Baseball 2009

Originally posted by manofmystery Originally posted by rushfan4 I hate to say it because I am all for free market, but I would really like to see a salary cap in baseball.  They did it in Hockey, and now the Red Wings, who used to be the Yankees of the NHL, have been brought back to the pack.  They can no longer go out and buy the best players available like they used to before the cap.    I'd like to point out that they have a salary cap in basketball and only 2-3 teams have a shot at the title each year, and they are the same 2-3 teams every year

The kicker here is that for superstar NBA players their salaries are just a drop in the bucket compared to the money that they make in endorsements.  Michael Jordan made over $100 million a year in endorsements, while his salary was whatever the league maximum was (probably more in the $5 to $10 million dollar range).  The big endorsement dollars are going to come from the big cities New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.  LeBron is doing fine in Cleveland, but all the rumors are that he will leave Cleveland after this year to go to New York.  Why?  Because his endorsement income would probably triple.  That is why I find it so odd that the Knicks have been so bad for so many years.  They were decent during the Patrick Ewing years, but still never won the title (if my memory is correct).  The Pistons had a shot at the title for about 5 or 6 straight years, but those days are now over.  From the East it will probably be Cleveland, Boston, or Orlando, and from the West, it will probably be the Lakers again, but maybe San Antonio or Denver. 

Originally posted by JJLehto EH. I was about to go on about how I do like the idea of a salary cap, but until then we have this system...most other teams would do the same....yadda yada I don't really care. I'm just going to say this: Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Mo veteran yankees (Andy had that brief stint with Texas but fine) Matsui the MVP....Yankee his entire career. Cano, Cabrera, Gardner, Coke, and Hughes all brought up through the Yankees farm system. Aceves was NO big name player. Marte and Nady were acquired with minor league players, Harriston and Hinske were no big name players, acquired by the Yanks for very little. Swisher was traded for a utility man. I've made the point. The Yanks core has been intact for years, many of their players have been developed or acquired with out the BUY BUY BUY method. Sure there's A-Rod, Damon, and for 09 CC, AJ and Mark. But lets not say its ALL the team....we all love money. But a player still has the choice. CC LOVED cleveland and was honestly upset about leaving. (Took out a full page ad in the paper thanking the city and fans). Why do it then? Because who could turn down $130 million? I could! I think he was making enough already..... And besides player greed and the need for more money, anything think good players would still go the Yanks for the historical factors? And players who enjoy the history of the game are ones you want. Done

There are a lot more home grown players on the Yankees than they have had in previous years, but there is still the money factor involved in their ability to retain them.  Yes, Matsui has always been a Yankee, but he was a star in Japan and the Yankees were able to spend the most money to bring him to New York, so he belongs in the A-Rod, Damon, Texiera, CC, AJ, Mark category. 

Yes, music and sports are my two main addictions.