[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?

[John H K]

I also assert that the Yankee success in the expanded playoffs, while a great credit to them, was somewhat of a fluke. THREE layers of playoff games, with the first series 5 game, LONG TERM, is a recipe for randomness and no dynasties.

It was anomalous that the Yankees were so dominant in such a format, RIGHT when the format began. You'll never see that again.

People need to wake up and realize that if their local small-market team (Royals, Brewers, etc.) SUCKS, it's because their team is run by morons, not because the Yankees compete unfairly.