Two weeks ago, ESPN reported that the New York Yankees will pay $123 million a year for their 2009 starting lineup. This does not include the cost of pitching.

That's more than all but three teams pay for their 25-person roster. I'm reluctant to term the roster as being composed of all men because I don't know if time + steroids + chewing tobacco alter a man's gender.

The "Yankees have now spent far more money this off-season than the other 29 major league teams combined. For those keeping score, it is $423.5 million to $296.6 million," according to The New York Times.

This type of reckless spending in a court room or the back rooms of a legislature would evoke calls for salary caps or a budget freeze.

Free marketers will laud the efficacy of the market place and leave out the subsidies supplied by states, cities and municipalities (often at gunpoint) to build new stadiums.

These bailouts occur with more frequency than this nation rebuilds the streets, bridges and highway that lead to these steroid palaces.

Entertainers and professional athletes are the elite wage earners, but beyond that glitter and glamour, most of us labor and toil in the actual marketplace. You know, salt-of-the-earth Joe the Plumber guys like the governor, Dan Surra and David Rubin.

In Pennsylvania, we're a lot like the Yankees. We throw around Walk Around Money, perks, pensions, and enter into contracts with no guaranteed results.

I'm proposing the Yankees play a slow-pitch exhibition game against a "Play for Pay" team fielded by Ed Rendell. The game can be played at any Taxpayers' Park in Priority, Pa.

Proceeds will benefit the National Sports Hall of Fame on Harrisburg's City Island.

Two free drinks are in play, and urine testing is not required for Republicans.

Team Rendell also will be wearing "pin stripes," but will not scratch their crotch because they're a class act.

I've picked the team for the governor based on campaign contributions and "contracts." The lineup is an alphabetical order so as not insult the "patrons" from the "sponsors" from the rental "friends."

The lineup will be announced on Wednesday.

Eric Epstein is a watchdog and advocate for consumers, good government and safe energy. For more about Epstein, click here.

Thanks for your input. Current data on taxpayer dollars spent for Pa stadium subsides can be found at the Commonwealth Foundation site:
http://www.theboxprogram.com/

The amount for the Yankees lineup presumes the following lineup:
LF
Johnny Damon
SS
Derek Jeter
3B
Alex Rodriguez
1B
Mark Teixeira
C
Jorge Posada
DH
Hideki Matsui
RF
Xavier Nady
2B
Robinson Cano
CF
Brett Gardner

If you have better or new information please supply it.

Of course this amount doesn’t factor pitching. For example, Mr. Sabathia was lured to pitch in NYC for a $160 million over seven years.

The Yanks are moving into a new $1.6 billion ballpark. The most expensive sports complex in American history had a little help from New York State and New York City which contributed “$400 million in the form of land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and tax breaks...” http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/10/news/newsmakers/yankees_stadium.fortune/index.htm

Although the Yankees will not be paying rent to NYC, they were forced to raise the price of tickets and will charge $500 to $2,500 for seats near home plate. “The Yanks have lease commitments for 29 of 47 luxury suites in the new ballpark at prices from $600,000 and $850,000, and will have a 74-seat Club Suite priced at $700 per ticket, food (but not alcohol) included.” http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3305979

Again if this data is incorrect, please supply correct and updated information.

Thanks,
Eric