Or Tampa Bay to win the A.L. East?
Anybody but the Yankees.
At the start of this season that Red Sox fans can't wait to put behind them, the Yankees had the highest payroll in baseball -- almost $198 million.
The Red Sox were third, at $173.2 million, just behind the Phillies, at $174.5.
Which shows once again that money doesn't always buy happiness. Or a playoff berth.
The Orioles' payroll was less than half that of the spendthrift Yanks and Sox, coming in at $81.4 million.
And the Rays' was even lower -- a mere $64.2 million.
The Orioles haven't played in the postseason since 1997.
Don't hold it against them that they put an end to Boston's playoff hopes last season.
You can blame that on Josh Beckett, who lost twice to Baltimore in the final week.
Not that he was the only one at fault for last September's colossal collapse, but those two setbacks were critical.
Wouldn't it be great to see the O's and Rays in the playoffs, while the fat-cat Yanks and Sox find themselves on the outside, looking in?
Speaking of the Sox, wonder how many New Englanders will be staying up late Tuesday night to see if Jon Lester can put an end to Boston's 0-for-the-West Coast, 7-game losing streak?
Not exactly "must-see TV."
--prov. journal
Anybody but the Yankees.
At the start of this season that Red Sox fans can't wait to put behind them, the Yankees had the highest payroll in baseball -- almost $198 million.
The Red Sox were third, at $173.2 million, just behind the Phillies, at $174.5.
Which shows once again that money doesn't always buy happiness. Or a playoff berth.
The Orioles' payroll was less than half that of the spendthrift Yanks and Sox, coming in at $81.4 million.
And the Rays' was even lower -- a mere $64.2 million.
The Orioles haven't played in the postseason since 1997.
Don't hold it against them that they put an end to Boston's playoff hopes last season.
You can blame that on Josh Beckett, who lost twice to Baltimore in the final week.
Not that he was the only one at fault for last September's colossal collapse, but those two setbacks were critical.
Wouldn't it be great to see the O's and Rays in the playoffs, while the fat-cat Yanks and Sox find themselves on the outside, looking in?
Speaking of the Sox, wonder how many New Englanders will be staying up late Tuesday night to see if Jon Lester can put an end to Boston's 0-for-the-West Coast, 7-game losing streak?
Not exactly "must-see TV."
--prov. journal
