Yankees Take Scorn for (Gasp!) Spending Money

We're all tired of talking about NY payroll, but it stifles baseball hope

(NEWSER) - Yes, writing about the New York Yankees’ ginormous payroll is “like writing about the heat in Phoenix. We all know it’s there, and we don’t really want to talk about it anymore,” Joe Ponanski says in what he admits is a “screed.” And though baseball’s playoffs are designed to add volatility, when you can spend $52 million more than the next-biggest spender, you’re eventually going to buy a(nother) World Series. More»

(NEWSER) - The New York Yankees pulled out all the stops in pregame ceremonies today to christen their new $1.5 billion stadium. Then they went and ruined things by playing baseball. The Indians routed the Yankees 10-2 after putting up nine runs in the 7th inning, the Daily News reports. "It's not how you want to start out a new stadium, but one game is not going to make the history of this Yankee Stadium or this year," said manager Joe Girardi. More»

Sport re-evaluates its pay structure

(NEWSER) - Looking at baseball, you’d think the country wasn’t in a recession—clubs are charging exorbitant ticket prices and shelling out tens of millions of dollars on top free agents. Will the bubble ever collapse? Probably not, writes Nate Silver for Esquire. MLB is, after all, a legally protected monopoly. But more importantly, the sport already has taken steps to add a dose of reality its out-of-control pay structure. More»

New York swoops in to keep first baseman away from rival Red Sox

(NEWSER) - The New York Yankees snatched the off-season’s biggest remaining free-agent prize away from their rivals today, agreeing with first baseman Mark Teixeira on an 8-year contract worth about $180 million, the Post reports. The Boston Red Sox were thought to have had the inside track on the 28-year-old switch-hitter, who’s both an offensive force and a solid defensive player. More»

'Voice of God' introduced stars from DiMaggio to Jeter in 5-decade-plus career

(NEWSER) - Bob Sheppard, the public-address announcer who welcomed generations of fans to Yankee Stadium in a career that spanned more than 55 years, has died at 99, the team announced today. Reggie Jackson nicknamed Sheppard "The Voice of God," and a recording of his voice continued to announce Derek Jeter after he left the booth in 2007, reports the Daily News . More»