Money Won't Buy Happiness, or World Series Rings

Money won't buy happiness, and it won't buy a World Series ring either. Look no further than the New York Yankees for proof that having the highest payroll in baseball won't win championships. The Yankees have had the highest payroll in major leagues every year since 2000 without any rings on their fingers. In fact, each year the Yankees have spent more money in comparison to the rest of the Majors despite the lack of World Series success.

Now, of course the Yankees aren't losing money. They do have one of the most profitable teams in baseball, but why doesn't the money translate into winning if the best players make the most money?

There are several reasons why buying a team doesn't work. For starters the highest paid players may be proven winners, but they also have been around the block and are usually over 30 years old. The overall age of most teams with high payrolls means these teams suffer more injury and fatigue than younger teams. By the end of the season when the playoffs come, many aged veterans, especially pitchers, just don't have anything left in the tank.

High paid players come with big egos. I feel for Joe Torre. He has to keep harmony on a team of superstars. Many of the teams that have won the World Series recently may lack the star power of the Yankees, but they also lack the egos that can get in the way of team chemistry.

When do players play best? Can you say contract year? Most large market teams have players that are signed to big multi-year deals. Most of the players have more money than they know what to do with and some seem to lose the hunger for the game when the money rolls in. Younger players with smaller salaries are few and far between on these high payroll teams. These types of players bring the hunger to the park every game and provide the spark and energy that lifts the smaller market teams over the payroll juggernauts.

Fans of small market teams need to stop crying that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets are buying Championships. With only one championship between them in the last six years, the facts show that it isn't the case.