There is no doubt that the New York Yankees are more valuable financially than any other baseball team or that they generate more merchandising revenue than the Boston Red Sox, two facts that Hank Steinbrenner pointed out to Red Sox executives a few weeks ago. There is no doubt that playing in a new ball park starting in 2009 is generating and will continue to generate fantastic profits for the "Universe's Team." There is no doubt that the demise of Yankee Stadium ensures the Yankees' owners a windfall final season. There is no doubt that baseball is a huge business (read that as "cartel") and that the Yankees are the most successful business venture among baseball teams, but generating revenues must be the means to an end. The Red Sox, not the Yankees, are the World Champions.
39 Pennants and 47 Post Season Appearances
The Yankees never allow anyone to ever forget that the team has won 26 World Championships, but how many times have you heard them remind fans that they have won 39 pennants and have made 47 post season appearances? Not very often. The last Yankees' World Championship was in 2000. Since then, they have lost 2 World Series, won 4 Eastern Division titles, and been the wild card once, yet they emphasize the 26 championships because each season, there can be only one World Champion. Every other team that plays in October loses its last game.
A Negative Better Off Not Mentioned?
Is it possible that the Yankees rarely mention their 39 pennants along with their 26 World Championships because the 26 time World Champions fear that some fans might realize that they have lost the World Series 13 times, which is a negative record that might be better off not recognized? Hank Steinbrenner and his cohorts, as well as some Yankees' players, while lamenting the lack of a title since 2000, nevertheless claim that simply making the playoffs is a successful season. That may be true for the Twins, but not for the "Universe's Team."
Money is the Means to an End
The primary objective of every team and most players is to make as much money as possible. But the Yankees claim to be different. The Yankees claim that their primary goal is to win the World Series and that money is the means to that end, but their actions speak louder than words. The huge revenues they generate must be used to maximize their chances of reaching that goal, but that does not happen beyond a certain point. They refused to trade for Johan Santana because his monetary demands would force them to raise their salary cap beyond its limit and they believe that the players the Twins demanded are going to be too good.
Better Chance With Santana
There is little doubt that for 2008, the Yankees' chances would be better with Johan Santana as their ace rather than with Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy as two of their starters. We are not talking about the future. We are talking about winning it all in 2008 -- this season.
Get the Best Pitcher Available
Let's assume that Hughes becomes as great as some have predicted. So what? With Santana, the Yankees would be overwhelming favorites,, a ranking that now belongs to New York's other team, which gave Johan the money he demanded and the Twins some players they accepted when the Yankees and their Boston friends decided to leave the Santana bidding war. When Santana is no longer dominant, the Yankees simply use the revenue they generate to sign who ever is the top pitcher available. What difference does the payroll or the luxury tax make if the primary objective is to win the World Series?
Fans Care More Than Owners or Players
Fans care as much or more about the team's success on the field than the owners and some of the players. If an owner makes money, he is satisfied. If players succeed individually, most are satisfied. If a fan's team loses, she is not happy. The fans put up with outrageous prices for tickets, parking, food, and beverages. Yankees' fans pay more than other fans because they harbor the illusion that they will be rewarded with a World Championship. Fans are given the opportunity to purchase a ticket, often paying a premium on the secondary market, spend time battling traffic jams, and then submitting to a search in order to enter the park. Those who watch the games at home are bombarded by advertisements, promotions, mindless interviews, and never ending propaganda about the greatness of their team and how any loss is simply an anomaly.
If the Team Wins, Anything is Acceptable
But nothing matters and all indignities are accepted if the team wins. Fans will put up with unbelievable abuse, financial or otherwise, if they can have their team win. Too bad the fans care more than those in the game.
