Yankees of the midwest? The team that hasn't won a world series since 1908, or been to one since 1945? Was your post supposed to be in blue? They have the market-size/ fanbase/ money to buy an annual playoffs a'la the Yankees and Red Sox, they just haven't managed their advantage well. Logically, you'd think someday that will change, but contracts like Zambrano's are what help keep that situation from happening.