TBird, please disregard my congratulations on you attending a great game. I sent it to your cell phone after Posada's HR made it 4-0. It's now 9-4.

wow are the Mets actually winning?

TBird, please re-instate my congratulations! Yee-ha!

lol i was with you all the way! yee-ha!

have fun on sunday!

Texiera: 182 3HR and 10 RBI
Sebathia: 1W-3L w/ 4.85 ERA

Glad that's not my $65,500,000.00 out there. 7 Teams dont even put that much into their entire payroll and at least a few of them should be playoff tems, which the Yankee's will not.

Minnesota Twins $65,299,267
Tampa Bay Rays $63,313,035
Oakland Athletics $62,310,000
Nationals $59,328,000
Pirates $48,743,000
San Diego Padres $42,796,700
Florida Marlins $36,814,000

sorry for your rainy sunday, board-o & neil.

Icewino - It's funny that you keep harking on the way the Yankees spend money but don't realize that your team were also in the running for the same players. The fact is that the Yankees spent a only few million dollars more than the Red Sux. These two players realize who the better franchise is and which team will give them the best chance of winning the championship each year. The Yankees are all for the salary cap and the minimum payroll. However these same teams that you mention having the lowest payrolls were also the biggest opponents of the level playing field. They'd rather keep the tax the Yankees pay versus spending it on players. So quit your whining like a little beaatch.

We sat in the stands from noon on. We went early to walk around the new Stadium and take in the sights. The line to get into the Yankee Museum looked like it was 2 hours long, so we passed on that. Monument Park wasn't open, probably due to the rain.

quote:

Icewino - It's funny that you keep harking on the way the Yankees spend money but don't realize that your team were also in the running for the same players. The fact is that the Yankees spent a only few million dollars more than the Red Sux. These two players realize who the better franchise is and which team will give them the best chance of winning the championship each year. The Yankees are all for the salary cap and the minimum payroll. However these same teams that you mention having the lowest payrolls were also the biggest opponents of the level playing field. They'd rather keep the tax the Yankees pay versus spending it on players. So quit your whining like a little beaatch.

I don't consider statement of facts and putting down the Yankee's whining.Are you sure you're not Wine Wizzard under a new name, You take my criticizm of the Yankee's like it has anything at all to do with you personally.

Also recent history suggest you're wrong about who gives the better chance at winning, or even getting into the playoffs. Saying the Yankee's are for a level playing field is a flat out lie and quite a laugh. They vote against it every time it's even discussed.

I'm glad the Sox spend more effort and money on the farm system and player development than the Yankee's ever will. That's what keeps them ahead of your pin stiped losers. Finally if you conside the yankee's 201 million dollar payroll this year only a "few million more" than the Sox 121 million you're retarded.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Icewino,

First of all, I have no idea who your imaginary friend is. But I've offlined with several people on this board, so they can vouch for my authenticity. So to make this season a little worthwhile, I'm willing to wager a bottle of wine that the Yankees will have a better record than the Red Sox. You let me know how much you are comfortable with.

Second, the spend $$$ that I was referring to was for the two players -- Texeira and Sabathia -- that you mentioned in your earlier post. To clarify, Texeira was signed for $180M and Sabathia $161M. You may also include Burnett in the conversation. My point is that the Red Sux were also trying to sign the same players. Yes, the Yankees outbid them but not by much. The fact is these players chose the Yankees and not the Red Sux. You may delude yourself to think that the Red Sux would rather develop their players. That's BS. Let's see how many more championships the Red Sux win in your lifetime.

Those players chose the Yankee's because of the almighty dollar and nothing else. I don't fault them for that but they didn't choose NY because thwey thought they had a better chance to win. Sebathia would rather have gone to the west coast but took the money instead because nobody else was even close to bidding that much. Also according to reports Texiera wanted to be closer to Baltimore. The Nationals thought they had him but it was a bag job from the beginning to get the most money out of the suckers, I mean Yankee's. He chose the Yankee's in his own words because that's where his wife wanted him to go, not because he thought he's win it all there.

Anyhow I'm good with whatever you want to bet on the teams record. Can't go wrong with a bottle of current vintage Caymus or Caymus SS. Either would be fine with me unless you have another idea, and I appreciate you spotting me a game and a half already.

Let's do the regular Caymus for the better record and if the teams reach the World Series, let's up it to the Caymus SS. I believe the 2006 is the current release.

Going to Marlins-Reds game tomorrow -

Anyway, any Red Sox fan who complaints about Yankees spending is obviously an idiot. Marlins fans, Pirates fans, etc. have the right to gripe about spending - The Red Sox are the number 2 spending team so their griping is BS. Lets see, how from their 2004 World Series team were developed from their awesome farm system - Big Pappi? No. Manny? No. Lowell? No. Lowe? No. Schilling? No. Damon? No. Millar? No. Pedro? No. Wakefield? No. Orlando Cabrera? No. Dave Roberts? No.

Basically - Varitek, Nixon, and Youkilis. Looks like a bought World Series title to me.

Yes, I wandered around for a couple of hours before the finally postponed the game as well.

Not having seen a game, my initial impression is that the sightlines are better than at Yankee Stadium II. Elminating half of foul territory must have a lot to do with that. The seats are a bit wider and have more leg room. The concourses are dramatically better and the food choices are much improved and widely available. The ability to see the field from the concourse is a huge plus but they need counters so people can put their food or drinks down. The 59x101' HD video screen may be the most impressive thing about the stadium. I thought the entrance gallery with the banners of the greats and the photo montages of each championship were well done. They should caption the photos, though. I know that is "not the Yankee way" but younger fans have no idea who the older players are and I would like confirmation if one banner is Bill Dickey and whether that photo was of Joe D. and his brothers, for example.

On the negative side, class stratification is stark. There are several prominent areas which are restricted to the high paying customers and the proliferation of retail spaces (multiple team stores plus a Peter Max gallery plus a Steiner collectibles) is a bit much. In addition, as one gets higher up, the stadium feels more and more like the old place with a fresh coat of paint. The sports bar "hidden" in the center field batter's eye is an aesthetic abomination. Also, they need to change the subway exits so fans come out onto the proper side of 161st street.

Of course, at some level, it is obscene to have spent $1.5 billion for upgraded creature comforts but that's entertainment/sports.

Neil

The Giants have now won their first five home series, and their starting pitching has been fantastic. Even Zito kumazam!!!!

Now let's hope they can play on the road....

its May and a shutout of the Padres in April doesn't count

Zito in April for his career:

13-25, 5.13 ERA, 1.43 WHIP

quote:

Anyway, any Red Sox fan who complaints about Yankees spending is obviously an idiot. Marlins fans, Pirates fans, etc. have the right to gripe about spending - The Red Sox are the number 2 spending team so their griping is BS. Lets see, how from their 2004 World Series team were developed from their awesome farm system - Big Pappi? No. Manny? No. Lowell? No. Lowe? No. Schilling? No. Damon? No. Millar? No. Pedro? No. Wakefield? No. Orlando Cabrera? No. Dave Roberts? No.

Basically - Varitek, Nixon, and Youkilis. Looks like a bought World Series title to me.

Before I rant here the bet sounds good DD.

Speaking of idiots Jcocktosten the Red Sox are the #4 spending team but don't let the facts get in the way of your rant. If you had a clue you'd also know that farm systems aren't just for filling out your major league roster but also for trading to get get pieces to fill it in like Beckett and Lowell for Ramirez that got the sox the 2007 title. That in my opinion has been where the Yankee's have failed in the last few years. Always spending for big name free agents like Pavano and Brown and losing compensatory draft picks along the way and not building up a good minor league system. Now they have Hughes, Kennedy and Chambelin comming up to compliment their big ticket free agents and still keep their payroll "reasonable". I don't care what they say there's a limit to what they can spend, especially in this economy.

Also if you've been paying attention I'm not complaining about the Yankee's spending habits, sorry if it came off that way. It's not my money they're throwing around. They can spend like drunken sailors if they please. I'm merely revelling in the fact that try as they might with a 200+ million dollar payroll they can't buy a world series lately, or even make the playoffs for that matter and plenty of teams do much better with much less.

I've got nothing against teams buying championships. Not all teams can be filled with great home grown talent like the Patriots were. The Celtics pretty much bought one last year and I enjoyed it all the same but the Red Sox have one of the best minor league systems around and it's just as nice to watch guys like Lester, Masterson, Buckholtz, Bowdin, Pedroia, Youkilis, Delcarmen, Pappelbon, Ellsbury and Lowrie make their way up the ladder as I'm sure it is to read every off season that your team just broke the bank yet again on another big name free agent like Pavano, Brown, Johnson, Clemens, Abreu, Giambi, Damon, Rodriguez, Texiera, and Sebathia who have never won the Yankee's a ring.

So the Red Sox won 2 championships with what home grown talent? After Red Sox win 2 more with Pappelbon, Ellsbury, Youk, and Pedroia, post this same message about having a great farm system.

Williams, Jeter, Pettite, Rivera, and Posada were a big part of a 4-championship run. The Yankees have been the biggest spenders since they started playing the game and as long as the current system is in place. What else is new. The Yankees can fill up a Hall of Shame of Free Agent busts. But they also have 26+ championships to show for it as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Icewino:
[QUOTE]I'm merely revelling in the fact that try as they might with a 200+ million dollar payroll they can't buy a world series lately, or even make the playoffs for that matter and plenty of teams do much better with much less.

Don't think anyone can argue with that

Icewino - enjoy while you can. Right now, the Yankees are playing pretty badly and like the old Red Sox when they had Nomar, Trot Nixon, Lou Merloni, and Mo Vaughn. The Empire Will Strike Back!

I'm happy Liriano finally had a good outing. Now if Baker can get on track. Our number one and two pitchers started out 0-8. Which is a buzzkill. Mauer went 7 for 10 since he came back and then Gardenhire didn't put him in the lineup. The AL central could be won with less than 90 victories, I dont see Kansas City holding up throughout the season.

quote:

So the Red Sox won 2 championships with what home grown talent? After Red Sox win 2 more with Pappelbon, Ellsbury, Youk, and Pedroia, post this same message about having a great farm system.

I'll probably have a tough time doing that also. I'm almost positive Pappelbon will end up with the Yankee's once Rivera is done as he has already stated his desire to set the benchmark for a closers salary more than he want's to remain a Red Sock. We all know where guys with that ambition end up.

quote:

Icewino - enjoy while you can. Right now, the Yankees are playing pretty badly and like the old Red Sox when they had Nomar, Trot Nixon, Lou Merloni, and Mo Vaughn. The Empire Will Strike Back!

I'll try to enjoy it but this ump who was born and raised in New York (no joke) is giving Chamberlin every third strike call he can. On top of that he let him intentionally drill Bay. The ump should be tossed for that. Hell he even looks like an overweight twin brother of Texiera.

Oh, and three of those four guys were almost undoubtedly on the juice.

The Yanks look pitiful. Girardi should've had Pena bunt and tied the game in the 7th. I know you play to win at home. Oh well ... we'll add another $25M to the lineup on Friday.