I was going to start this article by stating that for a baseball player, or any athlete for that matter, that “a championship is priceless.” Well, not only is that tremendously cliché, but I didn’t want to sound like a credit card commercial. So, I decided to get the facts about the Commissioner’s Trophy. The Commissioner’s Trophy, given to the World Series Champion each year, usually costs around $15,000 to make. The trophy was slightly redesigned from its original design in 1999, and is made by Tiffany & Co. The trophy is 24 inches tall, excluding the base, and has a diameter of 11 inches. It weighs approximately 30 pounds and is made of sterling silver. It features 30 gold-plated, hand-furled flags, one for each of the 30 MLB teams, which rise above an arched silver ox baseball with latitude and longitude lines that symbolize the world. The baseball also contains 24-karat vermeil baseball stitches. The baseball itself weighs over 10 pounds. The base contains an inscription and the signature of the commissioner.

                So, what’s my point? Obviously a lot of work and detail goes into making the trophy each year. But, as interesting as the process is, that is not the reason why I am writing this. October is an experience in its own. In baseball, October is where the best of the best get to showcase their talent for one prize: the Commissioner’s Trophy. This $15,000 structure is priceless in the eyes of baseball teams and their fans. But, to the New York Yankees, this $15,000 trophy is worth much more: a whopping 423 million dollars.

                In the final season at Yankee Stadium, every Yankee fan had high expectations. The stadium’s final season witnessed many spectacular venues. It played host to the Home Run Derby and All Star Game, as well as a visit from the Pope. One thing Yankee Stadium did not play host to was the World Series, or the playoffs. After a disappointing season for the Yankees, it was not the Yankees playing in October. Instead, it was the rival Red Sox and the former basement dwelling Tampa Bay Rays. It was the first time the Yankees did not make the playoffs since 1994, during the strike. They ended their season, and played the final season at Yankee Stadium against the Orioles on September 21^st. The game held no postseason meaning for either team, but was truly a spectacular event for anyone associated with the Yankees.

                Dissatisfied with the results, Steinbrenner worked to improve the team in hopes of not only getting back to the playoffs, but playing in and winning the World Series. The world of baseball knew that CC Sabathia, regardless of what he said about his preference of the West Coast, was due to be a Yankee. On December 18^th, Sabathia signed a seven year, $161 million contract with the Yankees. It was the largest contract in MLB history given out to a pitcher. Not much later, word broke that they also signed AJ Burnett to a five year $82.5 million contract. Yankee fans were ecstatic, but the real surprise was yet to come.

                Free Agent Mark Teixeira had a choice of five teams: The Boston Red Sox, The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Washington Nationals, and the Baltimore Orioles. On December 18^th, Theo Epstein, the Red Sox GM claimed that their offer to the 28 year old free agent would not be a factor, and that they had been outbid. The next day, the Angels dropped out of the sweepstakes. This led baseball fans to believe that the Orioles, Teixeira’s hometown team had offered a deal so large that the Red Sox and Angels would drop out. On December 23^rd, however, the Yankees stunned the world and signed Teixeira to a contract of 8 years, $180 million. And so, The Commissioner’s Trophy will make its way back to the Bronx, right?

                I wouldn’t print the World Series tickets yet. I am sure every Yankees, and maybe even a decent amount of baseball fans are ready to call me crazy, but hold on. Let us start with what the Yankees lost, first. The Yankees lost Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, and Bobby Abreu. The Yankees lost Mike Mussina to retirement after he finally collected 20 wins in his final season. Andy Pettitte leaves the Yankees after collecting 14 wins last season. Meaning, Andy and Mike combined for 34 wins last season. CC Sabathia enters the Yankees with 17 wins, 11 of the coming after being traded to the Brewers. Burnett comes to the Yankees after an 18 win season. Burnett and Sabathia both combined for 35 wins, one more win than Pettitte and Mussina. But, still no playoffs for the Yankees as they missed the Wild Card by 6 games.  

                Okay, so Sabathia and Burnett are better than Mussina and Pettitte, right? Well first, let us look at what Sabathia and Mussina have in common: they both lack World Series rings. AJ Burnett was on the 2003 Marlins team, but only had 4 starts as he was injured most of the season.

                There is no doubting that CC Sabathia had a monster second half last season, but in the National League Central. His first half was the polar opposite. In April, he began the season at 1-4 with a 7.76 ERA. He faced teams such as the Yankees, the Tigers, and Oakland. Now, here is where things get interesting. After being traded, CC faced Cincinnati and Pittsburgh three times, San Diego twice, and San Francisco and Washington once. He only started against two playoff caliber teams, being the White Sox, and Cubs in 4 games. In those 4 games, he had one win and one loss, and gave up 11 runs. If these stats don’t matter much to you, how about the fact that he has folded in the last few playoff appearances he has made. Last season, when playing an offensively-heavy Philadelphia Phillies team, CC pitched 3.2 innings, posted a 12.27 ERA, and picked up the loss. In 2007, CC pitched 15.1 innings, held a 1-2 record,  and an 8.8 ERA. Meaning, in his last 4 playoff appearances (2007 and 2008), he has let up 20 runs, 4 homeruns, and walked 22 batters.

                Next, let us look at the addition of Mark Teixeira. No, I am not going to compare him to Jason Giambi or Bobby Abreu, even though Jason’s second half was stellar. But, what I will do is look at the Yankees’ tentative lineup. Leading off will be Johnny Damon. I can name at least 10 other leadoff men that are better, and will have a much more superior season than Johnny Damon. Not to mention that my grandmother can throw further than him.  Batting second will be Derek Jeter. Now, don’t get me wrong Derek Jeter is Derek Jeter, and there’s no doubt he’ll have a good season. But, one look at his stats over the past few years show that he is not putting up the numbers he once did. Most likely Teixeira will bat third, and it will be interesting seeing what he does with that short leftfield porch. A-Rod will bat clean-up, and most likely put up A-Rod numbers. After A-Rod is where the lineup gets interesting. Most likely Matsui will bat fifth. His age is beginning to show, and he has not hit at or above .300 his past two seasons (.285 in 2007, and .294 in 2008). His batting in the last few Yankees postseason appearances have also been subpar. As of right now, Xavier Nady will bat sixth, but the Yankees are looking to trade him. Posada will bat seventh, but he is another player whose age is beginning to really show. Posada will most likely DH a decent amount of the time, forcing other players like Matsui to play the field. Cano will bat 8^th, and either Melky Cabrera or Gardner will bat ninth. This Yankees lineup is truly scary in the middle with Teixeira and A-Rod, but gets really with their 5-9.

                Look, I’m not here to trash the Yankees or CC Sabathia. The Yankees are one of the greatest teams in the history of baseball, and CC has thrown some great games. There is no doubt in my mind that CC will be great for years to come. But, I will end it with this. This past season, the Phillies won the World Series with a salary of $98,269,880. They defeated the Rays, whose salary was $43,422,997. In 2007, the Red Sox had a salary around $133,390,035. While that is a high salary, their opponents, the Colorado Rockies, held a total salary in the $60-$70 million dollar range. In 2006, the St. Louis Cardinals had a salary of $88,891,371 and won the World Series. Last, in 2005, the White Sox paid their players  $75,178,000. The Yankees enter this season. The Yankees enter the 2009 season with a salary of $209,180,489. Baseball is changing. I do not believe that payrolls or names can buy a championship, and the past 4 years support my claim. The ball is in you court now Mr. Steinbrenner. Prove me wrong.

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