent of their 25-man roster by one count) than any other team in the American League. The Colorado Rockies (64 percent) were the only major league team with more homegrown players. The Phillies had 32 percent.
So, their fans say, the Yankees didn't buy their champions, they grew them.
True, the Yankees' farm system is producing at least their share of players. But doesn't that slightly miss the point?
The Yankees bring in so much money that they're able to keep their great homegrown players (shortstop
Derek Jeter, closer
Mariano Rivera and catcher
Jorge Posada are the majors' highest-paid players at their positions) and still have enough cash to attract the best-available free agents (third baseman
Alex Rodriguez, first baseman
Mark Teixeira and starting pitcher
CC Sabathia are the majors' highest-paid players at their positions).
Last offseason, the Yankees invested $423.5 million for three free agents: Sabathia, Teixeira and starting pitcher
A.J. Burnett. It didn't guarantee a championship, but obviously it had an impact.
It also made everyone forget about the failures of previous free-agent busts such as
Jason Giambi and
Carl Pavano.
"We spent money before, but they got it right [last offseason]," Rivera was quoted as saying after the Series. "It made our team complete."
Teams like the Red Sox (2009 payroll: $134 million) are a little less complete, although they certainly can compete. Teams like the Pirates ($48 million) don't have a chance.
You can't blame the Yankees; they're just playing by the rules. And you can expect them to continue to do so.
This cheerful warning for the rest of baseball last week from New York Times sports columnist
William C. Rhoden:
"If
[Hideki] Matsui or
Johnny Damon do not return, the Yankees may go after St. Louis outfielder
Matt Holliday. Need one more starting pitcher? Why not go after the Los Angeles Angels'
John Lackey? Posada has two years left on his contract. Who is to say that as Posada winds down, the Yankees won't go after Minnesota Twins catcher
Joe Mauer? The franchise has its shopping cart out.
"Beware. With checkbook in hand, the Yankees may be coming to a neighborhood near you."
And they won't be shopping for your farmhands.
• The Yankees are only the second two-time World Series champion since 2000.
The champions of the 21st century: 2000, Yankees; 2001, Diamondbacks; 2002, Angels; 2003, Marlins; 2004, Red Sox; 2005, White Sox; 2006, Cardinals; 2007, Red Sox; 2008, Phillies; 2009, Yankees.
The Yankees, who were 103-59 in the regular season, are also the first 100-game winner to capture the World Series since the 1998 Yankees (114-48).
Jim Hersh is sports editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at jhersh@lnpnews.com.
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