I don't understand the fascination with young mediocre players.

"The next couple of years promise to be challenging for the Yankees. The American League East is no longer the Yanks, Red Sox and everyone else.

Baltimore served notice a year ago, winning 90-plus games and advancing to the postseason for the first time since 1997. Tampa Bay has won at least 90 games in four of the last five years, making the playoffs three times. And Toronto was the mover and shaker in baseball's offseason, becoming a popular pick to end its 19-year postseason drought."

Since 2005, the Yankees/Red Sox have topped the AL East one time. This is old news.


"All of that is happening at a time when the Yankees are in a bit of an identity crisis of their own. The club is committed to making adjustments with payroll to avoid the 50 percent luxury tax that will be assessed on payrolls in excess of $189 million in 2014."

We'll see.


"There also is a caveat for big spenders: those who remain under the luxury tax threshold will receive a rebate on money they pay into revenue sharing. Keeping their payroll in line could mean up to $50 million to the Yanks."

I don't understand what this means. There is no upper bound on the amount of money the Yankees could save if they decide not to spend it.


"They have been successful on the field, advancing to the postseason in 17 of the last 18 years, and have won five of their record 27 World Series championships."

Also, they have been successful off the field.

"That success, however, has come at a cost."

Doesn't it always?


"In addition to outspending the rest of baseball, the Yankees have had a win-today, worry-about-tomorrow-later mentality that has not put a lot of value on Draft choices and bringing along homegrown players.

The Yankees' penchant for spending on free agents has impacted the Drafts. They lost their second-round pick in 2006, their first-, second- and third-round selections in '09 and their first-round pick in 2011."

They get bad draft picks because they usually win their division. Strasburg and Harper were off the board.


"Think about it: Since December 2007, they have traded homegrown talent that included right-handed pitchers Tyler Clippard, Ian Kennedy, George Kontos, Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen; left-handed relievers Phil Coke and Mike Dunn; outfielders Austin Jackson, Melky Cabrera and Jose Tabata; catcher Jesus Montero; and infielder Jimmy Paredes. They also released right-hander Mark Melancon after one year in their Minor League system.

What do they have to show for those trades on their current 40-man roster? Outfielders Curtis Granderson and Ichiro, left-handed reliever Boone Logan, right-handed pitcher Michael Pineda and backup catcher Chris Stewart."

They traded junk and got two good players in return ... maybe three if Pineda gets healthy.


"It is a challenge unlike any the Yankees have faced since George Steinbrenner purchased the franchise in 1973."

Tell that to Bucky Dent, the Cap'n of the Alvaro Espinoza Era.