The Yankees beat a tough Angels team in the ALCS, moreover, largely because some of the highest paid players in the game including, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter played great baseball  However, they also won for other, albeit more quotidian, reasons.  The Yankees beat the Angels because they played fundamentally sound baseball and were smarter on the bases and in the field then their opponents.  It doesn’t take a high priced free agent, although Vladimir Guerrero was one, to know not to get doubled off first base on a soft line drive to right field.  Players who make less then ten million dollars a year should be able to throw to first and catch throws to first cleanly.  These and other mistakes were a big part of the Angels undoing.