Still, after enduring the smugness of Yankee fans (especially one copy editor, in particular), I can’t help but smile at some of the numbers. New York’s pitching staff, which was paid over $76.5 million this year (and that’s not even counting rookie relievers Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes) pitched a total of 36 and two-thirds innings over four games and gave up twenty-four runs (all earned) for a series ERA of 5.89. That payroll is higher than Cleveland’s entire roster. The Indians pitching staff, on the other hand, went 37 innings and only allowed 14 earned runs through the four games of the series. 

The starting lineup did not fare much better. With a combined annual salary upwards of $105 million, you might expect an All-Star caliber performance. I’m sure George Steinbrenner did. The starting nine went 28-128 in four games for a .219 average. They had 14 RBI and struck out 25 times. Presumed MVP (and highest-paid player in baseball) Alex Rodriguez went 4-15 in the series (livening up after a 0-6 start) for a .267 average with 1 RBI. He struck out six times. Derek Jeter went 3-17 (.176) with one RBI, striking out four times.

Robinson Cano, who pulls in less than half a million dollars (the second lowest salary of starting players), had the best performance of the series. He went 5-15 (.333) with three RBI and three runs scored. Johnny Damon had one great night in New York’s lone victory of the division series. He went 3-4 with 4 RBI, including a three-run homer, Sunday night, but only had two hits (2-13) and one RBI in the rest of the series.  

That figure of $105 million, by the way, is counting Doug Mientkiewicz, who started three of the four games but only had a total of six at bats, as their first baseman. If Jason Giambi’s $23.4 million salary had been factored in the total instead of Mientkiewicz’s chintzy $1.5 million paycheck, the payroll would exceed $125 million (or the complete payroll of every other major league team besides the Red Sox). For his part, Giambi went 1-4 in his one start and two pinch hits of the series.

Cleveland, on the other hand, has the twenty-third highest (or eighth lowest, if you will) payroll in the league. At $61,289,667, they spend less than the Kansas City Royals. That’s a little more than A-Rod and Roger the #### combined.  

As George Steinbrenner reminded us all this weekend, Joe Torre is the highest paid manager, as well. Apparently, with that salary comes great responsibility, and losing in the division series three straight years (after losing in the ALCS in 2004, the World Series in 2003 and in 2001-to expansion teams- and the Division Series in 2002) doesn’t cut it.

And, yes, I know that the Red Sox have the second highest payroll right behind the Yankees. Still, there is a smug superiority and mercenary attitude about the Yankees (and their fans) that makes this so, so fun to watch.