Werth made about $3 million this season. In any other business, this kind of discrepancy would drive the better-performing, lesser-paid employee nuts.
And you, Jayson?
"Honestly, I don't sit around and think about what other people are making," he said. "It's probably the last thing on my mind. What we do think about is doing the little things right to win ballgames. Playing right. Playing hard. Playing the type of game we've been playing all summer."
Once, and it was not that long ago, the Yankees were used as a reason why the Phillies would never win it all. This Yankee made that much, that one made that much. They signed this free agent for all those millions and when he didn't pan out, they signed that one for even more money. They sent scouts to Japan, to Panama, to Guatemala, to Venezuela. They set up baseball academies.
The five highest baseball salaries of all time belong to Yankee players. This season, the Yankees' payroll was around $208 million, tops (by far) in the major leagues. Again.
According to ESPN, the Phillies spent $111 million, eighth in the majors in spending.
In the George Steinbrenner era, the Yankees' greatest strength has been this: They cover their bets. They cover their mistakes. And cover and cover and cover and, well, you get the idea.
The Phillies? Once upon a time they signed David Bell to that whopping $3 million a year contract, and they would not even entertain the idea of sitting him on the bench so they could move Placido Polanco to third and give that kid, Chase Whatshisname, a chance to see what he could do at second.
And that Ryan Howard? Well, if Pittsburgh were willing to part with Oliver Perez, Jim
Thome might have retired here.
