Get ready to feel sad, here's - Hank Steinbrenner!

[Ganja Ninja]

Steinbrenner rants on revenue sharing, Torre

BY KAT O'BRIEN | [e-mail]

September 24, 2008

TORONTO - Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner, who attended just three games at Yankee Stadium this year, criticized the current playoff system in the latest issue of The Sporting News, and had some other interesting thoughts, as well. Steinbrenner writes a guest column for the magazine.

Among the highlights: :cry:

On revenue sharing: :cry:"That's a system I don't particularly like. It's a socialist system, and I don't agree with it."

On the division setup: :cry:"The biggest problem is the divisional setup in Major League Baseball. I didn't like it in the 1970s, and I hate it now. Baseball went to a multidivision setup to create more races, rivalries and excitement. But it isn't fair."

On Joe Torre: :cry:"I'm happy for Joe, but you have to compare the divisions and the competition. What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers, but the Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No."

:cry: It's all so sad isn't it?

[wilt the stilt]

1. get a feakin job on your own

right up there with W. losers who couldn't make it on their own

[Captain Hilts]

2. Boo fuckin' hoo. The Yanks, Mets, Sox, Braves and Cubs SHOULD share revenue.

It's NOT supposed to be a free market fuckhead, it's supposed to be COMPETITIVE.

MLB is still not competetive enough.

MookieWilson, Mets fan, obviously

[trotsky]

3. OK, so...

Revenue sharing, which makes all teams more competitive and the sport overall more interesting, is "socialist."

The divisional system, which makes sure the two AL powerhouses (i.e., bullies their own size) beat the snot out of each other throughout the season, "isn't fair."

Call the waaaaahmbulance!

[nickgutierrez]

4. In his own blubbering, blustery way, Hank almost has a point re: divisions

Next year, the AL East could very well have four of the league's top eight teams: Rays, Yanks, Sox, and Blue Jays. The National League, on the other hand, has one, maybe two legitimate playoff teams - the Cubs, definitely, maybe the Phils or the Mets, but not both. But, you can't do away with the divisional system, because there's nothing that makes the last month of the season interesting without it.

To draw a comparison with European soccer, the thing that makes their latter months interesting even among the teams with no shot at the title is the relegation battle at the bottom of the table, and the battle for the top four and top eight spots, which earns them a spot in the Champions League and UEFA Cup competitions. There's nothing like that in MLB, so even if this is somewhat manufactured, it has to be there.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. I'm sure Hank would love to push the Rays into another division.

He didn't mind when they were the Yankees doormat but now the whole system seems so unfair.

[cboy4]

6. hahaha

[erpowers]

7. Has A Point

In terms of team making the playoffs Hank Steinbrenner has a point. Even though their is nothing that can be done against it it is still crazy that teams that barely have a winning record can get into the playoffs because they are in a weak division while another team can win a pretty good amount of games and still miss the playoffs because their division is so hard.

[cboy4]

8. Yea and it's crazy that a sub .500 Atlanta Hawks team

can make it into the playoffs in the so-called easy East, when my 14 or whatever over .500 Warriors get aced out in the West.

But that's the way it goes in sports.

And there's no crying.