200 Million Dollar Mistakes: How the Yankees Failed the Bank

DETROIT- In an upset that landed them on the front page of the New York Times, the Detroit Tigers swept the New York Yankees for the American League Championship. The Yankees were the heavy favorites, with odds of almost 19-6 over the Tigers, posting stats like 804 runs and 245 home runs, but just couldn't pull it out, going 0-20 and 3-39 against Detroit in the series.

However, in all honesty, it's not that surprising. For years now the sports world has known that the accumulation of money and all-stars does not equal championships. Defense, teamwork and determination lead to championships, and it was blatantly obvious in this series that New York lacked all of the above.

In a surprising move, the Yankees benched Alex Rodriguez (left)

 

 

 

It's one of the criticisms of the Cap Hit in baseball, or lack-thereof: Building a team of multimillionaires is not only a waste of money, it's a waste of time and of distributable talent. Now, this is not saying the Yankees are without talent, quite the contrary. Between Derek Jeter and A-Rod alone, they have enough for a good team with pieces around them that don't cost 200 million dollars, but these talents cannot work together as a
functioning whole worthy of winning the World Series.

The series showed that even against opponents they had an advantage on, their more than impressive personal stats meant nothing. If 245 home runs can only generate 3 runs in 39 innings, there is an issue. Despite this payroll that would make Mitt Romney blush, the Yankees are keeping with a very disappointing post season performance, failing to win 11 of the last 12 championships, making it to the World Series only three of those seasons. And, with Derek Jeter's broken ankle that could possibly take four to five months to heal, plus Granderson and Swisher's less than average performances, the Yankees troubles could definitely follow them into the next season.

If anything, the lesson to be learned is that money can't buy a baseball team, and the Yankees had to learn that the hard way.

Bringing the Heat, Battle of the Bay is Inevitable

Buster Posey hits a Grand Slam off Mat Latos in the Fifth Inning 

(Photo: Andrew Weber, US PRESSWIRE)

With the Giant's unlikely comeback against the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Division Series, it looks like the first Bay Bridge Series since 1989 is upon us. In the first few days, it appeared that the Giants would have a mediocre series, and be swept by the Cincinnati Reds, ending the supposed dynasty by the Bay Area. But the numbers are completely against that hypothesis now. What was a 5-2 and 9-0 loss to the Reds, is now a 2-1 and 8-3 tie, with a victory in the 5th game almost unavoidable.

While the Giants' scores aren't as powerful as Cincinnati's 9-0 shut out, the San Francisco's pitching finally overcame it's plateau that was shadowing the team for pretty much the entire 2012 season. Matt Cain regained his footing, and Kontos is proving himself along with Affelt. The team is also hopeful of  Lincecum in the following season. But no one has shined more in this series than catcher Buster Posey. With two home runs, one of which being a Grand Slam (the third by a catcher in MLB history), Posey has cemented himself as the National League's rookie of the year, carrying the Giants for scoring.

Jarrod Parker's pitching could challenge Verlander in Game 5

 Photo: AP/Ben Margot

On the other side of the bridge, the A's are slowly putting the Tigers in their place. Although Verlander is starting, who is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts against the Athletics this year, Jarrod Parker is heating up on the mound. 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA, Parker doesn't seem like a force to be reckoned with, but went 0-5 with one walk on Detroit's sluggers Cabrera and Fielder.

The series is tied 2-2, with the final game deciding the winner at 9:37 pm ET, another Bay Bridge Series is all with in the realm of possibility.