Baseball

As much as I'd like to see a salary cap in baseball, I think it's too late.  There's a massive differential between the highest payroll (Yankees at $200+ mil) and the lowest payroll (Marlins or Devil Rays, I think <$25 mil).  I just can't see it happening anytime soon.  

OK, but that doesn't change the fact that they spend a huge amount of money.  Even though they did get Ortiz cheap, they're paying him much more now ($13 million this year, according to ESPN).  Manny Ramirez (one of their stars) is making $17 million, they threw tons of money at J.D. Drew ($14 mil this year, I think $55 mil total for his contract) and he's become a mediocre player on their team.  Don't forget how much money they threw at Julio Lugo, $36 mil over 4 years for a player who had a very poor year.  And I think they spent around $100 mil on Matsuzaka (including posting fee, which I think blew away the next closest offer).  So, no Boston is not a "bought" team in the same way as the Yankees, but you can't ignore the fact that they still have spent a huge amount of money on free agents.  (And they've already said they'll make a huge push to get A-Rod if he opts out, so think close to or above $30 mil a year.)

reality wrote: If anybody is saying Boston is a "bought" team needs to look at the stars. 1.Papelbon (a draft choice) 2.Okajima   (nabbed him for next to nothing - anybody could have afforded him) 3.Youkilis    (strait from the farm system) 4.Pedroia     (rookie) 5.Ortiz        (got him for nothing - smart business not money) 6.Lowell       ( did not want him, got for nothing in the Becket trade) Etc. Etc. Etc. My point is that most of the Red Sox were low money projects developed by good coaching and business decisions. Compare this with the Yankees who just go out and buy players (some from the Red Sox).

Sadly the dream almost ended, but the last thing you can loose is faith, only a miracle.

^ You must be a Red Sox fan.  None of the last four World Series have been particularly interesting to me, the losing team has won one game. 

moreitsythanyou wrote: I wanted the Rockies to win, but knew there was no way.Guess I was right...

Yes you were right. Good for you!

I did not believe any of the Rockies hype, I guess I was right!

No but any Rockies fan should be proud, fix a couple of holes and they are golden. Especially Holiday (or however you spell it) is impressive.

rileydog22 wrote: Derek Jeter Mariano Rivera Jorge Posada

The Red Sox have gotten good players from their farm system, but that doesn't change the fact that their payroll is enormous and the second highest in MLB at $143 million, so they've spent a lot on players from outside of their system.

Well, Ken Rosenthal said A-Rod is opting out of his contract.  I heard the deal the Yankees offered was something like 8 years, $250 million.  Scott Boras must be the greediest person on the face of the earth....

darkmatter wrote: Well, Ken Rosenthal said A-Rod is opting out of his contract.  I heard the deal the Yankees offered was something like 8 years, $250 million.  Scott Boras must be the greediest person on the face of the earth....