I hope you're not a betting man chico. In 2000, 2001, and 2002 they were less than $20 million apart. Infact, in 2001 I think they were $2.5 million apart, and both over $100 million in payroll. The Yankees got ******ed with spending thereafter. This year I think the Yanks are at $200 and the Sox at $160, with Philly somewhere in between with the Lee signing (the favorite to win it all for me btw). The bottom line though, is that to the rest of the league, or the vast majority of the league if you prefer, the Redsox (and Phillies) have become the Yankees. Few teams can make the mistakes, or sign the players that the Sox sign. So while they may not be tit for tat exact, they are one and the same to the majority of the league. Before teams had to worry about the Yanks signing multiple players to those monster deals. Not anymore. $142 million for Carl Crawford? Very good player, but a very absurd deal. Good for them though. If you have it, spend it. It sucks for the little guys, but like I say, in the end I root for the laundry....
I am a betting man, but nobody took me up on the bet.
ah, well, I was close, but no cigar. (but it's not $20mm or so, either)
I agree with the rest of what you said, though. Like I said initially in response, maybe there's been a structural shift, but the Yanks are still head and shoulders above the Sox and the rest of the top tier(s?) in spending.
I'm bored and need some coffee, so I'm taking a look at payroll figures from USA today, which are consistent with what you posted here. Sox are the only team in the top 5 besides the Yanks each of the past 5 years or so, but only once (I think) were they the #2 team. Mets and Angels and Tigers were in a few years, now the Phils as you point out.
Also, Yanks have been fairly consistent in their spending. What's changed is the other teams. As might be expected, more teams are spending more $. (I don't know where the soft cap has been each year -- that certainly could have something to do with where most other high-spending teams are.) If you went back 4 or 5 years, the gap was $70mm -- 200ish to 130ish -- a gap that then fit more than a dozen of the next highest teams. Now it's 30, a gap that only encompasses the next 3 or so highest.
Do the Sox have the same kind of advantage as the Yanks in terms of ability to take risks and weather mistakes? Without question.
the only think I take issue with is that the Yanks are still in a league of their in terms of their spending. This year the gap b/t them and the Sox is $41mm, last year it was $44. That's Sabathia and either Rivera or Teixeira, roughly speaking.
...Why post in a thread that annoys you, if you don't like the content?
So no answer to my question, it appears?
(In all seriousness, I have no problem with the content if it's an honest discussion.)