30 Teams In 30 Days

New York Yankees: The Billion Dollar Bombers

(Over the next 30 days, BERNing on Sports will be previewing every team in the Majors, yes, even the Royals. Only one a day, every day, so try not to get too hooked)

Keeping It Real

The Yankees dumped a disgusting amount of money (recession or not) on three of the best free agent available this off-season. It came to a whopping 423.5 million. But, the reality is they actually trimmed payroll from last year (amazing as that sounds, it's true). Gone are heavy burdens like Jason Giambi (back to the Bay), Mike Mussina (retired), Bobby Abreu (allowed to avoid walls in Anaheim now), Carl Pavano (allowed to quit for another franchise), and Kyle Farnsworth (allowed to flex his muscles in purgatory...err, Kansas City). They added serious rotation depth, not just in A.J. Burnett and C.C. Sabathia, but also in the form of former ace, Chien-Ming Wang, who is healthy after missing most of last season with a freak ankle injury. Mark Teixeira may have seemed like a greedy pick up, but they needed him for a) his defense, and b) his bat (Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano aren't likely to get either younger or more consistent).

Alex Rodriguez Plays Baseball (among other things)

What can be said about this guy that hasn't been said? What more can he say or do wrong? Just a few days ago he said he wished he could play with Jose Reyes all the time. I guess Derek Jeter and Cano don't do it for ya? I can't say the steroids won't distract him, but, it won't be the first time (or last) he'll be bombarded with media coverage. My advice to Rodriguez? Take your time recovering from surgery, keep your mouth shut, and hit a home run or two when you come back.

And The Award For Most Time Spent On The DL Goes To...

With the types of players on the Yankees, the amount of money invested in them, and the history the Yankees have had with the DL, it's not a matter of who, but how often and how long. If I was running Vegas, the odds on favorite would be A.J. Burnett, and that's hard to argue with. But, to keep it interesting and because he's already starting the season on the DL, Alex Rodriguez has to make the list.

Running Proof the ROY Means Nothing

Just in case you hadn't noticed, Angel Berroa, AL ROY in 2003, is battling Cody Ransom (who at least can do this) for the back-up infielder spot. Apparently, striking out at a rate four times more frequently than walking is detrimental to your career success. Who'd have thought?

Bold Predictions

Robinson Cano will start (and finish) strong, bouncing back from a poor 2008. People have compared him to Rod Carew (easy with that) and while he's no where near that now, he'll finally have a complete season. I'll say a steady .295/20/95.

Phil Hughes in another attempt to distract people from the fact that his fastball tops out at 92 MPH, will try glasses again while pitching. When that doesn't work, he'll wear the same mask that Rip Hamilton wears.

Up Next...Friday, Atlanta Braves

Teixeira Headed To The Bronx: Yankees to Sign Every Good Free Agent Available

As of slightly before 4 PM eastern time, word is that the Evil Empire has done it again.

Sources I have (including the NY Daily News, and, oddly enough, Facebook, which alerted me to the signing first), indicate that Mark Teixeira and the Yankees are reportedly closing in on an eight year deal worth over 170 million.

Talk about your all-time hogwash stories.  All those following the Teixeira "saga" heard was that the Yankees were distantly involved.  Earlier today, Buster Olney reported that the Red Sox and Nationals were the serious destinations for the 1B.  Brian Cashman has said that there wasn't anything on the table for the switch hitter.  

Suddenly (read: all along), the Yankees emerge as real contenders for Teixeira, and, within a seeming instant, they've signed the last remaining true prize left on the market.

How on Earth do you begin to analyze this?  Let's take a stab, shall we?

Yankee Apologist

On a baseball level, strictly on the field of play, it's a great move.  They needed a first baseman with the Giambino gone, and they went out and got the best one available.  Truth is, their offense outside of A-Rod is either really old (Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada) or really inconsistent (Robinson Cano), and adding a huge bat to protect Rodriguez is a great thing.

Yankee Hater

Here they go again!  What was it, one summer ago that they wanted to hold onto all their prospects, do this winning "thing" the all-natural way?  Yeah, way to stick to the game plan.  Not to mention, do they have to sign everyone?  First C.C, then Burnett, and now Teixeira?  Let me guess, tomorrow they'll sign Manny to a 6 year deal, Lowe to 5 years, and Oliver Perez to a 4 year contract.

Financially Oriented Yankee Fan (As If It's Their Money Anyway)

This idea that the Yankees have spent over 400 million in the past few weeks is ridiculous.  These aren't 180 million, one year contracts.  In fact, with 88 million coming off the books from last year, the Yankees salary will actually be close or even under where it was last year.  

Scott Boras

See, I told you there was a mystery team!

Not Yankee Haters, per se, But Let's Just Say They Wouldn't Call The Yankees Back After A First Date

This is awful for baseball.  The Yankees, more importantly, the power of the almighty dollar is ruining professional sports, at a time when we're simultaneously seeing the ruin of our current economy and financial structure.  When people are losing their jobs, right and left, these jerks are going out and dumping hundreds of millions on ball players.  The Yankees aren't necessarily to blame, other teams were offering similarly high amounts (the Nationals were, in fact, offering more), but, the symbolism of this move just demonstrates the decline of the true spirit of the game (editor's note:  we have no idea what that actually means, but "real" fans always say it, so it has to be true).

BERNing on Sports' Take (read:  Scott's)

As a fan of baseball's most hated team, I'm quite torn.  Are they better with him? Yes.  Is it a boat load of money?  Yes.  Is it my money, is it honestly costing me anything?  No, and not really.  Will I cheer for him, and still root for the Yankees? Yes, no doubt.

However, it'll be with a heavy heart.  Recently, I remarked to a friend of mine that I'm feeling more and more detached from the Yankees.  It just seems like its a new team every year, filled with a new, free agent du jour.  Gone are the days where the young stud comes through the farm system, and he's actually given time to develop.  Your either Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy, it seems, in the eyes of Yankees brass.

While I can't say I'm thrilled about it, what I can say I'm angry about are people that will act disgusted by the Yankees.  They play by the rules, they have the money, and they're aggressive.  Albeit, overly aggressive, but still, if the Steinbrenners were running the Cubs or Red Sox or Dodgers or Angels, no one from those markets would be complaining.

The real crime is, with all that they've done, all they've added, what happens if they don't win the World Series?  Rumor has it that Moses (no, not Malone, the biblical one) will be up for free agency next winter.

And so, as a Yankee, I'm caught in between a desire to see my team win and not be constantly picked on by fellow baseball fans.  Between a desire to see them bring home another championship and to see them actually earn another championship.

In effect, that's what it comes down to.  Sure, they can win, and, they should.  But, did they earn it?  Are the Yankees better, just because they spend more? It's almost like the kid that used to beat the crap out of the weaklings at lunch for their money.  Was that kid really to blame for being stronger?  No, but, should he feel good about beating up a bunch of younger, skinny nerds?  

Regardless, I'll root, upset or not.  I'll watch the press conference, where he'll tell me how badly he wanted to be a Yankee (yeah, sure, like Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey were together because she was sooo smart).  And, if they win, I'll be happy, though, it won't feel right.  It won't feel earned.