# MLB post season: 2009

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 4, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592 "2009-10-04T21:59:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 25

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/481 "2009-11-05T04:50:50Z")

</div>

Yankees Win!

Start spreading the news,  
I’m leaving today.  
I want to be a part of it -  
New York, New York.

These vagabond shoes  
Are longing to stray  
And step around the heart of it  
New York, New York.

I want to wake up in a city,  
That doesn’t sleep,  
To find I’m king of the hill- ah-  
Top of the heap.

My little town blues  
Are melting away  
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it  
In old New York.  
If I can make it there,  
I’d make it anywhere  
It’s up to you,  
New York, New York.

New York, New York!

I want to wake up in a city,  
That doesn’t sleep,  
To find I’m king of the hill,  
Head of the list,  
Cream of the crop  
At top of the heap.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/482 "2009-11-05T04:54:37Z")

</div>

That’s 11.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/483 "2009-11-05T04:59:15Z")

</div>

Like the people outside are saying, “Woooooo! Woooooooooo!” This is very, very sweet.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/484 "2009-11-05T04:59:59Z")

</div>

> [@Southern\_Yankee](#):
>
> That’s 11.

Correction, that’s 27.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/485 "2009-11-05T05:05:24Z")

</div>

Well, i guess this was inevitable. When you can afford to spend more on your four starting infielders than 14 out of 30 Major League teams spend on their complete rosters, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” the championship will come.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/486 "2009-11-05T05:08:52Z")

</div>

> [@mhendo](#):
>
> You’re funny.

They averaged 10 hits a game all season. How many WS games did the Yanks get 10 hits?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/487 "2009-11-05T05:10:27Z")

</div>

_sigh_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/488 "2009-11-05T05:12:41Z")

</div>

Yes yes, we know. When they don’t win, it’s because you can’t buy a championship with big spending. When they do win, it’s because they bought the title. Whatever. You’ll have to try harder than that if you want to rain on this parade. 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/489 "2009-11-05T05:14:03Z")

</div>

Fucking Yankees.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/490 "2009-11-05T05:20:55Z")

</div>

I gotta chime in once just because the others have, but I kinda snapped at a yankee female fan after the final out. To quote what she said, “Sorry Philly, guess your payroll couldn’t buy you the championship.” I kinda lost it for a minute on that one, especially immediately after the loss.

For the non-asshole Yankee fans, congratulations. You were the only team I was afraid of for our Phillies since the playoffs started. I was really hoping someone would knock you off again in the early rounds, but A-Rod and Jeter came on strong after the final regular season game (who’d of thought?).

I have a feeling we might meet again next year.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/491 "2009-11-05T05:21:29Z")

</div>

> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> They averaged 10 hits a game all season. How many  
> WS games did the Yanks get 10 hits?

Are you kidding? They only got to 10 hits once, but they had eight or more hits in each of the last five games. That’s pretty close and hardly shows they were shut down. They didn’t score much in the first two games, but they scored plenty after that. You can’t tell me the pitching held them down in the last four games. In games three through six, the Yanks scored seven runs a game: eight, seven, six, and seven. They scored 5.3 runs a game during the series and averaged 5.7 a game during the year. That’s practically the same.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/492 "2009-11-05T05:30:00Z")

</div>

Fucking Yankees.  
I knew it was inevitable, but still…  
Fucking Yankees.

Congratuations to non-asshole Yankee fans.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/493 "2009-11-05T05:33:30Z")

</div>

> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Yes yes, we know. When they don’t win, it’s because you can’t buy a championship with big spending. When they do win, it’s because they bought the title. Whatever. You’ll have to try harder than that if you want to rain on this parade. 😉

Actually, i’ve never made the first claim.

In fact, the Yankees’ presence in every postseason but 1 over the past decade (more, actually) shows that money does buy success. The postseason itself is a bit of a crapshoot, where it’s easily possible for the best teams to lose and the more mediocre teams to win (2006 Cardinals, anyone?), but getting to the postseason is the only really measurable measure (if you get my drift) of team-building success.

Six of the eight teams in this year’s postseason were among the top 9 spenders. Coincidence?

I’m not intending to rain on your parade. I don’t expect my observation to change how Yankee fans feel about their team. They have no real control over how much money Steinbrenner spends, so it’s not even their fault. I wouldn’t drop a team just because they had lots of money either. It doesn’t change the reality of the situation.

> [@Marley23](#):
>
> Are you kidding? They only got to 10 hits once, but they had eight or more hits in each of the last five games. That’s pretty close and hardly shows they were shut down. They didn’t score much in the first two games, but they scored plenty after that. You can’t tell me the pitching held them down in the last four games. In games three through six, the Yanks scored seven runs a game: eight, seven, six, and seven. They scored 5.3 runs a game during the series and averaged 5.7 a game during the year. That’s practically the same.

Not only that, but they were playing the Phillies. During the season, they got to play a lot of games against a lot of teams with really shitty pitching.

> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#):
>
> Congratulations to non-asshole Yankee fans.

I believe that they’re all celebrating in a Manhattan studio apartment.🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/494 "2009-11-05T05:35:37Z")

</div>

> [@mhendo](#):
>
> Actually, i’ve never made the first claim.

Cool. And yes, money definitely talks in baseball.

> [@](#):
>
> I believe that they’re all celebrating in a Manhattan studio apartment.🙂

Some of them had to move to Brooklyn because it got crowded in there.

ETA: Over the winter, I’m curious to see if Matsui played himself into a new contract with the Yankees with this enormous Series performance, or if they’ll really let him go. The logic says they probably should, but we will see. I assume this was Pettitte’s last ride and that he’ll go out on top with this title, the playoff wins record, and victories in each of the clinching games.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/495 "2009-11-05T05:36:27Z")

</div>

Rockies in 2010.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/496 "2009-11-05T05:37:11Z")

</div>

> [@Mr\_Buttons](#):
>
> I gotta chime in once just because the others have, but I kinda snapped at a yankee female fan after the final out. To quote what she said, “Sorry Philly, guess your payroll couldn’t buy you the championship.” I kinda lost it for a minute on that one, especially immediately after the loss.

To clear up this point lest it take on a life of it’s own while I’m sleeping, I had to yell back at her “Our payroll is 1/3 the size of yours, WTF are you talking about.” After a quick Google search I see our’s is around 60% their size.

So I was innaccurate to say what I said, but there’s no way anyone should be yelling about Philly’s payroll buying a championship, at a bar 50 miles outside of Philly either. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/497 "2009-11-05T05:52:45Z")

</div>

> [@mhendo](#):
>
> I’m not intending to rain on your parade. I don’t expect my observation to change how Yankee fans feel about their team. They have no real control over how much money Steinbrenner spends, so it’s not even their fault.

But … but it _is_ their fault! Where do you think Steinbrenner _gets_ all that money?  
😛

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr\_Buttons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Mr\_Buttons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Buttons)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/498 "2009-11-05T05:58:50Z")

</div>

> [@Mister\_Rik](#):
>
> But … but it _is_ their fault! Where do you think Steinbrenner _gets_ all that money?  
> 😛

If you can figure out a way to get 8 million people to not care enough about 55,000 seats a night (.006% interest in each game), let me know. We Pennsylvanians will get on it right away. 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/499 "2009-11-05T06:48:21Z")

</div>

Although I pay little attention to sports these days, I am a lifelong Yankees fan. I have memorabilia that goes back to 1972 or so, including pennants, programs, and a baseball signed (in pen) by the 1976 team.

So count me as a happy guy when I saw the final score of tonight’s game!

Go Yankees!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/500 "2009-11-05T07:02:01Z")

</div>

Meh… as I said before… _yawn_.

Yes, on a personal level it warms my heart to see the Yankees, with their beefy payroll, fail miserably.

Does it boil my blood when they’re successful though? Not at all. After all, it really comes as no surprise, and it shouldn’t for anyone.

I certainly don’t, and have never, rubbed it in any Yankees fans faces when they fail. To be sure, many Yankees fans don’t understand salaries and how it relates to talent, and at a fundamental level, don’t really care. They are simple “Yankees fans”. That’s it. “Yankee fan”. “I’m a Yankee fan”. “I don’t care how we do it, how it happens, What we have to do, how much we spend… Yankees ROCK”.

The distinction here is whether they are simple “Yankees Fans”… as it were… or true baseball fans, with a fundamental love of the game itself. I see no pride in being the former… but am willing to admit that, at this day and age, from NY perspective, it doesn’t seem to matter.

Again… _yawn_.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=24)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=26)
