[DesertCat]

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I don't understand the obsession centered around debating these baseball contracts, especially when most of the debating is between NYY and BOS fans. I realize that if I was, for example, a KC fan and the Royals made a deal like this, it would be a huge risk and could hinder their progress for an extended period of time...but I'm not. I'm a fan of the New York Yankees, a baseball team. I care about their performance on the field, and that's it. Alex Rodriguez is the best position player in the MLB, and he will (most likely) be playing on the team I root for. I can't complain. I know that acquiring A-Rod is in the baseball team's best interest because they are able to take the risk.

Sure, there is a huge uncertainty about the ability of A-Rod in 7-8 years. Are they overpaying him the last few years? Who knows?

I do know that the people involved with the A-Rod negotiations know SLIGHTLY more than us about the risk/reward in this deal. I also know that if they are willing to give this deal to A-Rod, then it's in their best interest. Whether their best interest is winning baseball games, profiting from the deal, or both, I doubt the Steinbrenner's would make a deal if they figured the probable outcome would set them back (baseball-wise or financially).

I laugh when a person comes on here trying to ridicule a deal because of what they have heard on ESPN.com. For example, people complaining about the length of the deal when you haven't even heard of other deals over 7 years? Maybe, just maybe, there are discussions between clubs that don't get reported.

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You are so totally correct. Why should anyone on a sports forum ever dare criticize the decisions of professional baseball employees? I mean those guys have all the facts we don't, and how can we speculate until all facts are public? I mean, the Cubs (known geniuses themselves) gave Soriano an 8 year deal at age 30 and time has clearly shown that contract to be a huge success. So giving A-Rod a 10 year deal at age 32 can only work out better.

And even if it was okay for people on this forum to speculate about some bad team's decisions, why would that give them the right to question the Yankees management that has won the last 7 world series by spending only $50M a year more than the next highest spending teams. Criticize teams like the Red Sox that always finish second and teams like the Marlins (whom I don't remember ever winning anything) who try to squeak by spending less than a quarter what the Yankees spend.

The decisions of Yankee's management are clearly brilliant and beyond criticism. Oh, where would they be without Giambi? Or Damon? Or Carl Pavano? It was Yankee brilliance that put Jeter at short and A-Rod at third in the first place, one of the greatest pairings of all time. Remember, no one ever thought A-Rod could handle third as well as Jeter handles shortstop and they proved everyone wrong.

Clearly the Yankees know all, and never, ever, make a mistake. And if anyone ever questions one of their decisions, please go ahead and out them as a "Yankee Hater", and as a closet Red Sox fan. No true yankee fan would ever speculate about, question, or criticize the team they love.

Oh, and please post more about how we shouldn't post more. I find it fascinating!