Pay-Rod and the Bankees

Before the Major League Baseball season started, the biggest story wasn't about who was going to win this year's World Series. The media and fans were all talking about steroids and the New York Yankees' limitless payroll. Now that we're approaching the halfway point of the schedule, looking back, should anyone have really cared about anything but their team's chances of winning a championship?

Is it OK that league-leading New York has the richest ever payroll at $185 million, and that Boston is the next highest way back at $125 million? Is it OK that the Yanks employ nine players at $10 million plus each and dish out six of the top-12 salaries in the league, including Alex "Pay-Rod" Rodriguez' at over $25 million? Is it OK that the Bankees now have invested in All-Stars or former All-Stars at every position except second base, and a total of 17?

Unless you are a New York fan, your answer is more than likely "no" to those last three questions. But look at Milwaukee's record (going into Wednesday night) of 36-31 with the lowest payroll in the league of $27.5 million. Also, Tampa Bay's entire roster earns $29 million, and the Devil Rays enjoyed a 12-game winning streak. So, low-paid teams can have successful seasons without winning titles.

That's the key to the situation. The Yankees can now only be successful if they win the World Series. If they do win, team salaries are out of control and should be limited. If New York doesn't win, like the last three years, most everyone forgets about the money in the end. If nothing else, owner George Steinbrenner because of his payroll is forced to give money to the league in the form of a luxury tax, which is appropriate considering he's already handing it out like he's playing a game of monopoly.

As far as the steroid situation is concerned, let's just say it is unlikely anyone will ever again hit 73 home runs in a season like Barry Bonds did in 2001. But the fact of the matter is using THG and anything else was permitted in Major League Baseball in the past. If anything, this is strictly a criminal matter since steroids are and were illegal at the time.

Moving on to the subject of baseball handicapping, personally I quit doing it a few years ago. My days are done studying starting pitchers and looking at teams' records against right or left-handers, in day games vs. night games, on artificial turf or grass, etc.

But a couple things will always hold true. Baseball will forever be a game of streaks, as it is better to stay away from a game than bet against a trend. Also, it is better to bet off the board than off of parlay cards because the payoffs are fairer and truer.

• A form of baseball I prefer to watch is the College World Series, which is set to begin its best-of-three championship round tomorrow at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

As expected, Texas won its bracket, sweeping past its weaker opponents. In the stronger bracket, the winner of yesterday's South Carolina-Cal-State Fullerton game was set to advance.

As of yesterday, my pre-tournament prediction of South Carolina over Texas was still alive, but if Fullerton moved on to the championship, it will be my new pick. For Texas, other than All-American and former Carson Capitol pitcher J.P. Howell, the favored Longhorns appear vulnerable.

Fullerton boasts starter Jason Windsor who had won 11 consecutive starts going into Thursday, giving up only one run in 32 innings during the NCAA tournament, including a 24-inning scoreless streak. Also for the Titans, who began the season 15-16, Ricky Romero looked good throwing a complete game against Miami-Florida. For South Carolina, other than its shutout loss to Windsor, the Gamecocks have been dominant.

• Another year has quickly gone by in the world of sports, and my next article will be at the beginning of the regular season in the National Football League. But there will still be plenty of action going on between now and September.

Bet the field at golf's British Open and PGA Championship where surprise winners often surface. Will handicappers be allowed to wager on the Olympics where so far the big stories are drug use and the United States' second-rate men's basketball team?

It won't be bettable, but watch cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong win his unprecedented sixth Tour de France, all in succession. Also in the meantime for lovers of fast, physical action, there's rugby and Australian Rules Football on the Fox Sports World channel.

Special thanks to Bob Hoffman and William A. Creekbaum for your e-mails, and sorry I couldn't get back to you in time.

So you all again in September.

Joe Ellison is the Nevada Appeal Betting Columnist. Contact him at editor@nevadaappeal.com.