Okay Boston, It's Time For the Red Sox to "Pay Their Fair Share"

The divisional structure no longer worked. Midwest teams having to constantly play teams as much as 3 hours out of their timezone? Hard to keep fans up during the midweek and watch the games and if the fans aren't watching, you have a problem.

The purpose of the 162 game schedule is not to pick the best team but the best teams.

Oakland picks up guys regularly and doesn't break the bank. In 2002 they let go of Giambi and won even more games the following year. The Sox dumped Nomar's salary for three guys who contributed. Some teams overspend but hey, free market rules and the smart sellers restock their systems for better days. See the Marlins team of last year and how it was built when they broke up the 97 team.

There is nothing disproportionate about money. If people would get off their ass and go to the games then teams would have more money to spend. If people would follow the games then the local TV contracts will get more money. While I hate the Yankees, I don't support the idea that NY fans should have to subsidize Pittsburgh and Milwaukee's teams.

The Red Sox were the AL's best team from late July through the end of the year. It started with the NY brawl and carried through. Theo did a masterful job of being a GM and did it better than anyone else in the game.

The divisional structure worked just fine. What didn't work was the fans anger over the 1994 strike/lock out. Fan interest was perked up with the introduction of new ball parks and a juiced baseball resulting in many more home runs. The McGuire-Sosa chase for Maris' home run record is what restored many fans' interests in baseball.

Yes, the A's actually won more games the year after losing Jason Giambi as their pitching staff developed into a better unit and Miguel Tejada had an MVP season. This past season the inability to replace a quality closer, injuries to the starting pitching and the lack of run production from below average salary players finally proved too much for the A's.

Do you really think the Red Sox would have been better than the A's if the A's had the wherewithal's to keep players such as Damon, Giambi, Tejada and Foulke? Theo Epstein is to be commended for filling out the Red Sox with proven major leaguers, but I think the way Billy Beane constructs the A's with castoffs and role players is more impressive.

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