The Yankee Model

Spend big and aim high- that could be the Yankee model and now a lot more teams seem to be joining the Yankees_ this off season: Toronto and Baltimore in particular. The Red Sox belong in a different club- they are just Yankee haters and we'll deal with them later. Baltimore has been a true Yankee rival in the AL East. They dominated the Yankees during several periods and have given us some great clubs: Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray, Boog, Belanger, F.Robinson, B. Robinson, Palmer, Dobson(RIP), Steve Stone. Now they have added a bullpen (Wright, Baez added to Ray) and a number 5 starter(Jaret Wright) and they will finally stop losing all of their games to Boston. They could hit and score but couldn't hold a lead. Toronto adding Barajas, and Frank Thomas has equaled Boston on offense and exceeds them in the relief pitching. Last year Toronto finished 2nd ahead of Boston and this year they want the playoffs which means finishing ahead of Boston and NY and they are now poised to do it if they can add another starter and a reliever. Frank Thomas with Wells behind him can have another 40 HR 100 rbi year even assuming he only plays 120 games or so. The Red Sox will have to do more than block the Yankees. They have improved their rotation but now will be under pressure to improve hitting, defense, and bullpen because not just the Yankees but the whole AL East and AL Central will be loaded next season.