2009 MLB Season Thread

[transplant99]

Take FA's off of any team and there is no way there are where they are today.

I would like to see the Phillies without Lee, Martinez, Werth, Ibanez etc.

Lee was traded for.

Werth was signed for 850K originally, and Pedro was inked for a million bucks.

the ONLY guy on your list that meets the criteria of spending big dollars for in FA is Ibanez. And even then, the Yankees have 9 guys that earn more than him... a complete rosters worth.

Arguing that the Yankees dont have a massive advantage over everyone sans the Sox/Cubs and a coupe others is a losing argument. They finally figured out which UFA's to go after compared to years past, but they still have every edge because of money....and money only. It has nothing to do with their scouting and development system any longer. 12 years ago? Sure...now, not even close.

[moon]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

It is true, the Yankees have something that NHL teams didnt have - good owners. If the Maple Leafs or Rangers were outspending the Flames 2 to 1 and winning the Stanley Cup once every 4 years me thinks you might change your tune.

Why wouldn't I complain about the Yankees out spending my team now if I had a problem with that going on?

Not sure why it would have to be my hockey team that was getting outspent for me to care about the issue.

[moon]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Arguing that the Yankees dont have a massive advantage over everyone sans the Sox/Cubs and a coupe others is a losing argument.

Who is making that argument?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by moon

It isn't BS at all. As mentioned the Twins, Cardinals and Marlins are three teams that have done a good job of staying competitive without top 10 payrolls.

Yes teams are at a disadvantage but the only BS is that they can't compete because of that disadvantage as teams have shown that with good management you can.

Sure, if by competitive you mean "playoff fodder for the big spenders." The Twins get in and then routinely get squashed by the Yankees or Angels. The Cards do have a World Series but have usually been trounced in the first or second rounds of the playoffs. And the Marlins have two World Series that are then followed up by years of dismal play as they lose all of their key players to free agency.

The list goes on in the same pattern with the Rockies, Giants, Dbacks, and Brewers. They're good enough to just be competitive with the big teams, but only in rare cases are they good enough to beat them.

[moon]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Sure, if by competitive you mean "playoff fodder for the big spenders." The Twins get in and then routinely get squashed by the Yankees or Angels. The Cards do have a World Series but have usually been trounced in the first or second rounds of the playoffs. And the Marlins have two World Series that are then followed up by years of dismal play as they lose all of their key players to free agency.

The Twins have been competitive in their series, but yes they do lose in the play-offs.

The Cardinals, other than this year, haven't ever been trounced.

And really the Yankees and Red Sox have an equal amount of play-off failures as those teams do.

The Marlins don't lose their players to FA they choose to sell them off for young assets. I would say that they have done a good job of staying competitve by smart management that makes sure they don't lose their big guns for nothing or cut rate deals.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by moon

How do the Jays have no chance?

The Good Lord himself could be GM of the Jays and it won't make a difference.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by moon

The Twins have been competitive in their series, but yes they do lose in the play-offs.

The Cardinals, other than this year, haven't ever been trounced.

And really the Yankees and Red Sox have an equal amount of play-off failures as those teams do.

The Marlins don't lose their players to FA they choose to sell them off for young assets. I would say that they have done a good job of staying competitve by smart management that makes sure they don't lose their big guns for nothing or cut rate deals.

I'm not saying management doesn't come into it, but it's like anything; if you gave every team across the league equally skilled managers, the Yankees would still win more times than not because they're able to spend the most money. That, IMO, equates to an uneven playing field.

I love the game of baseball, but I keep drifting further and further away from the MLB because of this and the steroids garbage.

[moon]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Good Lord himself could be GM of the Jays and it won't make a difference.

With the current talent level and farm system you may be right, but I think that God could turn them around in a year or two with some smart moves and a decent payroll!

[NBC]

Good article on the Yankees and money.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...oll/index.html

[worth]

Anyone remember the movie Major League? Hello!?!? That was based on a true story...right?