Cant believe our baseball fans didnt post this yet!!!
Damon to the Yanks for 4 years at 52 Mill to cover a spot in the field that the Yanks have had the greatest players ever in the history of the game to cover. Not to compare Damon to the two greats but nice pick up IMO. Whats everyones thoughts?
Also, in much smaller news.....after grabbing Nomar the Lakers have agreed with a 1 year deal for Kenny Lofton.
Jeez westkoast ... much of a Lakers fan, are you? I thought this was a baseball-related post!
Damon coaxing four years out of the Yanks is unspectacular. Damon is a good leadoff man, but Jeter (and believe me when I say I'm no Jeter fan. I like him about as much as the anti-Laker types like Kobe) is a BETTER leadoff man than Damon. This is all about the Yankee mentality of having an All-Star caliber player at every position. Bubba Crosby would have been a servicable center fielder for New York, but the closest he'll get to the Mid-Summer Classic is if he serves hot dogs in the stands. So what do they do? They go out and throw 4 years and 52 million at the best available CF. Not surprising in the least bit.
This will, however, continue to push their payroll towards the stratosphere. They're already paying the Luxury Tax, and one has to wonder how much is too much? I know some will say they will spend until their hearts content, but money, even to the Yankees, doesn't grow on trees. There WILL BE a limit to their spending. I would argue that we've already seen them back off to an extent. Remember last year? They could've gone out and signed Beltran to a dynamo contract when he was being touted as the best player on the free agent market. But they didn't. I think this shows that even George Steinbrenner has his limits. Are they rediculously high? Absolutely. But when you are the most successful franchise in the history of organized, professional sports, you have opportunities others do not. Your own cable television network, memoribilia sales and increased revenue sharing all lead to piles and piles of money that can be used on players. And remember something folks. Steinbrenner doesn't have to spend the money. He could POCKET it if that's what he wanted. But the man is as competitive as any owner out there and won't settle for anything less than a championship. He's a little crazy and there's no doubt senility is settling in, but you have to respect the man's gung-ho attitude. Reports are that the Yankees LOST money last year, and if that really is true, the Big Stein is taking a hit in an attempt to add that 27th banner. I respect him for that. He's taking advantage of the huge resources at his desposal in an attempt to give the fans what they want and demand. And there's nothing in the rules that says he can't do that. People can bitch and moan about the Yankees all they want (and I do plenty of that, believe me), but when it comes down to it, they don't break the rules and they are in the hunt for the title every year. What else can you ask for as a fan?
