Any Yankee fans out there

The Yankees have been tainted every since Steinbrenner bought them.

These Johnny-come-lately Yankee fans have no idea what fairness means.

And Yankee fans of longstanding know that Steinbrenner tarnished the Yankee image for eternity.

Money may buy you victories, but it does nothing for self-respect and tactfulness and righteousness.

I would say that the Yankee players themselves for the most part respect the pinstripes and the Yankee history.  Bernie Williams was always a player that I really liked.

What about lifetime Yankees fans that happen to be born after ole George took over?  Painting everyone with the same brush is not a good thing...

NYPIzzaNut


Money may buy you victories, but it does nothing for self-respect and tactfulness and righteousness.

So where does the monetary threshold for self-respect and tactfulness and righteousness lie?

Certainly not with the Yankees.

saps


I would say that the Yankee players themselves for the most part respect the pinstripes and the Yankee history.  Bernie Williams was always a player that I really liked.

And you saw where that got Bernie in the end.

GNeedles59


What about lifetime Yankees fans that happen to be born after ole George took over?  Painting everyone with the same brush is not a good thing...

They should be Mets fans.

NYPIzzaNut



They should be Mets fans.

I don't speak Spanish

You better learn!

You kind of have to in order to make sense of a post Mets game locker room interview.

Brad_Olson

NYPIzzaNut

saps


I think Yankee fans just can't handle it when they realize that in the past 20+ years, the Yankee winning tradition has been purchased, not attained. 

 
Has it only been 20 years?

The Steinbrenner era started in 1973 and IIRC his first marquee free agent signing was Reggie Jackson in 1977, so one could make a case that the "purchased" tradition has been in place for at least 33 and as many as 37 seasons now.
 
Brad

Ironically (or perhaps not so), the Yankees made the very first free agent signing - James "Catfish" Hunter after the 1974 season.  Not to nitpick, but I am pretty sure that most baseball historians would view the Yankees signing of the reigning Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer as the first marquee free agent signing. 

FWIW, Hunter was paid an average of $670,000 per year for the length of his five-year contract with the Yankees.  The highest paid player in baseball in 1974 was Dick (or was he going by Richie at that point?) Allen, who made $250,000. In 1975, the major league minimum salary was $16,000 and the major league average salary was just over $44,000. 

NYPIzzaNut


Certainly not with the Yankees.

But where is it? You threw the concept out there so you must have an idea. The Phillies payroll is almost half that of the Yankess, but almost double that of the Rockies. 

I hate the inequities of the present system as much as anyone. It stinks to see teams develop outstanding talent and then have to give up on those players once they want big bucks, but I am not sure how things like self respect, tactfulness or righteousness enter the mix. 

From the standpoint of a player playing out his contract and standard free agency as we know it today, Andy Messersmith was the first free agent.

I believe Catfish Hunter's free agency arose from a dispute and a voided contract, but I think you're right in that he was the first free agent signing.

I am just a fan - I do not get paid to fix the inequities in the crazy system that has evolved over the decades.  Maybe smart expert baseball folks like Joe Torre and Joe Maddon will have some answers in the years to come, since obviously the current commissioner is clueless.

Correct.  Hunter's contract was voided because his miserly owner didn't pay an insurance premium, as required by his contract.  Again...I see this as irony.  Finley tried cutting corners any which way but loose, and Hunter bolted for the greener pastures of "buy whatever you need to win at all costs."

On a complete aside, while I was looking up the info on Hunter above, I found out that he is one of only a handful of players in the Hall of Fame whose plaque shows him wearing a generic, no logo cap.  When he was inducted, players were still allowed to choose whose cap they would wear into the Hall.  This is no longer the case because Wade Boggs (and I am sure others) tried to "sell" their team loyalty.  Anyway, Hunter wore no logo because he said that he had good memories of his time in both Oakland and New York.  I think he actually "got it."  He didn't really have a GREAT five years in NY - injury-riddled would probably better fit the latter end of his career.  So, in essence, he didn't want to insult Oakland fans - where he probably had much greater success - even though he took the money and got paid.

The Travelin Man


Ironically (or perhaps not so), the Yankees made the very first free agent signing - James "Catfish" Hunter after the 1974 season.  Not to nitpick, but I am pretty sure that most baseball historians would view the Yankees signing of the reigning Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer as the first marquee free agent signing. 

FWIW, Hunter was paid an average of $670,000 per year for the length of his five-year contract with the Yankees.  The highest paid player in baseball in 1974 was Dick (or was he going by Richie at that point?) Allen, who made $250,000. In 1975, the major league minimum salary was $16,000 and the major league average salary was just over $44,000. 

I'd forgotten about Hunter - yes, I agree that he would've been the first big-name free agent the Yankees signed.  And as Saps mentioned, there might've been something amiss with his A's contract at the time...it seemed like Finley got into trouble with MLB fairly often back then.
 
Richie Allen became Dick Allen between the '71 and '72 seasons IIRC.
 
Brad

The Travelin Man
 
players were still allowed to choose whose cap they would wear into the Hall. 

So, when you are inducted into the Roadfood Hall of Fame, which restaurant's bib will you be wearing? 

Much like Wade Boggs, I will be soliciting offers.

The Travelin Man
 
The NFL realized this very early on and Pete Rozelle got every team in the league on board with a little program called "revenue sharing."  

This might have Pete's biggest contribution to the growth of the NFL & I agree that this is ruining baseball (and I'm an ex NYer, hence Mets & Yankees fan.)
 
Since the 60's, the big TV money with the NFL has been their contracts with the networks, which isn't the case with baseball. While they do have a the Fox game of the week & the playoff broadcasts (which all teams share), the big TV money comes from local & cable contracts each club has to air their whole season; the bigger the market, the bigger the dollars. The Yankees went so far as to create their own network. MLB completely missed the boat on the growth of cable/satelite TV & I don't think you're going to get that genie back in the bottle. Owners like George S. have to pay off those new stadiums.

The Travelin Man


Much like Wade Boggs, I will be soliciting offers.

I hear Tyler Chicken is offering some alcoholic chicken.

The Travelin Man
When he was inducted, players were still allowed to choose whose cap they would wear into the Hall.  This is no longer the case because Wade Boggs (and I am sure others) tried to "sell" their team loyalty. 

The Travelin Man
Much like Wade Boggs, I will be soliciting offers.

 
 

Might I politely suggest this chapeau?:

 

 

Brad_Olson
 
 
Richie Allen became Dick Allen between the '71 and '72 seasons IIRC. 
 

 
Great ball player, he owned a few race horses and once when asked about the then growing trend of astroturf answered, "if my horse can't eat it, I don't want to play on it"

Yankees Win!!
Red Sox get swept!
Have a fun winter whining about the Yanks, Chowdaheads.

Yep, it is now officially football season. Baseball is now ho hum. 

The Angels have a better chance against the Yankees.  The Yankees outspent the Twins by about 135 million.  They only outspent the Angels by over 85 million.

Oh I'm so sick of outspend..outspend...You guys count the dollars....the greatest franchise in sports will count championships!!!Heading towards 27....

Of course you're tired of hearing it, because it's true.  You can't get around the fact that the so-called "greatest franchise in sports" is able to count championships only for the fact that it purchases them.  That's why I'm guessing you used the word "count" rather than "win".

The Yankees were a great franchise, back in the days of Ruth, Gehrig, and onward to Mantle.  But no longer.  Not when they just ludicrously outspend everyone else. Enjoy the memories 

Final score of the Yankees/Twins Series:

New York Yankees   $ 201,449,189                                         

Minnesota Twins      $ 65,299,266  

You should take a lot of pride in that.  Your team outspent the Twins by over 300% and managed to sweep.  What a surprise!!                                       

saps -  They aren't breaking any rules.... and they've never said that they would be opposed to a salary cap.  They are using the rules to their advantage. 

They Yankees paid for the entire Marlins salary this year.  If the Owners of the Marlins felt the need or desire to win, they could spend their own money instead of just pocketing it. 

Who is this new clutch player Arod who is playing for the Yankees? He is getting critical hits and playing very well in the post-season. He reminds me of another player who used to play for the Yankees but always choked in the playoffs. 

Foodosaurus


saps -  They aren't breaking any rules.... and they've never said that they would be opposed to a salary cap.  They are using the rules to their advantage. 

They Yankees paid for the entire Marlins salary this year.  If the Owners of the Marlins felt the need or desire to win, they could spend their own money instead of just pocketing it. 

True.  But the more they overspend, the more they take out the sporting aspect.  It's just a competitive advantage from the business side.  It lessens the game.  I'd love to see a salary cap in baseball.  The game is nothing like it used to be.

Well I wasn't around for "used to be" im only 28.  But to me its like saying that having more money and therefore better practice facilities is cheating.

Foodosaurus


Well I wasn't around for "used to be" im only 28.  But to me its like saying that having more money and therefore better practice facilities is cheating.

let me reverse the question. Do you have any interest at all in Basketball, Football, or Hockey, or are those too competitive and equal for you?

That is a ridiculous question.  Those sports have rules.... which the teams must follow.  As does baseball.  The rules are different though, and I'm fine with that.

Foodosaurus


Well I wasn't around for "used to be" im only 28.  But to me its like saying that having more money and therefore better practice facilities is cheating.

 
Look, it's pretty simple.  The Yankees typically outspend the next closest team by about 50%.  They are able to purchase more talent than any other team.  They have 5 guys this year with the highest salaries in the Top 20.  They have an unfair competitive advantage.  No one said that they were cheating.
 
They are the best team, and they buy their way in.  Yankee mystique is long dead.  It's Yankee money that wins championships.  Most teams do to some extent, but the Yankees have an overwhelming advantage. 
 

 

I admire what the Minnesota Twins did this year more despite losing possibly their best pitcher and another starting pitcher, their starting 3rd baseman and their starting 1st baseman and former AL MVP and having their best player miss the first month during the season. They didn't purchase their AL Central championship. They earned it.

But let's remember the Yankees haven't done squat since 2000 despite their outspending bullying tactics because they've lost that intangible mystique of Yankee teams of the past. They're biggest failures in sport in that light and will continue to be so if they don't win the World Series.

Foodosaurus


saps -  They aren't breaking any rules.... and they've never said that they would be opposed to a salary cap.  They are using the rules to their advantage. 

They Yankees paid for the entire Marlins salary this year.  If the Owners of the Marlins felt the need or desire to win, they could spend their own money instead of just pocketing it. 

Thanks for the hard facts.Foodosaurus...you are so right!!!

http://major-league-baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/money_is_power_and_stars_have_both

Here's an article that puts an interesting slant on those who bash the Yankees spending...The Yankees are great for basebal.....By the way...check out other teams revenue and seats filled when the Yankees are in town!!!

The article really underscores the problem with baseball today.  Teams that could use the benefit of superstars for drawing power are priced out of the market by teams with more money, such as the Yankees.  People will come out to see superstars, and since the Yankees buy most of them, if you want to see superstars in one fell swoop, go see the Yankees.

Additionally, when the author says, "The NFL can promote its league’s competitive balance, but this promotion doesn’t work for baseball", how would he know?  It's never been tested.   Under a salary cap, the same superstars would exist, but may be more evenly distributed.

The article is just one guy's opinion, but even the title underscores the fact that the team with the most money wins. 

The Yankees aren't about sport, they are about business.  And business is good.


Read more: http://major-league-baseb...ave_both#ixzz0TkihPekP

saps,

The article is erroneous in another respect. It assumes teams benefit from the Yankees visiting their ball parks. First of all they only played in Minnesota 3 out of 81 regular season games this year. That's a drop in the bucket's worth of help if indeed teams are suffering from lack of stars to draw fans in the other 78 games. Secondly, the author admits the the aspect of the underdogs playing the Yankees as a big draw. I hope Leethebard understands those are people showing up hoping to see the Yankees get beat.

leethebard

Foodosaurus


saps -  They aren't breaking any rules.... and they've never said that they would be opposed to a salary cap.  They are using the rules to their advantage. 

They Yankees paid for the entire Marlins salary this year.  If the Owners of the Marlins felt the need or desire to win, they could spend their own money instead of just pocketing it. 

Thanks for the hard facts.Foodosaurus...you are so right!!!

 
The Yankees did not pay for the entire Marlins payroll this year.   They may have shelled out the equivalent of their payroll, but their are other teams that put money into the rev sharing pool as well.
 
It doesn't really seem to hurt them, when you consider that A-Rod makes almost as much as the entire Marlins team.

Davydd


saps,

The article is erroneous in another respect. It assumes teams benefit from the Yankees visiting their ball parks. First of all they only played in Minnesota 3 out of 81 regular season games this year. That's a drop in the bucket's worth of help if indeed teams are suffering from lack of stars to draw fans in the other 78 games. Secondly, the author admits the the aspect of the underdogs playing the Yankees as a big draw. I hope Leethebard understands those are people showing up hoping to see the Yankees get beat.

Whatever gets them in the park...at least they get to see some great baseball...they like to think we're the villain...fine...

There are a lot of other teams out there playing great baseball besides the Yankees.  The Twins are one of them.  The Twins organization does an excellent job of drafting and producing quality players in their system (Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Span, plus their entire starting pitching staff (except for Pavano) is home grown), but unfortunately they can't keep them all (Torii Hunter, Johan Santana, to name a couple).

Oh I agree...there are many teams playing great baseball....and I respect and enjoy baseball talent on many levels...I support and go often to see our own "Blueclaws", a Division A team for the Phillies. I love the game....but my Dad took me to my first Yankee game in the early 50's and it's been a passion since. I once saw Mantle and Dimaggio on the same field!

A few comments from me and Twins manager,Ron Gardenhire. First me: Please note,this thread was a call out to Yankee fans...to the Yankee fans who read it, sorry  it also brought out the haters and the disgruntled...but we're used to that.
   Now to the Twins manager..who is a pretty cool guy. I quote from today's Asbury Park Press article.  "I know a lot of things get said about their payroll and all that stuff, but the bottom line is they're just great baseball players. They know how to get it done, and they play with class."
   I couldn't have said it better....Over the decades and decades I have been a loyal fan...the good and the lean years, I have seen class. Money aside, as Gardenhire said....they are class!!

My baseball season's over. Football is now my interest.

insufferable |inˈsəf(ə)rəbəl|
adjective
too extreme to bear; intolerable : the heat would be insufferable by July.
• having or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit : an insufferable bully | insufferable French chauvinism.
• A New York Yankees fan.

Awww, Gardy.  I love Gardy.  He is a class act.

Reading between the lines, it seems that Gardenhire may be referring to the players and not the organization.  And based on many previous posts in this thread a lot of other people are in some degree of agreement with him.

Brad

Somehow people think the Yankees buying the best players is new. Babe Ruth was purchased from the Red Sox because the Sox owner needed money to fund a Broadway show. Yankee dominance started with purchasing players (mostly from the Red Sox) and it has been ever thus. Yankee monetary dominance enables them to bury expensive mistakes like Carl Pavano whereas the 12 million that Jose Guillen sucks from the Royals hurts them for quite a while and there is not the oodles of cable money in K.C. to help them bury the mistake.

Davydd


My baseball season's over. Football is now my interest.

insufferable |inˈsəf(ə)rəbəl|
adjective
too extreme to bear; intolerable : the heat would be insufferable by July.
• having or showing unbearable arrogance or conceit : an insufferable bully | insufferable French chauvinism.
• A New York Yankees fan.

That dictionary must have been printed in Boston!

First of all, I have no idea what Fieldthistle is talking about. The Yankees have only been in the world series twice over the last decade and won their last series a decade ago.

I'm also not sure how people get the idea that Yankees fans are rude, brash, obnoxious, insufferable etc. I've lived in NY almost 2/3 of my life and yes, there's a "smugness" among some Yankee Fans many (at least the ones in NY) don't even realize the intense rivalry going on with Red Sox fans here in New England they see the Red Sox as "any other team".  A Red Sox fan can walk down a street in Manhattan in full Red Sox Regalia and I can assure you that no one will make a rude, obnoxious or brash comment, frankly, no one cares.

On the other hand and I don't mean to generalize, but most Red Sox fans are the most obnoxious, arrogant, in your face, mean spirited fans I've ever met. Some one walking down the streets of Boston in a Yankees cap or jersey, will surely have "at the least" an obnoxious comment thrown at them. I remember seeing a Red Sox Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in the Bleachers, and it was actually the Red Sox fans that came up from Boston who were being obnoxious. On the other hand I remember going to Fenway Park and seeing sodas and beer being poured on people in the stands with Yankee Jerseys or Caps.

There are "Yankees Suck" bumper stickers and T Shirts all over New England, yet in NY I've yet to see a "Red Sox Suck" bumper sticker or T Shirt anywhere. I wonder why that is?

Because any team whose biggest star's head is now used as a frozen beach ball can't be totally despised like the Yanquis.
Do you think Del Webb and Dan Topping were any less despised?
It has always been thus. Child is father to man.

wanderingjew


First of all, I have no idea what Fieldthistle is talking about. The Yankees have only been in the world series twice over the last decade and won their last series a decade ago.

I'm also not sure how people get the idea that Yankees fans are rude, brash, obnoxious, insufferable etc. I've lived in NY almost 2/3 of my life and yes, there's a "smugness" among some Yankee Fans many (at least the ones in NY) don't even realize the intense rivalry going on with Red Sox fans here in New England they see the Red Sox as "any other team".  A Red Sox fan can walk down a street in Manhattan in full Red Sox Regalia and I can assure you that no one will make a rude, obnoxious or brash comment, frankly, no one cares.

On the other hand and I don't mean to generalize, but most Red Sox fans are the most obnoxious, arrogant, in your face, mean spirited fans I've ever met. Some one walking down the streets of Boston in a Yankees cap or jersey, will surely have "at the least" an obnoxious comment thrown at them. I remember seeing a Red Sox Yankees game at Yankee Stadium in the Bleachers, and it was actually the Red Sox fans that came up from Boston who were being obnoxious. On the other hand I remember going to Fenway Park and seeing sodas and beer being poured on people in the stands with Yankee Jerseys or Caps.

There are "Yankees Suck" bumper stickers and T Shirts all over New England, yet in NY I've yet to see a "Red Sox Suck" bumper sticker or T Shirt anywhere. I wonder why that is?

Jealousy perchance.

leethebard


A few comments from me and Twins manager,Ron Gardenhire. First me: Please note,this thread was a call out to Yankee fans...to the Yankee fans who read it, sorry  it also brought out the haters and the disgruntled...but we're used to that.
   Now to the Twins manager..who is a pretty cool guy. I quote from today's Asbury Park Press article.  "I know a lot of things get said about their payroll and all that stuff, but the bottom line is they're just great baseball players. They know how to get it done, and they play with class."
   I couldn't have said it better....Over the decades and decades I have been a loyal fan...the good and the lean years, I have seen class. Money aside, as Gardenhire said....they are class!!

..and they know how to run the bases..

Typical Yankee fan.

I guess it's true...when you're on top and the best, people love to take cheap shots at you...it's ok, say what you want...win or lose this year...we Yankee fans know we'll be competative next year, and next year..and next year...and we'll do it all without knocking or feeling the need to belittle...To Saps and friends...we can afford(no money pun intended,didn't want to give you an opening for another round of anti Yankee rage......to be magnanimous.......as Winston Churchill once said to a lady reporter at a party when she said...."Mr.Churchill, you are drunk" Churchill replied, "And you madam, are ugly. The difference is I shall be sober in the morning!"   
     You see, say what you want about New York...and whether we win another game this year or not, we will still have dozens of Championships more than all others and the likely hood of many more...build that team(money or not), then Yankee pride then kicks in......keep ranting...so what....

LMAO
 
Good Stuff

Great game,tonight, Yankee fans...rain or shine...hot or cold...we're moving forward!!!!

Of the four teams remaing, I'm betting that the Fox brass are praying that they don't end up with a Phillies & Angels matchup in the Series. There would be big chunks of the country that might not care who wins.

there already are large parts of the country that don't care.