Yankees are ruining baseball

Unbeknownst to them, the ownership of the New York Yankees is ruining baseball. Over the past month, New York has committed $423.5 million in salaries to the team, with $180 million going to Mark Teixiera ($22.5 per over 8 years), $161 million going to left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia ($23 million per over seven years) and $82.5 million to right-hander A.J. Burnett ($18.5 million per over five).

These 3 players alone will make more money in 2009 then the entire payrolls of 7 Major league teams. Throw in A-Rod and Jeter's salaries and these 5 guys will make more than the entire payroll of 22 teams.

I certainly understand the urgency of teams to win, but the Yankees' ego got the best of them this time. The Tampa Bay Rays won the American League pennant last year with a combined payroll of $43 million. They did it with good young pitching built through the MLB draft over the past few years. The Yankees, on the other hand, are attempting to buy a pennant through exorbitant "bribery" of top line players.

Unfortunately, a big down side of this approach is that ticket prices for the Yankees in 2009 will average close to $40, including those famous $2,500 tickets behind home plate. This means that the poor schmuck from the Bronx who drives a bread truck won't be attending many Yankee games anymore. The new $1.3 billion Yankee Stadium will soon be filled with corporate guests who care more about being seen and drinking their Stella Artois beer.

Lou Gehrig must be rolling over in his grave !