Of course I am. You, and many others on this site, believe that everything goes the Yankees way. I'm with you on payroll, no disputing that disparity, but considering your team benefits second most of the thirty teams, I believe it's a very weak argument coming from a Sox fan. If you were a Twins fan, it would hold a lot more merit with me. I didn't know you were appointed God. Last I checked, I've been here longer than you. What team I root for is irrelevant, and we are all guests here, with the exception of yeszir. You call Yankee fans elitist? Sorry, your highness.
With you there. Wait until the end of this post. You'll see what I mean.
There is no point to prove. It's unnecessary. Your "allegations" are nothing but sour grapes. It's pathetic. Most of the times, when teams make deals for prospects, the team that gives up the prospects loses the deal. It's a guarantee of today against the promise of tomorrow. It's a chance that teams take. As Branch Rickey once said to a player [Ralph Kiner, I believe] "We finished in last place with you, we can finish in last place without you". By the time the "window" the Pirates are shooting for opens, these players will not be of the value that they are now.
Sorry JHB, I don't post here as a job. I question what I read, I don't necessarily take everything someone says as gospel truth. I don't follow the mantra "If it's written, it must be true." If you don't like my posts, don't respond. Try not to make this board too important in your life. As to being spoiled. Of course we are. Comes with success. So are you guys. What's the point? Is the playing field level? No. Never said it was. It sure isn't level for the 28 OTHER teams that bitch about your team. Every team that has less revenue is going to bitch about the teams that have more. Your only advantage over a Yankee fan like myself is we outspend you because we make more. The other 28 teams make the same argument as you do AGAINST YOUR TEAM. How do you justify over $200 million for three players the winter before last? You can't. Neither can I. Difference between you and I is that I acknowledge these facts, and accept them. You're in denial. I have no time, for the sake of being polite, for sub-standard level of intelligence on the issue.
He's entitled to what he thinks. I, for the most part agree. I think that dynasties are good for sports. The major problem with the Yankees and Red Sox is that they've both gotten smart with their money, making other teams have to struggle to just sniff the playoffs. On the other hand, you the have the NFL, in which teams routinely make the SuperBowl only to not qualify for the playoffs the next year. Which is better? It simply is a question of opinion. Now, I didn't research this, as you like to point out, but I think that any sports leagues do well when the big market teams do well. Guess what? The ratings for Celtics-Lakers...ready for this....were higher than when the Spurs played the Cavs the year before. 50% HIGHER [9.3 to 6.2: here's the link]. Guess what? Ratings=money. Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs....the higher ups want to see them succeed because money drives these matchups...or rather, the money follows them. Do I think they cheat to get it done? No. If you want to believe in conspiracy theories, be my guest. Don't pass it off as the truth, or insult the rest of us with this drivel. Back to the Yankees doing well as good for baseball. Hank, who has more money than you or I can dream of, believes this. When a team does well, they will draw fans. However, average teams have higher attendence...wait for it...when the Yankees and Red Sox come to town, or any big market team, especially if that team is doing well. If they were sub .500 teams, the fan's won't come out as much. The games become an event, especially for average or below average teams.
I, for one, think it's a steal, not a sale. What positive would they have for doing so? Is it because George made his money as a shipbuilder, and there is another deal in the works? If that's what you believe, I blame myself for thinking you were on the intelligent side of the median. Back to the trade. Not only am I biased as a Yankee fan, but those who know me here know I always prefer veterans over prospects. Everyone thought the Gagne deal was a steal for you last year. Turned out a little bit different than expected. The Pirates, God knows why, think Ohlendorf is good. He was a deal breaker for them. I think they're idiots. My opinion on Ohlendorf's talent level. That's who they wanted. That's their talent evaluation, not mine. They took what in their opinion was the best deal. The most recent deal we had was CJ Wilson for Shawn Chacon, which was a non-move for the most part. These guys haven't had much dealing in the past to a point where they are buddies, IMO. I applaud the Yankees FO for going out and getting the players they needed when they got them. Ask yourself this, if you can be objective for a minute. If it was the Yankees who gave up the same prospects fom Sabathia, would you feel the same way? Thought so.
This is nothing more than SOUR GRAPES. You want a steal? Take a look at Anaheim. A career OPS .762 1B for a career .909 OPS 1B. I'm sure the Yankees would have asked for a window, and I'm positive the Yankees would have given more. The Braves did what they WANTED to do, not what YOU THINK they should. If you ask me, the Red Sox should have gotten Teixeira without giving up Youk, moved Youk to LF, and traded Manny. Ideally, at least. Plus they have a good relationship with the Avenging Agent.
To answer the point of teams doing things outside of the rules...you might want to click on the link below. Before you make UNFOUNDED allegations about my team, take a look at this article from a two-bit newspaper here in New York called the NY Times. It's about YOUR TEAM, and how they operate outside the rules. Before you point fingers....[i'm loving this, I really am]...do some research.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/sports/baseball/08chass.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/M/Matsuzaka,%20Daisuke&oref=slogin
You may pull the wool over some people's eyes, those more clueless than you. Doesn't work for the rest of us. Go back to sleep.