It's always about the Yankees and don't you forget it.

In a city of 10 million people, you probably could not find one Yankee fan who wants to see the Yankees play in the WBC. In fact, you might not be able to find one person who knows what the WBC is.

It's always about the Yankees. Murray Chass thinks that's a bad thing:

"Any time the Yankees are involved in a joint venture, they take a position most advantageous to themselves, often at the expense of others."

Yes, of course.


"Not so easily resolved is the problem posed by the Yankees, the only team that didn't vote for the Classic. From the start, George Steinbrenner didn't want his players in the tournament. If the Yankees were to be believed, all of their candidates for the tournament were injured."

Yes, of course. Chass's next article is going to be a rundown of pending Yankee DL disasters.


"Steinbrenner was once active in the American Olympic movement, but in his view, the March Classic will not benefit the Yankees. What's in it for them? An increase in international interest in baseball? An increase in international marketing revenue for baseball?"

Nothing, no, and no.

Nobody cares about the WBC.


"The Yankees, Steinbrenner would say if he were willing to speak publicly, do well enough on their own, generating revenue for themselves."

Right, and Steinbrenner would be 100% correct.

The Yankees obviously have little to gain. They're already worth $1 Billion with a B. It's why you're not writing an article about Damon Hollins. It's why you're not writing for the Kansas City Star-Tribune.

Murray Chass is writing about the Biggest Team in the Biggest Paper in the Biggest City. You'd think he'd understand. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. The city that never sleeps. I'll take Manhattan the Bronx and Staten Island, too. I recall Central Park in fall I tore my dress what a mess I confess.

This esteemed journalistic position does not prevent Chass from the following display of childlike pettiness:

"In this new era of international play, it seems that if Steinbrenner objects to his players competing for their countries, he could change his style. Let other teams sign players from Japan, Taiwan and Panama. And for good measure, let other teams sign the best free agents and do not trade for All-Star players."

For the record, George Steinbrenner "lets" other teams sign players from foreign countries and he also "lets" other teams sign the "best free agents". (What's a "best free agent," anyway? Does Josh Beckett qualify as a "best free agent"?)

But even if Chass objects in principle to the Yankee methodology, I fail to see what the WBC has to do with anything.

Is Chass really claiming that Steinbrenner should graciously trade Hideki Matsui to the Mariners because the Mariners would allow Matsui to play in the World Baseball Championship?

Is he serious? Is there a logical point in there somewhere? Out of the goodness of his heart, Steinbrenner should strive to make the Yankees a more mediocre team?

Steinbrenner's style, thank goodness, is to always put the Yankees first. That's why he tries to sign the best free agents. That's why he tries to trade for all-stars. That's also why he doesn't want his $100 million investments to risk injury while playing for a booby prize.