[Phantom Lord]

Both clubs are in the playoffs because the fans demand good product and are willing to pay for it.

Or is it that the owners are willing to pay for it, and in the case of the Yankees, pay huge fines to violate the salary cap.

How do ticket prices for a Yankees or Red Soxs game compare to other teams?

[Huck]

Or is it that the owners are willing to pay for it, and in the case of the Yankees, pay huge fines to violate the salary cap.

Holy ignorant statement, batman. There is no salary cap in baseball. There is a luxury tax for teams with payrolls above a certain threshold. So, if you are a successful, profitable franchise, it's just part of the cost of doing business. It's not a fine and it's not a violation of anything.

Second, the people who pay for tix/merch understand that that money goes to pay for the talent on the field. Ticket prices for Yanks or Sox compares to other teams the same way the price of filet mignon compares to the price of dog food, and for the same reason.

[misterrob]

There is a luxury tax, not a salary cap. If they are willing to pay it then that’s up to them.

By the way, The Red Sox and Yankees kicked in about 60% of the welfare payments that MLB uses to balance out franchises in smaller markets. Clubs like the Marlins, Rays and Pirates take that welfare and put in their pockets while keeping their payrolls lower than low.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2424797&univLogin02=stateChanged

[Vio24]

What does it matter? The Yankees drew over FOUR MILLION fans each of the past 2 years. Their seasons tickets are sold out for the next 20 years and they are, by far the most successful sports franchise in history.

People hate the Yankees for one reason, because they win more then any other team. It’s jealousy pure and simple.