Baseball's Champs: the New York Yankees

I bet you think I'm going to bash the Yankees for their latest conquest in becoming a 27 time World Series Champ. Despite all the things that are being said about New York and how they bought the Series, I must, in all honesty, disagree.

The spending spree that is known as the New York Yankees, or "The Evil Empire" as they have also been referred as, is merely playing within the established rules that baseball permits. George and Family are willing to spend the bucks and baseball permits it.

But the purpose of this post is not to bring up the extrememly sore subject of the spending. No, believe it or not, the Yankees built this Championship. Hard to believe, I know. The groundwork for it was laid in the year of their last series win.

Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte. These four are the holdovers from the 2000 World Champs. Jeter represents all that is good for the Yankees (and baseball) as well as serving as their captain and leader. Rivera is undoubtedly the best closer in the game's history. Posada is as steady as any catcher. Pettitte took a hiatus in Houston and a hit for his HGH use, but he did return and proved to be an integral figure. All four were homegrown talent.

Now you add some big signings between 2001 and 2008. The first was Hideki Matusui who came from Japan prior to the 2003 season. All Godzilla did was win the MVP award with his 6 RBI in Game 6. Add Alex Rodriguez. Despite his "run-in" with PEDs and his offseason hip surgery, ARod contributed this year unlike any postseason he'd played in the past. He came aboard in 2004. Throw in Johnny Damon. Damon bolted from the hated Boston Red Sox to join the Yanks prior to the 2006 season.

Remember how Jeter, etc., were homegrown? So were Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Robinson Cano. These four give the Yankees the beginnings of a foundation going forward. THe major question involves Joba and Hughes. Are they starters or relievers. The front office must arrive at a decision quickly in order to continue. Joba seems better suited as a reliever. Hughes emerged as New York's 8th inning guy out of necessity.

Fianlly, there's the free agent frenzy prior to this season and a key acquisition. Brain Cashman and Hank Steinbrenner brought in CC Sabathia, the highest sought pitcher, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the highest sought position player, via free agency. But a key cog was brought into the Yankee fold via trade. That is Nick Swisher. All four are different and their differing personalities gelled with the other Yankee players.

I want to make this point clear, I am not a Yankee fan. Growing up in southwestern Ohio, I was eased into the Cincinnati Reds history, culture, and fanbase. I learned to despise New York during the 1976 World Series and it carried over for a few years. But as I've grown older, I've learned that sports franchises have evolved into businesses. George Steinbrenner opened everyone's eyes to that.

And business is all about the dollar...spending or making.