Surprise, surprise: Big Payroll Bombers win World Series

The Yankees celebrate after clinching the World Series on Wednesday. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The World Series trophy goes to the New York Yankees.

All is now right on the baseball diamond. At least in New York. The Bronx Bombers won their 27th ring on Wednesday.

But a lot is wrong with the structure of the game. And all the home runs and saves, double plays and drama, cannot replace the real story about the Fall Classic. Small market America has little chance, if any at all, of enjoying what was enjoyed in Times Square Wednesday night.

Related: SDNN Padres coverage | 2009 MLB payrolls

The Yankees, the best team money can buy, b(r)ought the trophy home again.

The $201 million Pinstripe roster beat the team with the $113 million payroll from Philadelphia. Sure Joe Girardi pushed of right buttons, but when you have that kind of talent and payroll, it’s really just a matter of time before you win the trophy.

It’s easy to feel great for the hard-working, long-time Yankees. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are home grown, well-paid, and now well-rewarded members in New York.

Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are among the big money players and big money grabbers.

As you watched them dance, celebrate, grasp each other and hold the hardware, I ask, “don’t you feel cheated?”

Do you really believe mid-market San Diego, small-budget Kansas City, or small-revenue Pittsburgh will ever have a chance to feel the emotion of a night like that?

Yes, Tampa Bay was there a year ago with an opportunity. The Arizona Diamondbacks played there too. As did the Florida Marlins, who won a ring in 2003. But what happened when the cheering was over, and it was time to go home? Those once-in-a-lifetime teams then had to rid themselves of players, those who became free agents, those who were arbitration eligible, those they could no longer afford to keep.

Winning a title is for most a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Players never forget the rush, the experience, the trials and tribulations, or the feel in a clubhouse once they go through it. Friendships and bonds are made that last forever.

But in today’s baseball economy, odds are they won’t get back, because the team will likely have to break up the roster, unable to keep up with the high payroll. That is unless they’re among the select few at the top of the payroll heap.

New Padres GM Jed Hoyer will have a payroll about one-fourth the size of the Yankees' to work with. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Until baseball comes to the reality that there are more teams than just the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and the likes — until they come up with a true salary cap ceiling and the spending floor minimum, the talent level and the money will always be skewed in favor of big city America. I know the Dodgers, Angels and Cubs have spent but did not win. But they had hope where there is none in so many other cities in America.

Just think what baseball would be like if there was a salary cap of $125 million per team, increased revenue sharing for the small market clubs and a spending floor that mandates every team keep payroll above $75 million. The New Yorks and Bostons of the world could still spend. But the Pirates and Padres and Royals would have more money to sign players. More players would go to Cleveland and Tampa and Washington, and the overall product would be better. And there would no longer have to be $43 million payrolls in San Diego, $49 million payrolls in Pittsburgh and $37 million payrolls in Florida.

Teams would come out of the Cactus League and Grapefruit Circuit in April with a fair chance. Then players would play and managers would manage and farm systems could jell. And everyone would be on a level field.

Yes, fireworks and music might still play at Yankees Stadium when it is over. But a salary cap could give us a chance to enjoy it in San Diego, too. Petco Park might not be as dark as it was at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

The best night in baseball really brought to light the worst part of the game — the disparity, the disappointment, the despair that exists in so many of the other cities on the baseball roadmap. Checkbook baseball continues to cancel out the hopes of fans and front offices most everywhere. Champagne in the Yankees clubhouse. Sour milk lots of other places.

The Yankees earned it — the trophy and the ring. But they also had the means to pay for them.

Lee Hamilton hosts “Sportswatch” from 3-7 p.m. weekdays on XX-1090, broadcasts a national baseball talk show on XM-175-Home Plate Channel and won a San Diego Press Club award for his SDNN columns.

Tags: A.J. Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, big market, CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, Hideki Matsui, Jeff Moorad, Joe Girardi, Johnny Damon, Mariano Rivera, mid market, MLB payroll, Padres, SDNN, small market, World Series, yankees

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 3:26 pm and is filed under Baseball, Padres, Sports, Sports Opinion . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.