Sport » youre still watching the big guys playing," Bethancourt s

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Zack Greinke and the Los Angeles Dodgers have knocked Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees off baseballs payroll perch, part of an off-season spending spree that has the average salary approaching $4 million for the first time. The Dodgers are ending the Yankees 15-year streak as baseballs biggest spenders and as of Tuesday had a projected payroll of $235 million, according to study of all major league contracts by The Associated Press. New York, which last failed to top the payroll rankings in 1998, was a distant second at $203 million. After that, it was another huge gap to Philadelphia at $180 million, followed by Boston at $163 million and Detroit at $162 million. Houston is last at $45 million, up from $27 million at the start of last year, and Miami at $48 million remains 29th. Some large-market teams are among the smaller spenders, with the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs projected at $89 million, ranked 22nd and 23rd. Rodriguez, who holds the record for the largest deal in baseball history at $275 million over 10 years, is suspended for the season for violations of baseballs drug agreement and labour contract. Because of the ban, he will earn only $2,868,852 of his $25 million salary — 21 days pay for the 183-day season. Greinke would have become the highest-paid player, even if Rodriguez was getting all his cash. The pitcher has a $24 million salary in the second season of his $147 million, six-year contract, and because he can opt out of the deal after the 2015 season, baseballs accounting rules call for his $12 million signing bonus to be prorated over the first three seasons. "Weve got great ownership and a great fan base, and we need to do what we can to win games," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said last week in Sydney, where Los Angeles swept its opening, two-game series against Arizona. "I dont think the guys worry about it. I know we dont worry about it," Colletti said. "Were expected to win, and thats how we go about it. Money doesnt mean you win. Money just means you have a chance to get the best players." As of Tuesday, the average salary projected to be between $3.95 million and $4 million, with the final figure depending on how many players are put on the disabled list by the time opening-day rosters are finalized at 3 p.m. Sunday. That translates to a rise of 8 to 10 per cent from last years opening average of $3.65 million and would be the largest increase since 2006 or possibly even 2001. "Im not surprised. With the type of revenues clubs are enjoying these days, the average salaries are going to go up," New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. Illustrating the rate of escalation, the opening-day average was $1.07 million when Derek Jeter first reached the major leagues in 1995, broke the $2 million mark in 2001 and spurted past $3 million in 2008. "I think its great. I think it just shows the game is growing, fan interest is there," said Jeter, the Yankees captain who is retiring at the end of this season. "The business of baseball seems like its booming pretty good right now." The average U.S. wage in 2012 was $42,498, according to the Social Security Administration, the latest figure available and an annual increase of 3.12 per cent. Following Greinke on the highest-paid list are Philadelphias Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee at $25 million, the Yankees CC Sabathia at $24.3 million, and Seattles Robinson Cano and Texas Prince Fielder at $24 million each. The APs figures include salaries and prorated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income for players on active rosters, disabled lists and the restricted list. For some players, parts of deferred money are discounted to reflect current values. Payroll figures factor in adjustments for cash transactions in trades, signing bonuses that are the responsibility of the club agreeing to the contract, option buyouts, and termination pay for released players. For instance, the Yankees are receiving $18.6 million from the Los Angeles Angels to cover most of the $21 million due to outfielder Vernon Wells, who has been released, and $13 million from the Chicago Cubs to pay most of the $18 million owed outfielder Alfonso Soriano. The Mets payroll include buyouts to Johan Santana ($4.9 million present value) and Jason Bay ($2.7 million present value). ___ AP Sports Writer Dennis Passa and AP freelance writers Mark Didtler and Jon Santucci contributed to this report. Cheap Kenny Lofton Jersey . -- Canadian ski cross star Marielle Thompson accomplished two goals in one race Saturday. Cheap Eddie Robinson Jersey . Johnny Manziel, college footballs most entertaining player with the reputation for pulling off magical plays, was selected with the No. http://www.cheapindiansjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-bob-feller-jersey . As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature. Cheap Satchel Paige Jersey . Fellow Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain also had a brace for Napoli. And Samuel Etoo scored for his fourth different team. On a night of standout individual performances Wednesday, Schalke goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand had a game hell want to forget. Cheap Indians Jerseys .com) - Will Conant booted a 39-yard field goal as time expired and Air Force played spoiler with a 27-24 win over 21st- ranked Colorado State on Friday.ATLANTA -- Christian Bethancourt paid close attention to the Braves hitting woes, even when he was with Triple-A Gwinnett. One day after his recall from the minors, the rookie catcher played a big role in helping the Braves break out of their slump. Bethancourt had three hits in his return to the major leagues, including a fifth-inning single that drove in the go-ahead run in Atlantas 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. "When youre at Triple-A, youre still watching the big guys playing," Bethancourt said. "You follow the numbers, and youre watching every single game. You know the next day, the next hour, youre probably with the big league team and you have to be aware of whats going on." B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer in a three-run second as the Braves ended a 25-inning scoreless streak. "That was a big step," Bethancourt said. "We were able to score a lot of runs after two shutouts in a row. Thats a good step for the team." Atlanta began the day 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the NLs second wild card. Ervin Santana (14-7) won despite allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched around a leadoff walk to Cesar Hernandez in the ninth for his major league-leading 42nd save in 46 chances. Grady Sizemore hit a two-run homer in the third that tied the score 3-3, and Ben Revere had three hits for his fourth straight multihit game. Atlanta, shut out in three of its previous four games, fell behind on Chase Utleys first-inning sacrifice fly but took a 3-1 lead in the second behind Uptons 10th homer and first since Aug. 8. The Braves had scored one run in their previous 36 innings. All three runs were unearned because of an error by Utley, who allowed Ryan Doumits leadoff grounder to bounce off his glove for an error. Bethancourt, recalled following a six-week demotion, drove in the Braves first run with an infield single in the second and put Atlanta ahead 5-4 with an RBI single in the fifth. Beethancourts status as a top prospect is based largely on his work behind the plate, but he showed offensive potential by hitting .dddddddddddd283 with eight homers and 48 RBIs at Gwinnett. "Theres no question in my mind that defensively this kid is ready to play in the major leagues," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Offensively, hes going to hit and like every young player. When they see enough of him, hes going to have to make some adjustments." Freddie Freeman led off the fifth with a double off Mario Hollands (2-2). Freeman initially was ruled out stretching at second on left fielder Domonic Browns throw to Utley, but Jordan Bakers call was reversed on video review. Bethancourt then singled against Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, a Cuban who signed last year and who was making his major league debut. HOMECOMING Phillies starter David Buchanan, from Peachtree City, Georgia, and Georgia State, gave up four runs -- one earned -- three hits and four walks in his first game at Atlanta. PLAY OF THE DAY Sizemore made the defensive play of the game by racing toward the right-field foul line for a diving catch of pinch-hitter Gattis fly ball in the eighth. TRAINERS ROOM Philadelphia: Hollands left with what was announced as left elbow soreness. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Holland had tightness in his left forearm and may return to Philadelphia to have the arm examined. Atlanta: LF Justin Upton was held out with a bruised left upper arm sustained when hit by a pitch Tuesday. He had treatment and took some swings before the game and the injury is not believed to be serious. UP NEXT Philadelphia: The Phillies are off Thursday before RHP Jerome Williams starts Friday nights series opener at Washington. The Phillies swept three games from the Nationals in Philadelphia last week. Atlanta: The Braves also are off Thursday. RHP Aaron Harang faces RHP Jarred Cosart on Friday night at Miami. Cosart and the Marlins shut out Harang and the Braves 4-0 Saturday. 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