A-Rod makes more than Marlins - all of them

Yes it's true. According to an Associated Press study of Opening Day rosters and salary figures, A-Rod out earns the Florida Marlins - $28 million to $21.8 million. Those of us who know the distaste of watching CC Sabathia make what was likely his last Opening Day start for the Tribe, and give up a pair of two-run homers to a former Tribe fan favorite who fled for the last dollar, can relate to this A-Rod story. Even A-Rod finds it a little hard to believe, as he told the AP: "The Marlins? It's amazing. And they still seem to find a way to be very competitive. They have a great pool of talent; they made some unbelievable trades, so they have great personnel people. To win two championships in 11 years, that's really admirable, and I'm very proud of that organization, being from Miami." The sincerity is touching A-Rod. As some accountant in a back office at Yankee Stadium crunches the numbers on the likely off-season offer to CC, here's another amazing stat, again as reported by the AP: "My best friend came into town, and he mentioned something about Johan Santana making $15 million more than our five starters combined," Marlins catcher Matt Treanor said. "It's something to laugh at, but at the same time, it is what it is. Those guys put on the uniform like us. When it comes time to start the game, it doesn't matter how much money the Yankees or whoever make." Well, yes and no. There are those who say front-office brain power is more important to building a winner than money. Many Cleveland fans subscribe to that theory. It's what keeps them going. Oddly enough, Yankeee GM Brian Cashman told the AP he feels there's something to that theory. "(The Marlins) have won a championship more recently than we have as an organization. So there's many different ways to skin a cat." All of this is true. But the best that those of us who follow low- to middle-budget teams can hope for is a four- or five-year window before it all gets torn down again. At 51, I don't know how many four- or five-year windows, followed by four- or five-year rebuilding plans I have left. Go Tribe! Please!!