Accusing New York of buying a team might be a bit of an understatement. I say this as a firm defender of the Yankees and as a fan. These off-season pick-ups should be despairing moves for long-time fans, because New York has overpaid time and time again for big-name players that never live up to their name. Giambi turned his contract into a hospice stay, A-Rod's bat goes flaccid in the post-season, and Johnny Damon's effectiveness was swept off of a barbershop floor. Billionaires just don't have very good eyes for ballplayers. CC "More Stuffing Please" Sabathia is looking at possible back problems a la David Wells, AJ Burnett is going to need a rehab session after clubbing in New York, and Mark Teixeira, mark my words, will pull his hamstring within two weeks of opening day.
"Evil Empire" notwithstanding, Yankees are groomed to play in New York. The reason farm-raised players (Jeter, Bernie Williams, Joba Chamberlain...) become such fan-favorites and eventually end up becoming the faces of the franchise as well as what puts asses in the seats is because of the talent pool they're coming from. Yankee fans don't latch onto journeymen infielders or some aging power hitter, they get into the rookie having the break-out year or the young reliever the rest of the league can't figure out. Assembling a fragmented club with no chemistry to speak of will only end forthcoming seasons just like 2008: No playoff spots.
Concentrating more on the farm-level and pouring extra funds and focus onto the upcoming team rookies is paramount to Yankee success. Players raised in the Yankee organization are going to be more comfortable playing on that New York stage, which so many other players (no matter what their level of fame may be) can't always seem to handle. With the last few years being such abysmal, frustrating disappointments; it's more than time to start putting together a Yankee ballclub instead of these steroid-pumped Frankenrosters.
On an unrelated note, the new Yankee Stadium should also usher in the revival of the real seventh inning stretch. I want to hear Take Me Out to the Ball Game again.
Keywords: Baseball, New York Yankees, Teixeria
