Girl playing baseball?

[paulywerner]

Originally posted by azkyote84
Why would it be pointless? Pointless for you maybe.



I hope you aren't implying that I can't feel as strongly about the Dbacks as you can about the Yankees because they have been around longer. Not saying you are, just saying I hope you aren't.


The best thing about this thread is that out of all the bs from both sides I have read 2 wonderful posts that surmise exactly how I feel but could never put into those words.

Thank you Slant and Henry!

TROLL....lol

[paulywerner]

WOW.... 9 pages of pointless BS, in a girls in baseball topic, that realizing, i changed the topic, involuntarily... pretty weird if you ask me...

[TheeLord]

So... what about the girl playing baseball??

[paulywerner]

who?.... Pedro?

[CBL-Commish]

Originally posted by paulywerner
I know ive said this many times, but where was everyone when the Yankees were losing 90 games every year??? The Yankees at one time were no different than the Brewers or Pirates are now... They were a forgotten team.. But not to me, I sat through those years wondering when?... When will I get my chance to root for a team that was great. Now I have that opportunity, and people try to slander that by saying the Yankees buy and exploit championships.

When exactly were you sitting through the Yankees losing 90 games every year? In their entire existence they've lost 90 games in consecutive years twice - 1912-13 and 1990-91. That's it.

From 1919-1964 they had one losing season.

From 1965-73 they had five losing and four winning seasons.

From 1974-88 they had one losing season

From 1989 to the present they have had 11 winning and four losing seasons.

So since the end of World War II they've had two periods (65-73, and 89-92) where they weren't dominant. Every single other team has had far worse periods. Almost every other team would call the Yankees' "down" periods that you had to "suffer" through some of their best years.

I root for the Orioles. They've had some measure of success in my life; I was born in 1971. They've won a World Series, they've been to the playoffs several times. I'm not complaining abou their lack of success, I'm not saying they're one of the worst teams in baseball over that period. But they've also had a 54 win season. The Yanks' fans haven't suffered through a 100-loss season in 91 years. The O's are currently in the midst of a six-year sub-.500 record streak. The Yanks last saw that kind of futility...never. They've never had more than four straight losing years.

And that's just comparing them to the O's. Compare them to a team that has had some really bad runs and it's laughable.

Saying that even the 89-92 Yanks were "no different than the Brewers or Pirates are now" is just a very bad joke. They were going through a down period, but it was no different than a billionaire going through a divorce. He might lose half his empire... but I'm pretty sure he'll get by with that $500 million he has left.

[Henry]

THIS is a bad stretch.... 34 years of the Cleveland Indians, all at Lakefront Stadium. I guess it's hard for me to be sympathetic to the Yankees

[Ktulu]

Funny how it was claimed that the Yankees are so good because they have brought guys through their system and keep them.

Ever think that maybe the reason is they CAN keep all their players AND supplement them with any free agent they want, unlike every other team in baseball. Not only can the Yankees pay for any player they want they can even pay for players they dont want just so other teams cant have them(Canseco).

Imagine if Montreal could have kept their roster from 1994 through the rest of the 90's and into this century while signing top level starting pitchers to 'round out' their starting rotation.

[matskralc]

I still fail to see how the Yankees are ruining baseball. They simply have the ability to do what every other team in baseball would LOVE to do. Why should they be punished for that?

[Henry]

Originally posted by matskralc
I still fail to see how the Yankees are ruining baseball. They simply have the ability to do what every other team in baseball would LOVE to do. Why should they be punished for that?

"Ruining" is a matter of definition, but they certainly have the cards stacked in their favor. I guess the the issue is this... If there were no rules to limit what the Yankees could do, and they simply won the WS every year, how long do you think baseball would survive? I mean - what would be the point ?

[Skipaway]

Originally posted by Henry
"Ruining" is a matter of definition, but they certainly have the cards stacked in their favor. I guess the the issue is this... If there were no rules to limit what the Yankees could do, and they simply won the WS every year, how long do you think baseball would survive? I mean - what would be the point ?

Ask the English Premier League how they survived.

[Henry]

Originally posted by Skipaway
Ask the English Premier League how they survived.

Baseball isn't Soccer - I could see the possibility that type environment might survive in football - but it's not even thinkable that type of imbalance would survive in a non-contact sport.

[Skipaway]

Aaah and how can I forget the Bulls!?! Half the world were NBA fans when the Bulls dominated. Nowadays? Who cares!

Dynasties and big badass teams are the only thing that might attract non-fans. And that's where the big revenue is. See what a dominant Tiger Woods did for Golf.

[Henry]

I can see we won't agree on this one - but here's something to think about anyway

Baseball is a different type of game from any other. Football, soccer, rugby, basketball, hockey, etc. are all played on a rectangular field with goals at each end. The concept of all these games is to get the "ball" into the opponents goal which he is defending. Some games are more physical than others, but the nature of the games is "contact".

Contact requires might, strength, speed and/or intimidation. The basic foundation of these games is "power". Fan excitement peaks with contact, hard hits and tackles, intimidation, and runaway speed. Watching any of these games provides an adrenalin rush.

Boxing provides a similar environment. Every "hit" causes us a "rush" and when combination punches are unleashed, we can barely stay calm.

These sports project power. Physical power. And constant excitement. In this world, a team that is dominating represents the Herculean feats we all wish we were capable of - and when a team becomes "unbeatable" the masses rise to support the underdog.

Baseball is a unique game. It's not played on a rectangle. It doesn't have goals in which one must score. It is physically demanding from a personal level, but no contact takes place. Intimidation is limited to the pitcher staring down the batter, and the game was really designed to watched by the "ladies and gentlemen" of the community on a lazy summer afternoon.

Even in today’s game, power is defined as a 99 mph fastball, or a 450 foot homerun. Excitement is defined as whether a runner can beat the throw to 2nd. That's why they call it a "thinking man's game".

Here, when a team becomes unbeatable, it also becomes boring... watching that sedimentary game design play itself out with the same team always scoring too many runs, striking out too many batters, and stealing too many bases. The "adrenalin rush" brought about in a football game when the underdog actually throws the Superteam's quarterback to the ground never happens in baseball. The best one can hope for is to maybe score it's 2nd run in a 10-2 blowout.

How many times do you see football or soccer fans leave at the end of the 3rd quarter? How many times do you begin to see baseball fans leave in the 7th inning?

Baseball simply could not survive a Superteam.

I would venture to guess that if all 32 MLB teams today had a legit chance to reach the playoffs in any given year, baseball attendance - and the problems baseball has today simply wouldn't exist.

Today's scenario favors about 10 of the 32 teams. The other 22 teams are more or less in "survival mode", and teams like Montreal don't have a chance. The Cubs survive because of a legendary ballpark more than anything - and the Indians were on the verge of extinction for almost 20 years.

Contraction is an unavoidable circumstance if baseball is to survive over the long term - and "superteams" like NY are partially the cause.

Projection: Assuming things don't change, I suspect that the MLB will be back to 24 teams sometime over the next decade. Either that, or a half dozen teams will be moving around city to city looking for a fan base. As I said, if any team had a chance to win, the current league structures would be secure.

[paulywerner]

And with all that has been said, the Yankees go out, and embaress themselves in front of a world wide audience, by throwing balls past each other, and letting Soriano strikeout in a crucial situation, again.

Though Iu previously stated, I could care less who wins this series, after the Yankees already defeated the Red Sox, but at least make the Marlins work for it... The Yankees look like they dont want to be there, like they already know, they beat their toughest competition in the Red Sox. The longer this World Series goes on, the more they look like they care less. Oh well, at least Boston lost to the Yankees...

In no way am I giving up on my boys, but if their attitude, and desire to improve tonight, or in the next games, whats the point of them showing up..lol

With that said, Henry seems to be very on the point with almost all of his statements, someone who can sort of mediate my views, and the rest of you. He understands why I'm so passionate, and will defend all accusations towards the Yankees, and for that, I commend him...

With that, Lets Go Andy and Moose, and god speed Boomer..!!!!

[azkyote84]

I do not think you are giving the Marlins enough credit, I've told everyone, that I see on a daily basis, from the beginning that they are a "dangerous" team because they had no expectations laid on them.

They do not give up, with that said they could easily lose the next 2 games...

[TwinMonster]

Some very reputable comments here, some rather foolish ones too.... But seriously, baseball needs better competitive balance. The big payroll Yankees have not won the WS since 2000, that with every larger free-agent signings and an escalating payroll. They came perilously close to losing to Boston in the ALCS too. I would personally be enraged if I spent c. $180mil on my team and they couldn't pummel the opposition. In fact, my only reason for observing what little I have of the WS is to see the Yankees fail. Clemens is retiring, Wells may follow suit, Pettite is a FA, and Weaver, well, needs some work. The Yankees defense is porous. They have stockpiled SPs, half of which spent portions of their season, if not more, in AAA. They spent a pile of money on Contreras saying he was the best to ever come out of Cuba, and he's a reliever now!

That said, I cannot entirely agree that baseball is trying to prevent the Yankees from winning. Rather, I would argue that baseball is attempting (albeit rather futiley) to allow all teams the chance to spend alla the Yankees. Consider the AL central. The payrolls are similar, although the White Sox was a bit higher. Cleveland is rebuilding, yet was competitive. KC was in the mix for the better part of the season. It was a great race. You might even go so far as to say that such tight competition drew even more fans back to baseball. On the other hand, if the WSox had just bowled over the competition, KC fans wouldn't be turning out in droves, the HHHdome would be empty. US Cellular field might not be so interesting either. My point is, spending money wisely and on an equal basis provides for more competition and interest.

Now as for the Yankees, they have a history of greatness. I will not argue with that point. However, I will say that the Yankees very well may not have that history had they been in a different market. Take Detroit or Cinci for example. The Reds are the longest standing ML franchise. They have had some great teams. But they do not have the market to garner the national attention that NY does. NY is considered the epitomy of america. Not Cinci. Then consider merchandising. You can go to most any country and find a Yankees cap or shirt. Nearly every clothing store (target, walmart, etc.) has a yankees hat or shirt for sale. Almost everyone knows who the Yankees are. Can you honestly say that the Yankees would be the Yankees in a smaller market? I just do not think it is possible. Consider the Braves. They've been in the postseason every year since 1991. They are regularly broadcast on TBS. Yet you do not see Braves merchandise everywhere. You do not hear of foreigners wearing Braves hats. Why? They are not in a large market. They are not in New York. There is a certain mystic attached to NY. For some reason, New York is considered to embody all that is america. Small market teams do not have that, nor can that be taken away from the Yankees. The Yankees have been around for a century. They have grown with NY. They are part of NY. They have this advantage that no other team has.

This considered, would it not make sense to at least give the other MLB teams the one advantage of financial equality? In perspective, it is a small thing to ask. No other market can truely compete with NY and it's mystique. Why not have a salary cap and let teams develop their talent, trade, and sign wisely. Put the power back in the hands of the GM. Let them do the job and may the best team win, on an equal financial playing field. Than if the Yankees, Braves, etc. come out on top every year one can honestly say that they spent their money more wisely than any other team.

Oh yes, and Tejada did not have a very good season and if I were Billy Bean I would let him walk and replace him with someone that can hit the ball a few more times a game.

[clarnzz]

Originally posted by Skipaway
Aaah and how can I forget the Bulls!?! Half the world were NBA fans when the Bulls dominated. Nowadays? Who cares!

Dynasties and big badass teams are the only thing that might attract non-fans. And that's where the big revenue is. See what a dominant Tiger Woods did for Golf.

Im going to have to agree with this side of the equation I think. If my team isn't involved I can really only get into a series if it's a David vs. Goliath matchup. I watched every game when Jordan was a Bull, then went to dabbling in basketball with the alledged Laker's dynasty to see if an underdog could take them out to flat out completely not caring at all now.

Win or lose people don't go to the bottom tier franchise's games, I'm not sure how a salary cap will suddenly make people decide they want to go watch the games.

[Spielman]

I don't hate the Yankees.

I just think their fans are frontrunning bitches.

Yankee fans... I don't hate your team.

I hate YOU.

Unless you are one of the select few who don't believe you're entitled to what you've got. I've never yet met a Yankee fan who fit that description, but I'm not going to rule out the possibility that some exist.

-Spielman

[LAH]

Originally posted by Nukester
Almost all of the Yankees starting squad came up through the organization:
C - Posada
1B - N. Johnson
2B - Soriano
SS - Jeter
CF - B. Williams
RF - J. Rivera (ok, he's not that good yet)
SP - Pettite
Cl - Rivera

Mostly what they buy are pitchers. The only regular position players they bought for this season is 1B Giambi, 3B Boone, LF Matsui, and I hardly doubt the other teams couldn't match the salaries for those guys, except maybe Giambi. They signed with the Yankees because they are a winning organization

Matsui came through the organization. He just rose really fast.



And he is the reason they will be back.

[LAH]

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