On the Twelfth Day of Christmas the Yankees Gave to Me . . .

Three free agent pitchers (C. C. Sabbathia, A. J. Burnet, Andy Pettitte) . . .

Two improved position players (Mike Cameron, Nick Swisher) . . .

And a brand new stadium in the Bronx . . .

Can't wait for opening day!

Update on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at 03:20PM by Kim Riddlebarger

OK, all you Yankees bashers out there--here's a great piece on the Yankees' business plan. They spend money because they have it to spend. These guys know exactly what they are doing and why.  The YES network is a huge success and it does even better when your team has new (and popular) players.  Click here: Sports Business - Tax Shelter Helps Yankees Afford Big Salaries - NYTimes.com

Comments

[Rich]

I live in KC, home of the awful Royals, but I still love them and hate the Yanks! Do I need counciling?

[PB]

Red Sox Nation hereby officially declares...dream on!

[Wayne Rohde]

Does Kenneth Copeland own the Yankees?

(Just kidding!)

As I see it, just as money can't buy happiness, so those NY Yankees can't buy wins.

[matt holst]

Didn't the Prophets speak out against this kind of misuse of money, or am I just a desperate Cardinals fan looking for an excuse to call down a heavenly curse on the Yankees? (I wonder how much Copeland would charge for something like that?)

[Michael A. Vickers]

Why do they need public help with the funding of their stadium when they are spending money like this on talent?

[Roger Smith]

I concur. If the Yankees needed 300 million in help from the supposedly cash strapped city to complete their stadium, how do they have 240 million plus to spend on 2 pitchers? The Yankees are the epitome of everything wrong with MLB. Two words - Salary Cap.

[Rick B.]

I don't hate the Yankees as much as I used to. This is due to their lack of recent success despite an out-of-this-world payroll. It's just been funny. C.C. is a huge pick-up, and will mean about 10 more wins over last year, so my Yankee hating days may resume again soon.

Looking forward to the new park though - it's huge.

[Lloyd]

For all of the spending that the Yanks do -- it always seems like the teams that build with their farm systems seem to win the world series, (the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Angels etc.)

Pls note, that the Yanks used to do it with their great farm system -- not by buying players.

We'll have to see which team (using home grown players), will rise up this year and win it.

[John Yeazel]

The Yanks are suppossed to be representative of the elite and artistocratic ruling class. The gifted and fortunate ones who were raised right and nurtured properly. They are suppossed to adhere to a code of honor and it is privaledge to wear the Yankee pinstripes. Is it envy or the numerous examples of hypocrisy by the organization which makes people react against the Yanks? Probably a combination of both. The Yankee's represent our hopes and aspirations of a ruling class that is truly noble but more often than not they disappoint rather than inspire. It is this which makes the Yankees interesting to follow and watch- they can teach us a lot about the nature of things in this life. Will they be arrogant or humble this year? The dynamic which developes on the team during the course of the season is always fascinating to watch.

[John Yeazel]

Nick Swisher did not pan out with the White Sox. He was suppossed to play a spark plug and leadership role but his numbers were not enough to back up his words. His batting average was in the low 200's all year long. He is a colorful personality though- I guess he has a penchant for taking batting practice in the cages below the stadiums in his jock strap alone. Perhaps his numbers will improve when he does not have the pressure of the other roles upon him with the Yanks. He is an excellent first baseman and keeps everybody loose with his pranks.

[Rob]

I second the post from Red Sox Nation...looks like the Yanks still haven't figured it out. I urge them to go sign a few more huge A-Rod style contracts so we can be sure there are no more pennants in NY for the next few decades! Ya gotta build your team from the ground up with talent that is home grown and then fill the gaps with free agents, not the other way around. Just ask the Tampa Bay Rays.

[Charles S]

Burnet had one good year with the Jays' he went 18-10, led the AL in strikeouts. However, the previous two seasons he was on and off the disable list, had mediocre stats. If he pitches to last seasons form a definite asset, if not another Carl Pavano, collecting millions from his rehab bed.

[Michael A. Vickers]

Not only did they "need" help with public financing, but it looks like Bloomberg helped to inflate the value of the land the stadium sits on.

http://links.lpsol.com/renef

[R.J. Stevens]

Kim, Here's more good news about the new stadium. I was flipping through the channels the other night and caught Joel and Victoria Osteen on both CNBC and Larry King. They must be touring. Anyway, it came out during both interviews that Joel has landed the first non-baseball event at the new ballpark. It's called "Night of Hope" or something like that. I guess one stadium-sized venue in Texas isn't enough to hold all the glory!