Well, whoop-dee-do, the team with the payroll of $200-plus million, the team that committed $423.5 million during the last offseason to sign free agents C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett, won the World Series.
Weren't they supposed to?
Would anything less have been acceptable, given the obscene sums spent to assemble what is, without question, the best team in baseball? The team that is, in fact, the best that money can buy, as they proved conclusively by beating the defending champion Phillies in six games?
The Yankees are to be congratulated for winning their 27th World Series. But not applauded. Not wildly, anyway. Clap politely, if you're so inclined. But there's no reason to get overly excited about the Yankees victory, because they should have won.
As for whether they should be admired, well, the 2009 Yanks certainly have an admirable aggregation of highly-talented (and, yes, highly-paid) players.
It is impossible not to admire future Hall of Famers such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, two of the greatest ever.
But, while Kate Hudson and Madonna may find A-Rod lovable, many baseball fans do not find him so. Which is not to say they don't appreciate his considerable abilities.
Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira all paid dividends on the Yankees' considerable investment in them.
Hideki Matsui, nicknamed "Godzilla" when he played in Japan, made even that fearsome creature seem as harmless as the Geico gekko as he came up huge Wednesday night in Game Six, driving in six runs.
Catcher Jorge Posada deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Yankees' greats Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Thurman Munson.
Red Sox fans watching Johnny Damon's performance at the plate and on the bases in the World Series had to wish he still played for Boston.
Old pro Andy Pettite clearly outpitched Pedro Martinez in adding the clinching win in the World Series to his clinching wins in both the ALCS and ALDS -- and how can you not admire that?
Manager Joe Girardi had a tough act to follow, stepping into the spikes of the classy Joe Torre. But he got the job done, leading the Yanks to their first championship since 2000.
So give the Yankees their due. Give them a tip of the cap. But it's not a team to which most fans could give their hearts.
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You are a loser Jim Donaldson. Your usual dribble.
Jealous...yes you are. All Red Sux fans are. Stop belly-aching. We're sick of all you cry babies. Go get yourself a real team. In the meantime Yankee fans are all over the Universe. Their hearts are in NY no matter where they reside. They bleed blue and are true fans!
Their World Championship is well deserved and hard earned!
Get in the real world!
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Ridiculous columns such as this one do nothing but fuel the Red Sox/Yankee hatred, which does nothing positive for the sport. All the money in the world can't guarantee talent, drive and commitment. Give them their due, and take out the jealous immature resentment. "But it's not a team to which most fans could give their hearts." So not true.
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The Yankees did pay for their title, guys. Donaldson's just telling it like it is, which is the way 98% of the sport viewing public probably sees it. Deal with it. Boy you guys are sure defensive for fans of a championship team.
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98% of the sport viewing public? Make that 98% of the bitter Red Sox fans and that's about it. This column is pure petulence. Grow up, Donaldson. You're the reason I don't subscribe anymore.
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Wow! From some of these comments Yankee fans have certainly grown some thin skin!! Donaldson is right. A large payroll should have equaled a championship. Go change your diapers Yankee fans.
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Wow! From some of these comments Yankee fans have certainly grown some thin skin!! Donaldson is right. A large payroll should have equaled a championship. Go change your diapers Yankee fans.
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if yankees fans dont feel this is true then why are they looking for new england newspaper columns in which to make their point. i mean why suddenly would fans that dont follow their team 11 months of the year care about this subject. theirs no honor in this world championship. this year was even a far cry from the shane spencer chad curtis days. what team could afford 10 mil a year platoon outfielders. any team lost a xavier nady it would cost them the playoffs. the yankees just grab a 10 mil a year guy to fill his spot.
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The way I see it, non of it matters anyway. Baseball and the mlb is a joke of a sport. Anyone can be good when you're pounding down as much steroids as possible while the league does nothing about it. It's all bogus. No confidence or raw talent anymore.
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Jim, if you want the best you pay the price to get the BEST.
END OF STORY---I SAY NO MORE
A-Rod came along way this year. He has humbled himself and became a real team player in my eyes. I think A-Rod and Jeter have the most beautiful eyes and smiles.
I think you are jealous of the Mr. Donaldson. Everybody has skeletons in their closet so let's leave it at that.
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Congrats to the NYY, they are the "World" Champs! If you define "world" as the area between Toronto, Miami, San Diego and Seattle, then yes, they are the world champs.
Americans need to get a map.
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Prior to the Yankees winning the other night, the two highest payroll EVER for a World Series winner were in 2004 and 2007. I wonder if Donaldson has written about how the Red Sox bought their championships?
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as a Red Sox fan, while I am not happy the Yankees won, you've got to give them credit - stop the bellyaching about the payroll - the players still have to play the game - the pitcher has to make his pitches, the fielders have to make plays, and batters have to hit...if the Red Sox did all those things, they would have gone farther - stop crying about the payroll, who cares
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as a Red Sox fan, while I am not happy the Yankees won, you've got to give them credit - stop the bellyaching about the payroll - the players still have to play the game - the pitcher has to make his pitches, the fielders have to make plays, and batters have to hit...if the Red Sox did all those things, they would have gone farther - stop crying about the payroll, who cares
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