MLB Baseball: New York Yankees

First C.C. Sabathia. Then A.J. Burnett. And now Mark Teixeira?!

It seems that the Yankees are serious this year about contending. But does spending so much money necessarily mean success? Look at the Rays, for example; they got to the World Series, but only spent $43 million, while the Yankees spent $207 million and did not make the playoffs. Let us break it down:

Starting Pitching: With the additions of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and possibly another pitcher such as Andy Pettitte, their rotation may be the best in the MLB, because it already features Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain.

Bullpen: With a bullpen anchored by lefty Damaso Marte and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees are sitting pretty. Despite the injuries to some of their relievers, last year the Yankees' bullpen was still relatively consistent throughout the year.

Batting Lineup: Obviously, one could never ask for a lineup that is as star-laden as the Yankees' lineup. You would have Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, and Jorge Posada, just to name a few players.

The Verdict: As you can see from three of the main parts to a successful MLB team, the Yankees are strong in each area. Their collapse last year was mainly due to injuries and lackluster performances from their younger players. Therefore, I believe that the Yankees will be successful and win the World Series this year and in the years after. This can be more easily accomplished if their players stay healthy and perform well. Well, I guess that is a very popular hope around the league.

Again, Good Luck to the Yankees and All Their Players Next Year and Forever!

MLB Baseball: CC Sabathia

The biggest free agent signing so far this 2009 MLB Free Agency is obviously of CC Sabathia becoming a Yankee. He was signed to a 7-year $161 million deal, which means he earns $23 million a year. That puts him slightly ahead of Johan Santana's then-record deal, making him the highest paid pitcher in the MLB! But, is CC Sabathia is worth $23 million a year? Well, let's see:

Age: Sabathia is 28 now, and at the end of his contract, he will be 35 years old.

Achievements: Sabathia won the 2007 AL Cy Young award with a record of 19-7 and a 3.21 ERA.

Statistics: After a slow start in 2008 with the Indians, he pitched 11-2 and posted a 1.65 ERA with the Brewers to end the season with 17 wins,10 losses, a 2.70 ERA, 251 strikeouts, and 253 innings pitched.

Other Facts: Sabathia is a classic power pitcher with his fastball, and slider/cutter. He throws with extreme control. CC Sabbathia has pitched a total of more than 500 innings in the past 2 years. It may seem like a lot, so it also shows how healthy Sabathia is and how he can still pitch while under pressure like at the end of the 2008 season.

The Verdict: With his past achievements and durability, Sabathia has shown that he is an extremely reliable pitcher and can put up big numbers. His stats put him up with the best in the league, and his great personality is another major plus. If you want quality, you have to pay for it, right? But, is CC really worth $23 million for 7 years? Yes, I think he is worth the money.

Good Luck to CC Sabathia and the Yankees in 2009 and Forever!