QUOTE (Elgin Slim @ Oct 10, 2010 -> 08:39 PM)
For the time being there are only 2 ways to win the AL pennant:
The first way is to spend like the Yankees and Red Sox, on both the Major league and Minor League levels.
The second way is to go into the s***ter for a 5 year period, and emerge with the amount of talent that the Rays have built over the last 5-7 years.
Another note: When you spend or draft, at the end of the process, you must possess 2 pitchers with #1 stuff, one of which pitches like a #1, and the other of which pitches like a #2 or #3.
The period between 2004-2008 was special because the Yankees made some really bad contract choices. When the marquee free agents returned to the market it was back to this way. As long as the Yankees have a $200 MM payroll and spend it wisely, these are the only ways to compete with them. It does not matter what you do, The Yankees will always win unless you have somewhere close to the amount of talent that they do.
This is why, IMO there should be a cap of a $150 MM payroll in baseball.
Unfortunately, there is a more level playing field in the NL.
I would love a $150 MM cap. It makes so much sense it's rediculous. I hate the Yankees, they should have no pride in winning a WS with a higher payroll than an NL All-Star team.