Deal with the Devil

The Yankees boast a team payroll of $208, 097, 414. This obviously being the highest payroll in professional baseball. The second highest? The prize goes to the New York Mets at roughly $145 million. The difference is an astounding $63 million. Lets repeat that number. $208, 097, 414. This number being higher than the GDP of the island nations of Palau, Sao Tome and Principe, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati. Their highest paid player, Alex Rodriguez, boasts a salary equal to that of the Pittsburgh Pirates team payroll. And yet this franchise is making its first World Series appearance since 2003, when the Yankees lost in 7 games to the Florida Marlins.

Much has been made of the Yankees' bloated payroll, but the consequences are clear. The New York Yankees have sold their soul to the devil for a championship. They have officially given a new definition of the concept of "buying a championship". But the Yankees will not win the 2009 World Series, currently being played. Not saying this is a bad team. That couldn't be further than the truth, but there are numerous indications pointing to an imminent defeat.

1) The Yankees lost Game 1 at home.

Not only did they lose at home, but they lost in convincing fashion (6-1). Since 1903, Game 1 winners have gone on to win the World Series at a 62% clip. The 2001 and 2003 Yankees also lost Game 1 in the World Series. Luis Gonzalez and Josh Beckett anyone?

2) Now A.J. Burnett starts Game 2. He of the 4.42 ERA in the playoffs with no decisions. The Yankees could easily fall into a 2-0 hole, requiring them to win at least 2 of the 3 games in Philadelphia to bring the series back to the Bronx.

3) And Cliff Lee is too good. To put it more eloquently, Cliff Lee has gone 4-0 with a .54 ERA in 4 post season starts. He will likely be the Game 4 starter, and the Game 7 starter if necessary. Bad news for the Bronx Bombers.

4) Then even if the Yankees get a lead going into the later innings, they give the ball to Phil Hughes in the 8th. Hughes was great in the regular season as Mariano Rivera's setup man, going 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 96 Ks in 86 innings pitched. His playoff numbers: 0-1, 9.64 ERA, with batters hitting .391 against him.

5) And once they get to Philly? No DH in Philadelphia. Not only will the Yankees enter arguably the most hostile environment in MLB, but they will lose the DH. Here we go Joe Girardi, lets see those managerial skills.

6) Most of all the Yankees need their best player, A-Rod, to produce. Alex Rodriguez has had a tremendous post season (.389, 5 HR, 12 RBI), but went 0/4 with 3 Ks in Game 1. With a choke job in the World Series, his label of playoff bust will stay firmly affixed.

7) Oh by the way, the Phillies are the defending champs. Not the Yankees. Reason being the Phillies are good. Damn good. Much better than Minnesota and Los Angelos at least.

But who knows? The Yankees could win the World Series, easily even. But New York made a deal with devil, and he has come to collect his due.