No Longer a Yankee Fan: Is My Reasoning Correct?

Question

I used to be a diehard Yankees fan. I started following their games in 95, not because they were the Yankees but because the games were shown on the only channel that had a clear image on my television - no, I did not have cable nor satellite but an antenna. Well, as you all know the Yankees were not a team of All Stars but a team that showed plenty of heart. Bernie, Tino, Cone, Jeter, Girardi, Rivera, and Brosious were my hereos. Once that team began to be disassembled, Steinbrenner (Yankees owner) started transforming the team to a team of All Stars. I still followed and felt sadness when I would see them lose - specially in the ALCS vs. the Red Sox in 2004. Right after that, however, I had a change of heart. The Yankees had signed Randy Johnson and I just despised them for it. I mean they were taking all the best players from all the other teams. It didn't seem fair. From that time on, I have started rooting against them. What do you think of this?

Answer 1

im with you ........i used to be too...til they started using all their money on all-star players with huge contracts...even though they had sooooooooo many great players they were still losing quite a bit ...so i thought why are they wasting money on players that cant help their team...well thats my story...now im a fan of baseball...not a fan of a piece of baseball....as pieces are teams......i think ur 99% right ....just root for baseball or maybe another team...instead of against to make ur life more peaceful...hope u feel good now=)

Answer 2

You've hit the nail right on the head. That's also the reason why the Yankees haven't won a World Series this millennium (of course, using the proper.start date of January 1st 2001, not the more common January 1st 2000). You can put together a team of all stars all you want, but you aren't going to win (well, Steinbrenner did the exact same thing in the 80s that he is doing in the 00s, which he also did in the 70s, but it actually worked then as free agency was in its infancy). The 90s Yankees were a truly great team because they were a team instead of a "dream" team (look at how USA basketball did in 2004). However, for the Yankees, at least in the Steinbrenner era, that era was the exception, not the rule.

If you look at the series winners, nobody other than the 97 Marlins ever actually bought a World Series (and that series was very close to going the other way). Well, actually the White Sox team that won the Series brought about their downfall by trading Aaron Rowand for Jim Thome. While Thome is a better player than Rowand, Rowand is a team leader and the 06 Phillies missed the playoffs in large part due to his season-ending injury late in the year (and their delay installing padding on the fence in centerfield which cost him another month). Meanwhile, the White Sox have gone from World Champions to out of the playoffs to one of the worst teams in baseball.

Turning a team into a all star team is just not smart strategy. You just don't win using that strategy as history shows (for example, look up the history of the Angels for about 15 years after free agency or the recent history of the Redskins in the NFL).

Answer 3

As a Red Sox Fan, I Have to Say You No Longer Being A Yankee Fan, I Shake You Hand... But on an honest note... We are the second team to go steal players so who am I to talk. It's not your fault the New Your Yankees are the richest team in baseball and they can afford other players. It's not your fault the Tampa Bay Devil Rays can't jam there stadium, because there a smaller city, unlike Boston, Mets, Dodgers... Don't hate your Yankees because they are doing this, some Owners rather pocket money then buy players. But since Steinbrenner is so rich he can do both! Stick with your team man!

Answer 4

FYI: I'm not a Yankees fan, I'm a Red Sox fan. But I'm a baseball fan first and foremost.

I think your reasoning is kind of right. If you've lost faith in the team, then what's the point in being a fan. But if you're giving up being a fan just because they start losing, then that's not a good reason. But, them taking the best players from all the other teams, that's the business of the sport, and if they think it will make them more money to have the best players, then, that's what they are going to do.

Go Sox!

Edit: Yankees just lost Game 1 12-3.

Answer 5

They don't "TAKE" all the best players, they try and "BUY" the best players! If you were truly a Yankee fan you'd know that since George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973, he's hardly ever done anything else but buy the best players his billions can get! The players who come here, do have to say yes to the offer you know! You despise the Yankees because Randy Johnson signed on the dotted line? How ridiculous!

Answer 6

This has nothing to do with personnel. This has everything to do with winning. You're a front runner, a bandwagon fan. You're happy when the team is winning but now that it's been 7 years since a world series win and 4 years since an American League championship, you're not happy.

I wouldn't even call you a baseball fan......period! Stop using the excuse that George is buying up all the star players. That boat don't float anymore. Every team is doing it so think of something else.

A real fan sticks by his or her team through thick and thin. Tell you what, for someone like you, why don't you wait and see who wins the world series this year, then you can become that teams fan!!

Answer 7

I think if they are your reasons, they are as good as anyone elses.

When they traded for Kevin Brown, signed Pavano and Wright, then traded for Johnson, that's them throwing money at the integral issue, their lack of patience.

Yes, they have Jeter and Rivera and Posada that they drafted and developed. They were able to keep these players by overpaying them to stay. Fine and dandy.

This year, 7 of their starting 9 batter combined for $123 million a year.
A year or two ago, every single person in the bullpen made a minimum of $3 mil a year.

They had Randy (16), Brown (15), Pavano (10), Wright (7.5), Mussina (15) in their rotation (or at least intended to be)
That's $63 mil right there.

Worst of all, the Yankees aren't losing any money because the fans are paying their way. Why would they do anything different.

They are like the Toronto Maple Leafs of baseball, except they actually get results.

Answer 8

Well welcome to the real world of baseball. That is how most of the fans (other then Yankees fans feel). Take or buy same thing, and no they don't have to go to New York, but most of the players they go after or either very young, or close to retirement. So the money seems too good to pass up. You are not wrong in how you feel at all. It really must get old to watch your team continue to lose, and especially since they don't look like a team while they are doing it. It really bothers me as a true fan of basebal , to enjoy so much watching them lose. Thanks George for making baseball into such a business, rather then an enjoyable pastime.

Answer 9

Don't forget that the Yankees will never win in the post season while A-Rod is on the team.
I understand your thinking and hope you are routing for the Red Sox.
We just have a bunch of crazy happy players. Damon had his hair long and Papelbon is a crazy nut dancer. The Yankees are too conservative and afraid to let out their true self because of ownership.
Join Red Sox Nation and laugh with us.

Answer 10

The Yankees have been buying the best players since 1975 starting with Catfish Hunter. This trend did not start after they lost to the Red Sox in 04. The Yankees make a lot of money, and you have to give Steinbrenner credit for not putting the money in his pocket but to constantly trying to improve his team..Small market teams get a lot of the Yankee money from revenue sharing but do not invest it in free agents to inprove their team (ex Pirates).

Answer 11

I'm a diehard red sox fan and took a LOT of crap from yankee fans before 2004. after all the series they gave you before 2000 doesn't it seem a little shallow to bail? being frustrated and taking the losses are part of the game! if your a real fan you'll stay with your team.