Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sports The World Series of Baseball
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 at 9:45 PM
The New York Yankees beat the Some Other Place Somebody Elses—if the stories online are true.
1
Ideally, a loophole would have been found allowing both the Yankees and the Philadelphia Douchebags* to both lose. Alas, baseball is not that kind.
*Not actually the team's name. Yet.
*Not actually the team's name. Yet.
2
A large green form was seen hanging from the giant glowing liberty bell at Citizens Bank Park, motionless save for its gentle swaying in the wind.
11
@3/10: Get real. Baseball is a business, and as such, any business owner has the option to reinvest profits into his/her company which is precisely what the Yankees have done for years. Every other team owner has that same option and many do so, yet none obviously could out play a superply talented Yankee team. Other huge salaried teams include the Mets, Dodgers, Cardinals, Red Sox - why aren't those teams enjoying their World Series victory tonight? Simple-talent.
12
@11 - You might want to check the facts about team payrolls.
http://www.getlisty.com/preview/2009-mlb…
http://www.getlisty.com/preview/2009-mlb…
13
Oh Gawd, I LOVE sports coverage like this...I really do!!!! It makes me so happy! :)
(obviously not much of a sports fan)
(obviously not much of a sports fan)
14
this competition is nothing like the facebook battle going on about my status quoting Dan's Deuteronomy analogy via Maine. Apparently Jesus died and thus canceling all of that other stuff they say? Is that like, Joe Tory leaving and canceling the Yankees 26 other victories? The logical atheist here, is very confused.
15
Although a huge Yankees fan, the real battle to me is which of the Voltaggio brothers on "Top Chef" wins this season - they're both kinda hot and very talented.
17
The only thing I love about baseball (and American football) is the expression of our nation's zeitgeist in inventing a sport and then declaring ourselves world champion.
So the Yankees shot a goal, did they?
So the Yankees shot a goal, did they?
18
@1
Fuck you, motherfucker. Don't ever call Philly people douchebags - they will kick your ass in a heartbeat. If it weren't for Philly, none of you pansy-assed Seattlelites would even exist.
Fuck you, motherfucker. Don't ever call Philly people douchebags - they will kick your ass in a heartbeat. If it weren't for Philly, none of you pansy-assed Seattlelites would even exist.
21
The only good thing about the Bush administration was that the Yankees never won a World Series during it.
25
@12: ok, i checked. the yankees payroll is approx. $50 million/year greater than the next highest, the mets, who are in the same city. your point was?
@11: i am aware its a business, and that those with the most money typically win in business. that was my point.
@11: i am aware its a business, and that those with the most money typically win in business. that was my point.
26
Yes, 21 makes a fabulous point. Hmmmm...that's actually a tough call: Yankees winning or GWB sucking the life out of our country. Alright, fine, I'll opt to keep GWB away, but can we at least show pictures of him or something to try and spook the Yanks in the future?
And why the baseball hate? Watch it with somebody who understands the game and you might find it a little more enjoyable. They don't call baseball a thinking man's sport for nothing. Also, try listening to a game on the radio. Perhaps it's just that I was raised with that tradition, but it's actually kind of cool and nostalgic.
And why the baseball hate? Watch it with somebody who understands the game and you might find it a little more enjoyable. They don't call baseball a thinking man's sport for nothing. Also, try listening to a game on the radio. Perhaps it's just that I was raised with that tradition, but it's actually kind of cool and nostalgic.
27
The perfect end to a crappy week; A-Rod finally gets his World Series ring, along with those other guys. *sigh* Actually, I can't really hate Matsui and Rivera, who were the ones who really won the game last night. Not like this outcome was a surprise at all, either -- Cliff Lee was the only really interesting thing about this Series and postseason, because he single-handedly kept the Phillies alive with his unprecedented pitching.
I guess I have to find angles on this to feel some petty glee in, like the fact that the brand-new Yankee Stadium, which cost more than Safeco, Qwest Field and Key Arena put together, is already falling apart from shoddy construction. Or that Texas is still paying off their end of A-Rod's last ridiculous contract.
I guess I have to find angles on this to feel some petty glee in, like the fact that the brand-new Yankee Stadium, which cost more than Safeco, Qwest Field and Key Arena put together, is already falling apart from shoddy construction. Or that Texas is still paying off their end of A-Rod's last ridiculous contract.
28
A-Rod earns his pay. He earned it in Texas, and he's earning it now.
@25, one interesting thing about baseball is that money DOESN'T buy you championships. Yes, it did this year, but teams with far lower payrolls than the Yanks usually win. Although it must be said that the World Series is a coin toss, compared to the real work of a 162-game season.
@25, one interesting thing about baseball is that money DOESN'T buy you championships. Yes, it did this year, but teams with far lower payrolls than the Yanks usually win. Although it must be said that the World Series is a coin toss, compared to the real work of a 162-game season.
29
Fnarf is right; the Yankees have had the highest payroll for the entire decade, yet this is the first championship they've had in nine years, and their first trip to the series in six (when they lost to the low-salaried Marlins). The Cubs, Dodgers and Mets (all very high salaried teams for the entire decade) have not been to the series this decade, except for the Mets in 2000.
On the other hand, this decade's champs include the aforementioned Marlins, Angels, White Sox, while the defeated include the Rockies, Tigers and Rays - all from the middle of the salary range, at least during the years they made the series.
If anything, money increases your chances of making it to the post season, but it rarely carries you through it.
On the other hand, this decade's champs include the aforementioned Marlins, Angels, White Sox, while the defeated include the Rockies, Tigers and Rays - all from the middle of the salary range, at least during the years they made the series.
If anything, money increases your chances of making it to the post season, but it rarely carries you through it.
30
This is great news. It means that House and Glee will stop being interrupted by the most boring "sport" on earth.
32
And in the musical theatre world: some stupid-ass musical opened in some stupid-ass theatre.
Does it matter less than professional sports? Who knows.
Does it matter less than professional sports? Who knows.
33
@29 you nailed it.
I am a diehard Yankee fan born and raised in NYC. It kind of broke my heart to have to watch the big win in a nearly empty bar. And then I had to listen to a hipster mock my joy by shouting out "yay sports". Seattle is fucking lame sometimes.
That said, my dream would be for the Steinbrenner boys to slash the payroll and rebuild their farm system and begin to cultivate home grown talent the way we used to. I am a Yankee fan, and I support a baseball salary cap.
@8 I know, it must be weird when a team actually wins each game you pinhead.
I am a diehard Yankee fan born and raised in NYC. It kind of broke my heart to have to watch the big win in a nearly empty bar. And then I had to listen to a hipster mock my joy by shouting out "yay sports". Seattle is fucking lame sometimes.
That said, my dream would be for the Steinbrenner boys to slash the payroll and rebuild their farm system and begin to cultivate home grown talent the way we used to. I am a Yankee fan, and I support a baseball salary cap.
@8 I know, it must be weird when a team actually wins each game you pinhead.
34
Fnarf, A-Rod doesn't earn, nor justify his outrageous pay. Nobody on the face of the Earth "earns" $33 million in a year, never mind "working" eight and a half months of a year. Playing baseball.
37
I'm kinda with 34. On the one hand, yes, anyone making that kind of money to play a kids' game (and yes, all sports, no matter how entertaining, are kids' games) is ridiculous; on the other, there is so much money flowing into it that it seems justified for the best players to ask for a decent slice of the pie.
A-Rod is one of the best in the game, clean or dirty (and he's probably clean now) and played terrifically in this series, so at least he can justify being the highest-paid player. A lot more so than Manny anyway.
A-Rod is one of the best in the game, clean or dirty (and he's probably clean now) and played terrifically in this series, so at least he can justify being the highest-paid player. A lot more so than Manny anyway.
38
Another tarnished victory for the Yankees. They couldn't do it on their own so they took the top free agents from 3 different teams & out bid everyone else by tens of millions of dollars. Not impressed.
Fuck the Yankees. and while I'm at it, Fuck the Red Sox too.
Fuck the Yankees. and while I'm at it, Fuck the Red Sox too.
40
Can we stop annointing soccer as the "it" sport? It's not. I like it, the games are fun, and the people are great but I just went to a playoff game that ended in a tie. I then proceeded to kiss my cousin/masterbate without porn/eat a steak that had fallen on the ground.
42
@34 I'm with you, but where would that money go if not the players? I doubt lower ticket prices, cheaper souviners or concession prices. A-Rod sells a lot of tickets, hats and jerseys and probably generates more money for the Yankees than $30M. But most importantly, Fuck the Yankees.
44
Jim@42, why not lower ticket prices? There were visibly empty seats at the brand new Yankee Stadium for games in the World Series. Is that a sign that fans didn't care, or a sign that ticket prices are outrageous?
BTW, A-Rod was paid just about half of what the entire sport took in this year in admission (the final tally is still estimated). I don't know how many A-Rod shirts were sold. I heard him get booed a lot, even in NY by his own "fans"...
BTW, A-Rod was paid just about half of what the entire sport took in this year in admission (the final tally is still estimated). I don't know how many A-Rod shirts were sold. I heard him get booed a lot, even in NY by his own "fans"...
45
Philly phans crap on all of you haters. it was a good series and chase should have gotten MVP even if my beloved Phills didnt win.
has there ever been an MVP from a losing team?
i was a wee drunk during the last part, but i knew all hope had to be abandoned when i saw mariano jogging out of the bullpen.
mariano should play in another dimension. man i hate that guy and i hate how damon stole third.
and yeah sports haters are a bunch of cornholes.
good day all.
has there ever been an MVP from a losing team?
i was a wee drunk during the last part, but i knew all hope had to be abandoned when i saw mariano jogging out of the bullpen.
mariano should play in another dimension. man i hate that guy and i hate how damon stole third.
and yeah sports haters are a bunch of cornholes.
good day all.
47
I'm a Mets fan (yeah, I know. so, pity me.) and couldn't decide which of the two teams to root against, so I took turns.
FWIW, the umpiring was outstandingly awful this Series. I don't think it's overly dramatic to say that the umps really ruined a few of the games. Too many missed/blown calls. Something has to give. There's no point in even playing if the calls are so random.
FWIW, the umpiring was outstandingly awful this Series. I don't think it's overly dramatic to say that the umps really ruined a few of the games. Too many missed/blown calls. Something has to give. There's no point in even playing if the calls are so random.
48
@ 44, they did lower prices about midway through the season... Keep in mind that baseball gets a hell of a lot of money from TV, merchandising and other places besides tickets.
49
@44: "A-Rod was paid just about half of what the entire sport took in this year in admission..."
What? Could we get a citation here?
What? Could we get a citation here?
51
A-Rod salary x 2 = $50,000,000.
2009 MLB attendence = 73,000,000
Average ticket price = $.68
AWESOME!!!
2009 MLB attendence = 73,000,000
Average ticket price = $.68
AWESOME!!!
52
@33 You just encapsulated why I miss the 90's Yankee teams, which were made up of farm-system boys making good. Maybe we grew up on the same street in NY.
I was one of 2 NY fans in a bar last night, and as soon as the final out was recorded, every person in the bar started trying to drown out our cheering with boos. Fuck you, haters, you don't even like baseball, you're not Phillies fans: you just want to put down happy people with your misplaced vitriol.
I was one of 2 NY fans in a bar last night, and as soon as the final out was recorded, every person in the bar started trying to drown out our cheering with boos. Fuck you, haters, you don't even like baseball, you're not Phillies fans: you just want to put down happy people with your misplaced vitriol.
53
Please note, that I wasn't saying they shouldn't lower tix prices. I just doubt they would. New Yorkers aren't the only people in the world that buy Yankees merch. The guy draws fans to watch (advertising) on tv, in the stands and to buy Yankee stuff. Trust me, the superstars earn they're money. It's like how a law firm brings in a high-priced atty for a partner. It's not just his courtroom prowess they bring, it's the client list. And even more importantly, Fuck the Yankees.
54
bigyaz@49, you are of course correct and I was profoundly wrong.
I misremembered the estimated 2009 MLB attendance from a month ago as an estimated dollar take, so I was conservatively off by a factor of 30-40, at least, as Doug pointed out. I apologize for my leotarded statistical analysis.
Jim is also right that no one's going to voluntarily cut their own salary nor lower ticket prices, so I was stupid to even bring that up.
My point that A-Rod is a horrible human being, just awful for the sport in general, still stands. And as others have pointed out, the Yankees can fuck themselves sideways with walnuts.
I misremembered the estimated 2009 MLB attendance from a month ago as an estimated dollar take, so I was conservatively off by a factor of 30-40, at least, as Doug pointed out. I apologize for my leotarded statistical analysis.
Jim is also right that no one's going to voluntarily cut their own salary nor lower ticket prices, so I was stupid to even bring that up.
My point that A-Rod is a horrible human being, just awful for the sport in general, still stands. And as others have pointed out, the Yankees can fuck themselves sideways with walnuts.
55
Dan, you mean the Phillies - World Champs of 2008? Yes, I guessyou could say the over-paid, million dollar, steroid laced babies "won", again. Bad for MLB when such an undeserving team buys and drugs thier way to Championships. The Phillies have a universe full of character, class and honor, compared to the Yankers.
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