I hate the Yankees

Growing up in New Castle, the population was split between cheering for the Indians and the Pirates. I was in the former group, but I did like the Pirates. The arch enemy of the Indians were the Yankees, and I hated them, not just because they were always good but because they always beat the Indians.

So it is with some satisfaction that I have watched the Yankees and their $200 million payroll play like a mediocre team over the past few years. Their payroll drags up salaries for every player in the league.

The Yankees are old, slow and will be out of the playoffs again this year. One of their best players, Alex Roid-riguez, admitted to cheating and now is rehabbing an injury. But his presence in the lineup won't change the Yankees' fortunes. Their pitching stinks and defense is mediocre. Does Johnny Damon even have an arm connected to his shoulder to throw the ball.

They can't build a new stadium right. Their right-field fence is of Pony League dimensions, thanks to unexpected wind pattersn that their engineers did not take into account. But hey, they only spent $1.5 billion,

New York fans are not thrilled with the new edifice, leaving thousands of the best seats empty because of how expensive they are. On Friday night, they lost to the hated Red Sox, an organization that is far and away more intelligent than the Yankees.

It's so much fun watching that.