Yanks-Sox can't buy a ring

By Brian Betz

This just in: There are, in fact, 28 other teams in professional baseball.

Due to the recent Alex Rodriguez-Alfonso Soriano trade, the offseason competition between the Yankees and Red Sox has reached an all-time high. The two teams will enter the 2004 season No. 1 and No. 2 in payroll with the most talented rosters money can buy.

The thing is, I don't care. Though many find it compelling how the two bitter rivals have tried to one-up each other in landing the top talent available in this frenzy of an offseason, it seems as though we should skip to an ALCS match-up of the two teams and crown the winner of that series World Champs.

Call me crazy, but I'd be surprised if either team wins the World Series this year.

On paper, the Yanks will have an all-star at nearly every position and the Red Sox will have a fearsome starting rotation coupled with an offense that led the AL in batting average last season. Both teams should easily win 90 games and coast into the postseasonâ€"one as Eastern Division champs and the other with the AL Wild Card.

But when the playoffs roll around and the slate is cleaned, it's essentially a new season. Just like the past two seasons when the Angels and Marlins snuck into the playoffs with the Wild Card and won the World Series.

For now though, the 28 teams that won't be members of the $125 million-plus payroll club this season are all apparently playing for second place.

The truth is, teams like the Marlins, Athletics, Royals and Twins will assuredly put out quality ball clubs for a fraction of the money it takes the Yankees or Red Sox. And if those teams face the likes of, say, the Yankees, in the playoffs, it won't be because of an A-Rod home run or a Kevin Brown strikeout. It would be because of the unlikeliest of heroes (see Jim Leyritz or Aaron Boone).

But for now, it's unfortunate that all of us who aren't Red Sox or Yankees fans have to endure hearing which superstar is the new flavor of the week up in Boston or New York.

If this offseason has taught me anything, it's that I have every reason to support a low-payroll team if it'll prove that money won't buy a World Series ring.

Then we'll all get to sit around this time next year to see George Steinbrenner and John Henry open up their wallets once again.

û Contact Brian Betz at (408) 554-4852 or bbetz@scu.edu.