A lot of people are chortling because former Rays cover boy Scott Kazmir contributed to the Angels' 5-2 loss in the final game of the ALCS against the Yankees.  I don't share their glee.  The Angels got into the playoffs because they went out and added to their roster -- Kazmir pitched well for them down the stretch -- while the Rays didn't do enough to improve.  Gregg Zaun was a nice addition, but he wasn't a game changer like Cliff Lee, who was swiped from the Indians by the Philadelphia Phillies.  The Phils also signed Pedro Martinez in a risky move that seems to have paid off.  Pedro won an important game for the Phils during the playoffs.  Look for Pedro to pitch against the Yankees in the series.

     The Yankees are in the World Series in part because George Steinbrenner no longer is making his hair-brained personnel decisions over the objections of Brian Cashman.  The Yanks are still spending the same extravagant amount of money, but in the post-George era they are getting quality players for their money.  From the point of view of a Rays fan, I hate to think what the Yanks' $400 million a year advantage from the profits of the YES Network will bring.  A trade for Roy Halladay next year?  The acquisition of Zack Greinke after he becomes a free agent?  There's talk John Lackey, who is a horse of a pitcher, wants $20 million a year.  What if the Yankees end up with a starting rotation of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Halladay, Geinke, and Lackey?  What if the Yankees win 140 games in a season?  Will there be an outcry?  Will anybody listen or care?

         I remember when researching Dynasty, my book about the Yankees during the Casey Stengel era, fans from around the country screamed bloody murder about the Yankees' buying pennants.  In the 1950s the Yankees one year bought Johnny Mize from the Giants, another year Enos Slaughter from the Cards, and another year Jim Konstanty from the Phils.  Later the Yankees developed a very cosy relationship with the Kansas City A's. stealing their best players like Roger Maris, Clete Boyer, and Ryne Duren in exchange for second-stringers.  The baseball world howled then.  But that howling won't be anything compared to the howling that will arise once everyone sees how wisely the Yankees are spending their many millions.  As long as the Yankees paid millions for washed up players like Steve Trout, John Mayberry, and Dave Collins few complained.  How many millions were given to Carl Pavano for only a handful of wins?   But those days are over.  With the addition of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixiera, the Yankees demonstrated that dollars can turn into wins.  Look out, American League.  This could really get ugly.