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 Money Problems

                                                      Mike DiPatri                11/21/03

 

It seems a lot of people are having money problems.  That is they are having problems with how other people spend their money.  The specific problem is how the New York Yankees spend theirs. 

You read every day how owner George Steinbrenner spends so much money on players.  It is a correct assessment that he spends a lot of money on players he thinks will help the team.  The thing these people fail to understand is that it is his money and he can spend it any way he wants.  There are other owners with just as much money as Mr. Steinbrenner but they won't get off of it.  His concept of acquiring quality players has been pretty successful lately.  Opponents of this concept will say that since the Yankees lost the last two visits to the World Series, they are losers.  Let's take a look at this idea, though.

Since 1996, they have won the American League pennant six of eight years.  During that time they won four World Series out of the six in which they've played.  They have played in the post season in every one of those years.  That's pretty successful.  Where all the other teams?  They were at home watching the post season play on their televisions.  Is it jealousy that generates the ire of these opponents?  When the Braves completely dominated the National League in the 90's but only came away with one World Series win, we never heard anyone call them losers. 

Because of the amount that the Yankees spend on payroll, they are contributing to the league under the new revenue sharing plan.  So if Mr. Steinbrenner is willing to help bank roll the league, why does it bother anyone how much he spends?  Additional benefit the Yankees bring to the league comes when they travel and play in another team's home field.  They almost always sell out wherever they play, thereby turning a usually empty stadium into a sellout.  That brings financial benefit to that home team. 

I am in agreement with one aspect of these opponents' argument.  That is the poor use of the farm system.  There was a time when its farm was the Yankees' strength.  It worked well to raise your own ball players and teach them to play your way.  The farm is also a ready source of replacement players should someone on the big team become unavailable.

Now there appears to be a little change in attitude toward purchasing big name players.  The placing of Manny Ramirez on waivers was a blatant attempt to get the Yankees to go after him and free the Red Sox of the tremendous expense of maintaining that salary.  The Yankees, however, did not bite.  Ramirez is the second highest paid player in the majors.  No, the highest is not a Yankees player.  It must really be difficult for Ramirez to reconcile the Yankees snubbing since he is his own biggest fan.

Yes, it's true Mr. Steinbrenner spends a lot of money, but it's hard to argue with the success of his organization.  As we have seen above he does benefit the league as well as his team by spending all that money.  Remember it is his money to spend the way he wants.  The letters and articles decrying his spending habits are entertaining, though.  Please keep them coming; I do love it when you whine!