There are some things money can't buy...

Going into last weekend's three game series between Boston and New York, both teams were tied for 2nd in the AL East at 9-6 behind Toronto. After being swept, the Yankees now sit 4 games behind Toronto and a full game behind Boston for the number 2 spot in the East. If this disappointing trend keeps up, the Yanks will miss the playoffs for the second straight year, and of course - I love it.

How poorly managed is an organization that can't win with such a ridiculously high payroll? The Yankees have a total team salary of $201,449,189! To put this number in perspective, the Yankees payroll is $80 million more than the Red Sox that just swept them, and 2.5 times as much as the division leading Blue Jays. The Yanks have 6 players making more than the highest paid player for the Blue Jays! And yet... they still sit in third and in line to miss the playoffs yet again.

Hank Steinbrenner wanted so badly to win the World Series this year that he went out and spent $423.5 million to acquire CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. And what have those guys done so far this season? Teixeira is hitting a measly .218 with only 10 RBI, and Burnett and Sabathia have a combined ERA of 5.15 and headline a rotation that is ranked no better than 10th in the AL in all major categories. Contrary to what the Yankees organization seems to believe, money can't actually buy you more wins...

Finally, what is perhaps the icing on the cake - the Yankees brand new $1.5 billion stadium that is averaging an attendance of only 85% of capacity, which is approximately 8000 fans less than last year. Adding all of these numbers up shows that the Yankees organization spent about $2 billion for three new players and a new stadium only to end up with less fans and a win total that lands them exactly where they finished last year - out of the playoffs.

Apparently there are some things money just can't buy.