[Rockiesrider]

The problem witht the Yankees is they have ruined major league basebase. Or I should say Steinbrenner has ruined it. Starting with paying Catfish Hunter a cool million, Then Reggie, then every other big named star from small market teams. The chances are a small market team will all most never get a shot at the brass ring. Because the Yankees have a big market and loads of money. It is especially sweet when they get their butts beat inspite of their huge advantage. When theres no team left to challenge because they're all broke. It's a hollow victory for the Bronx Bums. Keep braggin oh Lord of the Flies.

[Heff]

NOt fair Rockiesrider; You want to blame this entirely on the Yankees? How about the Players Union and the CBA. George is one owner among many...they can change the pay structure WITHOUT GEORGE. But the players would walk if there was a salary CAP. Honestly, some teams should disappear...the level of play would go up. There are too many crappy regular season games.

[jackbill]

The problem witht the Yankees is they have ruined major league basebase.

All your basebase belong to us.

[William McKinley]

The only problem with saying the Yankees ruined baseball is that the Yankees have been the Yankees forever. They have always had more resources than other teams, they have always been able to buy other team's stars (hello, Babe Ruth).

The thing that puts them on a different plane, however, isn't what Steinbrenner spends. Heck, Peter Angelos and the guy down in Texas can match him dollar for dollar. But they end up with sub-500 teams. Just like George used to.

Steinbrenner learned to hire some smart baseball guys and then listen to them. And once you had the confluence of that money matched with intelligent management, it resulted in the latest dynasty.

Which was just yet another Yankees dynasty, like they have had in pretty much every decade. So saying they have ruined the game only makes sense if you mean "they ruined it in the 1920s".

[FreeReign]

The problem witht the Yankees is they have ruined major league basebase. Or I should say Steinbrenner has ruined it. Starting with paying Catfish Hunter a cool million, Then Reggie, then every other big named star from small market teams. The chances are a small market team will all most never get a shot at the brass ring.

The Yankees didn't ruin baseball. The nucleus of the great Yankee teams over the past few years was mostly homegrown. Jeter, Soriano, Williams, Posada, Pettite, Rivera, Hernandez, Mendoza.

Most of the high priced free agents the Yanks bring in usually don't work out.

...and how 'bout them Twins?