So help me if I hear another story about how the Yankees are "good for baseball". A while back Joe Sheehan of BP talked about how dynasties are good for sports in that they give other teams something to shoot for. I'd agree with that in the case of 3-5 year dynasties. But the Yankees don't have to go through the rebuilding phases like other clubs. For the past 10 years it's been this same "dynasty". I can't wait to see it end -- be it from Boston, Toronto or even Baltimore or Tampa Bay.

"Sure, the team has suffered a number of injuries this season."
- That's the understatement of the year.

Don't get me wrong, the Red Sox do have flaws for sure. However, this year by my count 17 players (Manny, Ortiz, Varitek, Gonzalez, Loretta, Crisp, Nixon, Pena, Kapler, Schilling, Clement, Wakefield, Foulke, Papelbon, Lester, Wells and DiNardo) have been out for significant stretches with injuries, the majority of them all at once in the last couple months when the Red Sox have fallen out of the race.

No team, even the Yankees, could have sustained these losses and remained competitive. And, yes, I do know that they have sustained some big hits this year - but still not to the extent the Red Sox have over the last couple months with fully two-thirds of the team out of action.

"No team, even the Yankees, could have sustained these losses and remained competitive. And, yes, I do know that they have sustained some big hits this year - but still not to the extent the Red Sox have"

I can't believe you wrote that. Talk about blinders. Sheff and Matsui out the whole year. Cano, the possible batting champ out, what was it, six weeks or so. Rivera on the shelf now. Farns with nagging injuries much of the season that required him to miss time. Moose on the shelf. Cairo banged up as well as Phillips. And, if you're gonna count Wells, well, I'll count Pavano. Honestly, I think I'm missing some. And, if you count DiNardo and Kapler, I guess I'll through in Rasner, who would have filled in earlier if not for injuries. Not to mention Dotel's setbacks.

Yeah, poor sox, they've had it so much tougher. ;)

Just wanted to let you know that your column is the first one I read each morning, very enjoyable-thank you. best wishes.

What you all don't know is that the Red Sox where going through a "Rebuilding Year". Ya I know your all gonna flip out and say "That's no Rebuilding Year!" or "The Red Sox have so much money they don't have to rebuild!" Well thats true but with the intensity or Fans and the team's payroll, Boston's rebuilding would not be like teams with miniscule payrolls. It was time for Theo and the Red Sox to start infusing youth into a very old team. He did that by Getting Crisp in the Center, Papelbon in the closer role, Hansen and Delcarmen in the pen, Lester and Beckett in the Rotation. And soon we'll see Pedoria at second. By infusing youth into your team, it helps keep payroll down and a good, talented team on the field. By saving money on these young players, the Red Sox will be able to afford Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, and then be able to bring in another starter or bat. After the World Series the Red Sox were too old and had too many veterans(which equals high contracts). They decided to bring int he youth but still perform to Red Sox nation standards. If they didn't you would see another Boston massacre. I'm not surprise the Red Sox will miss the Post-Season, it is about time they start bringing in young players and trim the payroll a bit. By having cheaper players at some positions, you can have more expensive players at other positions.

Yeah, poor sox, they've had it so much tougher. ;)
- Yeah, only double the number of injuries if you bother to add it up, that's all.

Don't get me wrong, in the interest of being balanced, I actually cited the Yankees because I wanted to acknowledge that they got hit with a lot of injuries. And, the Yankees were definitely deeper than the Red Sox and that allowed them to weather their injuries which could have been catastrophic - an extra $100 million to spend on the roster definitely helps on depth. However, their injury problems, though severe, were still not in the same class as what hit the Red Sox, particularly in the pitching ranks.

it really bothers me for people to complain about the yankees payroll because boston and many other clubs owners have just as much money, but rather than spending it to make the team better, they instead choose to pocket the money and spend it on on themselves. Thank God that george wants to feild a winner for his fans in New York and elsewhere around the WORLD!

The Yankees will eventrually go down, it is simply that the Yankee managed to get 2 super hall of famer and 2 more insanely good solid player (Jeter, Mo , Posada , Bernie) as their corner stone during the last decade. yes they have the cash to make sure that they can capitalize, but once those guys are gone, cahs may not be enough. (though nowadays the Yankees are getting some serious players from their farm again, so you never know.)the late 80s early 90s Yankees are good testimone of what the Yankees might be in 5 years or so if their next generation doesn't pan out.

Yankees had some issues this year, but their luck is still within the normal bad range, Boston this year is beyond horrible in the luck department.

IF both teams had a perfect lineup for a season this year the yanks probably would have still won, IF both were equal in luck the Yankees probably would have still won (albit both at closer margins) this year if the Yanks were unlucky, the Sox were super unlucky.

There is nothing wrong with dynasties, and one wonders why people spend more time complaining about the Yankees instead of complaining about how certain teams doesn't even attempt to compete (Royals anyone?) the Blue Jays are about to double their payroll in the span of two years is a simple testimony to disprove anyone who's saying they can't spend at least up to 90-100M in payroll, the Yankees is trying to shed payroll now, and i figure they go down to 170 or less M in the next few years.