They Speculate

by Jaime R on Feb 6, 2007 7:05 PM EST in New York Yankees News

More A-Rod speculation in the media. MSNBC asks the question, "Could A-Rod opt out of his contract?"

J.D. Drew, like A-Rod a client of agent Scott Boras, used an opt-out clause to leave the Los Angeles Dodgers for a $70 million, five-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Of course all this is rampant speculation; making a news story of what A-Rod could do and turning it into what he might do. The press silliness has begun WAY before the season has started. For all the poking and prodding, it's a wonder A-Rod keeps his cool at all. Even his agent, Scott Boras, is shooting down the rumors;

"At this point in time, Alex has certainly reflected to me he's very happy in New York. We have not talked about anything like that and probably will not until the season is completed."

They will still ask a hundred times throughout the season,though, and they will get the same answer a hundred times. A-Rod is here to stay for a good long time. Get used to it.

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I think he will opt out

Boras just opted out another of his clients and put him into a horrible situation simply for more money. JD Drew, who has a horrible attitude, played in the one place in baseball where the fans are too disinterested to care and now he goes to perhaps the most scrutinized team in baseball simply for more loot. Why wouldn't Boras do the same thing again? A-Rod might not get the same average annual value for the next three years in a new contract, but he will cash in much more if he signs a long term deal at age 31 rather than at age 34. He will either opt out and walk away to somewhere where he won't be booed mercifully for putting up MVP numbers or he will use his leverage to get an extension out of Cashman.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 7:25 AM EST reply actions

Arod is scheduled to earn

$27 million from '07-'10.
If Alfonso Soriano can bring in $18 million, I'm sure Boras has his sights on $30.
I'm also not sure I understand this sentence:
"Rodriguez may void after 2008 or 2009 unless club increases 2009-10 salary by $5M/year or $1M more than highest-paid MLB position player." When does the $5 million dollar option kick in? If Arod is the highest paid player in baseball, or if someone has surpassed him? I think it's trying saying $5 mil if someone else is making $35 million, or $1 mil over his own salary.
Link: http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com

Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.

by jscape2000 on Feb 7, 2007 8:46 AM EST up reply actions

If he opts out....

It will most likely mean a repeat of last year. Which again means no World Series.

by danbrady143 on Feb 7, 2007 10:43 AM EST reply actions

How?

Do you mean that his opting out would only be the result of having a year like last year?

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 7, 2007 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Pretty Much

If he chokes again in the postseason. If fans boo him continuously. Would you stick around for that?

by danbrady143 on Feb 7, 2007 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

If he opts out

I think it will mean that he either had a great season and is going to cash in or had an average season and was booed mercifully. Either the Yanks are going to give him an extension and rework his deal or Yankee fans will be remembered for unfairly and irrationally booing one of the best players ever to play the game.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I thought you hated him.

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 7, 2007 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

No

I am frustrated by his postseason failures, but I also realize the tremendous value that he brings to the Yankees.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Once again

Reason and logic prevails.

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 7, 2007 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

Wait

Do you guys think the Yanks should (really need italics here) rework Arod's deal and/or give him and extension this season/offseason?

by matthaggs on Feb 7, 2007 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

It depends on how the season unfolds

If, at the end of the season, he wants to opt out so he can get more years, well, it's something that has to be considered.

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 7, 2007 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

Letting him walk is a terrible idea.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, but

most teams can't afford him now. Whose going to be able to pay him MORE than he gets paid now, if the Yanks were to extend/re-negotiate a new contract and then try to trade him?

by danbrady143 on Feb 7, 2007 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Well the cubs

seem to be willing to drop tremendous amounts of money for mediocre players... who knows what some team will bid for him.

Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f*** the prom queen.

by Edwantsacracker on Feb 7, 2007 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

I also agree....

and Cashman isn't going to roll over and play dead and let him walk away that easily.

Cashman had the best opportunity to trade him this off-season and emphatically refused to do so.

He has always been one of A-Rod's biggest supporters and believes he is very much a part of the long-term solution to winning a championship.

If A-Rod does indeed walk next season, it sure as hell won't be because Cashman doesn't want him back.

by anaconda on Feb 7, 2007 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

I don't see it

The guy is image conscious to the point where it affects his performance on the field. Opting out of the richest contract in the history of sports would be a public relations debacle for him. If he thinks people hate him now, wait until he tries to pull this shit. This is just a little bit different than Drew's contract.

He's making $25M a year through 2010, and will have an excellent chance to make the World Series in each of those years - which he has repeatedly said is the only thing he cares about at this point. Opting out would make him an even bigger phony than people already think he is.

Boras might advise him to do it, and it might be a wise financial move, but the collateral damage to his image would be too much for him to take.

I don't think it's unfair and irrational to expect the best player in the game to play like it when it matters. Unless I missed some games he's yet to do that here. If he/Boras tell the Yanks they want an extension or he's walking, the Yanks should tell him to take that request and shove it up their asses. Then they can sit back with the rest of us and watch ARod publicly hang himself.

by matthaggs on Feb 7, 2007 12:00 PM EST reply actions

I said this

during the season, he will opt out of his contract. It was the best thing for the Yanks to try to trade him this offseason instead of getting 0 value in return.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 7, 2007 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yankees are built to win NOW.

Trading A-Rod does not accomplish that goal.

If A-Rod does opt out and the Yanks don't resign him, then they can use that money if they wish to get "equal value." Last I checked the Yanks weren't hard up for money.

by Willton on Feb 7, 2007 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

Opting out is QUITTING

If Alex opts out it is the same as him quitting. It will define him forever.

Leaving the Yankees will sully his legacy. Alex will not be remembered as one of the best players ever, he will be remembered as a failure. No matter what else he does the first thing in his obit will be his quitting the Yankees.

There will be no honestly acceptable reason for Alex to leave the Yankees in 08 other than that he can't handle the challenge. This is not leaving a loser team for a contender, or about him not being paid well.

Just yesterday I thought he'd leave, now I'm not sure. The damage to his reputation from quitting the Yankees may be too much for Alex to handle.

by collink on Feb 7, 2007 3:13 PM EST reply actions

Let's not pour on the hyperbole too

thick just yet. That scenario mivght sully his legacy in NY but most people outside of NY don't like the Yankees and I imagine that if he delivers for another team and breaks most hitting records by the time he retires that his legacy will be fine. I imagine that the legacy of the Yankees who would boo an MVP and drive him out of town for very silly reasons might suffer more.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 7, 2007 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

"One of the Best Ever"

If Alex were just a run of the mill all star it wouldn't be a big problem, but Alex is pushing to be "One of the Best Ever."

Alex will not be leaving to get paid more $ in 08 or to get off a loser team, he'll leave the Yankees only because he can't hack the pressure. None of the Best Evers left a team because of that.

If Alex wants to be remembered like a Manny, JuanGon, or Alomar opting out is not a problem.

I think Alex wants to be remembered like Mantle, Williams, Rose, Mays, Aaron, etc. and he'll have to do it here in order to get to be One of the Best Ever.

(Also since when did using hyperbole on this site become a bad thing?)

by collink on Feb 7, 2007 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Why wouldn't he be remembered like

Aaron if he breaks his HR record? Hank never won anything either.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 7, 2007 10:17 PM EST up reply actions

Hank handled more pressure than anyone in the game

What I'm saying is if Alex leaves the Yankees after 07, he's quitting the team because he can't handle the pressure.

The reason why Aaron and other players considered to be the Best Evers are so highly regarded is that they faced challenges and rose above them. If Alex leaves NY it's only because he can no longer face the challenge of playing NY.

Hank Aaron faced death threats and played at a superior level. All Alex has to do is face boos and stupid questions from the press.

by collink on Feb 8, 2007 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

Here's a question

If you had a choice, would you want to face those pressures? For Aaron, it was unavoidable, but I'm sure if he could have played for a team where he wasn't receiving death threats, I'm sure he would have done it. For Alex, if he wants to leave New York because it's too stressful, can you blame him?

by Willton on Feb 8, 2007 10:59 PM EST up reply actions

Understandable, but still it's quitting

Yes I totally would understand Alex wanting to leave the Yankees on a personal level.

But professionally it's a bad move. This is not player leaving a team to find more of challenge, to find more money or to find a better chance to win a title. It would be Alex saying NY is too hard for me I've got to go to a team that is easier.

If he opts out no matter what else he does people will always say he quit in NY.

The more I think about this, unless this season is horrific for Alex I think he'll stay in NY because if nothing else he's very aware of his repuation and his pending legacy.

by collink on Feb 9, 2007 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Well said

Yankees fans come off looking way way worse in this mess than A-Rod does. The guy won a freaking MVP and got booed. That is embarassing to me as a Yankee fan.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Couldn't agree more....

It's moronic and completely classless the way many so-called Yankees fans have treated this guy the last few seasons.

It seems like many of them won't be happy until the guy finally snaps and puts a shotgun in his mouth.

Worst of all is the fact that these people know the booing and heckling get to him at times and has affected his performance -- yet they still continue to do it.

Those jackasses are not true Yankees fans and they -- in fact -- do a damn good job of embarrassing the rest of us.

by anaconda on Feb 7, 2007 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

Please

This is New York, not Fantasyland. Arod is a super-rich super spoiled professional baseball player, not an 11 year old. Fans pay their hard earned money to watch him play, and they can do whatever the hell they want (short of throwing stuff at him). "Ooh he struck out with the bases loaded again, but I won't yell at him or boo because I don't want to hurt his feelings. Poor guy." Jesus are you serious?

There are two big problems with this guy. One, he is a gigantic PHONY. There are politicians less calculating than him when he speaks to the press. This is what he said the other day:

"My burden has always been the same since I was 18," he said. "The only reason I play the game is to win a world championship. That hasn't changed. From year to year it hasn't changed." Who the hell talks like that? He rubs people the wrong way, from teammates to opponents to fans. They can't all be wrong. And they're not all jealous either, which is a common misconception.

The second is his well documented inability to perform in the clutch. His salary is not the issue. He is widely considered the best player in the game, and will be considered one of the best of all time, but he never plays like it. He never leaves his mark on an important game (unless it's a negative mark).

Ask yourself this: it's a close playoff game in the late innings, there are men on base and 2 out, who do you want to see walking up to the plate? In no particular order I'd choose Jeter, Damon, Matsui, Abreu, Giambi, Cano and Posada over Arod in that situation. If he's the best player in the game why do we all dread when he comes to the plate in big spots?

I really want to be wrong about this guy. Maybe he'll pull a Peyton Manning and finally calm down in the big moments. I'm not holding my breath though.

by matthaggs on Feb 7, 2007 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

I've never seen a group of people

so proud and eager to demonostrate that they have no class.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 7, 2007 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

Couldn't have said it....

better myself. Kudos.

by anaconda on Feb 7, 2007 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

Indeed

Daps to Garp. That was the most concise and poignant summary of the shame I feel as a Yankee fan when I see the way A-Rod is treated.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 7, 2007 11:43 PM EST up reply actions

Regardless of

how anyone feels, I am sick and tired of talking about Arod.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 8, 2007 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

Get used to it....

because he will be a story once again all season.

by anaconda on Feb 8, 2007 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Hypocrites

What did Mr. UNC find god in the offseason or something? With the names and insults you direct towards other guys on this team who try just as hard as ARod does, you should be the last fucking person to feel shame toward other Yankee fans. Is it tough to heat that glass house you're living in buddy?

I'd be willing to bet there are posts from you throughout this site from around playoff time slamming # 13 for playing with both hands wrapped around his neck.

And do you guys clap when he comes up in a big spot, or do you groan like the rest of us? Honestly answer the question I asked in the previous post. Do you want this guy at the plate when the game is on the line?

Please tell me why it's wrong to expect more from the best player in the game? Do you guys watch the games, or just read the back of this baseball card at the end of the year? I've seen a lot of things from ARod since he's been here, but aside from a few summer hot streaks I haven't seen the game's best player.

Let me make it perfectly clear that I don't hate the guy, and most New Yorkers don't either. We just want him to shut his mouth and play like he's capable of playing when the games get really important. Period.

To even hint that the fans might be partially responsible for his lack of great success here is just plain retarded.

by matthaggs on Feb 8, 2007 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

We criticize Alex

But I'm sure that Pfisty, anaconda, econolodge, garp, relaunch, and pretty much everyone who regularly comments on this here site doesn't boo him when he strikes out in the first inning. That happened more times than I can count last summer.

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 8, 2007 10:04 AM EST up reply actions

Not saying he didn't choke in the playoffs

but then again that isn't the point. Booing the guy unmercifully despite the fact that he is our best hitter and puts up MVP numbers is what I have a problem with. It is embarassing to hear the greatest player of our generation and one of the best ever booed and held to an unreal standard. All this will accomplish is causing Yankee fans to watch A-Rod make history in an Angels uniform while they sit around and second guess themselves.

And yes, I do slam other players who also "try hard" but I cheer for a Major League Baseball team, not a Special Olympics team. If Cairomack tries hard, I could give a shit. All the effort in the world won't prevent him from being a miserable player.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 8, 2007 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

Well said.

To be completely honest, I have never been a fan of A-Rod for many of the same reasons as others don't like him.

However -- he is a NEW YORK YANKEE whether you like it or not. We should be cheering this guy on because we all want to see this team win.

What purpose does it serve anyone to boo this guy mercilessly and sling mud at him at every opportunity when you know it bothers him and can affect his performance?

That's completely asinine if you ask me and it is extremely counter-productive. These actions also portray ALL Yankees fans to look like a bunch of classless idiots by the rest of the country.

Hey, I ripped the guy a lot in the past as well, but I stopped doing that last season and started defending him because I thought the fans' treatment of him was mind-numbingly embarrassing and was getting way out of control.

Every player has been booed at one time or another, but virtually lynching the greatest player of our generation and willfully booting him out of town is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard in the game of baseball.

by anaconda on Feb 8, 2007 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Cashman

Has purposely signed Miguel Cairo three times and has also signed Tony Womack and Minkie for starting positions. To me,that trumps the fans' stupidity but the rest of your points are well taken.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 8, 2007 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

with majority of your posts as well as some of your points here on Arod. I do though agree with some of the things Matts is saying. Arod is held on the platform as the best player in the baseball as well as what you said, the best player of our generation. If he is supposed to be all that, I would expect some more production in those situations (late innings, playoffs, etc). And I also do agree that the way he presents himself does rub me the wrong way. I go to over 60 games a year, and consider myself a huge Yankee fan. I do not consider myself any less of a fan for expecting Arod to do more in alot of situations.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 8, 2007 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I am not saying that he should be adored and put on some pedestal. I just think it is ridiculous to boo the guy when he is one of the best hitters in baseball and busting his butt out there.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 8, 2007 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

But if we are not allowed to boo him

Then putting him on a pedestal is exactly what you are doing.

If he does something that merits booing, than he should be booed. You've said several times during this thread that he sucks in the playoffs. If that doesn't merit booing then I don't know what does. The regular season booing is just spillover from the fans' frustration with him.

There will always be a few a-holes who will hate him no matter what he does, but the rest of us Yankee fans are really want to like him, myself included. If you notice, he never gets booed as he is walking up to the plate. All of the booing happens when he is walking back to the dugout after another popup with a man on 3rd. He gets his share of curtain calls here.

Right now he is the best hitter on the Yankees in numbers only. The numbers lie in this case.

I'm guessing that it's not a coincidence that all of you ARod apologists out there have not answered the question from my first post here -- do you want him anywhere near the plate when the game is on the line?

He will be treated like a superstar as soon as he starts acting like one.

by matthaggs on Feb 8, 2007 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

The answer to your question is...

......YES.

A-Rod isn't labeled the best player of our generation by never coming through in the clutch.

He also didn't win 2 MVPs by never coming through in the clutch.

The guy had a terrible season in those situations last year, but he is far too talented not to overcome those struggles.

Giambi had TWO terrible seasons for the Yankees in back-to-back years and Yankees fans never gave him the hard time that A-Rod has been forced to deal with.

Sure, they booed Giambi too -- but not even close to the degree they crucify A-Rod in his own ballpark and in the media.

by anaconda on Feb 8, 2007 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

You forgot to mention

that Giambi is a cheater who committed several felonies by using steroids.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 8, 2007 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly....

...and it's A-Rod who the haters want to crucify and boot out of town.

Why did those same Yankees fans forgive and embrace Giambi, but won't embrace the best player of our generation?

One of these guys cheated and disgraced the game and the other guy works harder than any other player on the team.

Sounds like a helluva double standard to me.

by anaconda on Feb 8, 2007 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

This is easily explained

New York loves guys who fuck up royally and come back from it. Especially a guy who talks like a human being and not a robot.

See Gooden, Dwight and Strawberry, Darryl for two of the many examples of this trend.

There is no disputing that Giambi is an idiot, but other than his teammate Damon one would be hard pressed to find a more popular guy in the clubhouse, around the league, and with the media.

I personally don't like the guy very much (the whole not being able to play first base issue drives me crazy), but it's not hard to see why he's embraceable.

Arod has a self-created layer of phony-ness surrounding him that, for the moment anyway, makes him unembraceable. Nothing he ever says comes across as genuine. Having said that, if he destroys the Mets or Red Sox for a series or two this summer I'll happily ignore his robotic statements afterward.

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Huh?

Giambi is one of the most popular guys around baseball? Um, suuuuure.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 9, 2007 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Um, yes.

I don't presume to know why, but in spite of everything he's done you would be very hard pressed to find a negative comment about him from anyone that has played with or against him. They all love the guy from some bloody reason.

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe I've been away from NY too long

but booing a player is not acceptable in any other park I've been in unless there are extreme circumstances. You can curse when they make out but booing? I don't hear that very many places. That shows a tremendous lack of class. Everyone has the right to act like an asshole. That still makes them an asshole.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 8, 2007 4:21 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

You have been away from the East Coast too long.

Philly, New York and Boston are famous for their booing - in every sport.

Cursing is classier than booing? Huh?

by matthaggs on Feb 8, 2007 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

I'll drop the F-bomb when anyone

strikes out in a key situation. What, you cheer when Jeter strikes out with a man on third? But booing? Nah. I save that for Ed Whitson and Kevin Brown. I can't think of anyone on the Red Sox or Phillies who have been booed like ARod.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 8, 2007 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

What?

Mike Schmidt and Santa Claus were booed in Philly, and Ted Williams and Yaz were booed in Boston. Just to name a few.

Is that enough for you?

Try this out: go to a game and sit right next to a family. Try dropping the F-bomb for a strikeout, then try booing, and see which one is more socially acceptable.

by matthaggs on Feb 8, 2007 6:05 PM EST up reply actions

The fact that you think that

Mike Schmidt and Ted Williams should have been booed until they were driven from their respective teams says all that needs to be said about you. Granted, I do not recall either of these guys being booed mercilessly until they retired but since you do you are simply taking the side of assholes. I imagine you were out there booing Mattingly during his last couple of years too.

P.S. Fuck Santa Claus!

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 8, 2007 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

You're a lousy mind reader

Here's what you said:

"I can't think of anyone on the Red Sox or Phillies who have been booed like ARod."

All I did was debunk your point by pointing out players from both cities (plus Santa Claus) who were in fact booed.

Please show me where I said Ted Williams, Yaz, Schmidt and Claus should have been booed until they were driven from their respective teams / Poles.

Mike Schmidt's treatment in Philly is well documented. Google "Mike Schmidt + boo" and watch what happens.

And no, I never booed Mattingly.

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 12:17 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, "Booed like ARod." Are you saying

that people spent years booing and wanting Schmidt and Williams dumped from their respective teams? The fact that people boo is not in question nor is the fact that it is classless. I remember Jeter getting booed once during his long slump a while back and a lot of people were outraged. I am not sure why you think that it is classy to boo the greatest players in the game. By your standard obviously you did not think much of Mattingly since he was not worth booing.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 9, 2007 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

Man

It's tough to respond because I don't know what the hell you're talking about. The fact that people boo great players in other cities was in question, in fact it was YOUR question.

There is a massive difference between booing someone and wanting him dumped from the team. No one (well there a few idiots I guess) wants ARod removed from the team. The issue here is that ARod might choose to remove himself from the team, which I still believe (barring a World Series victory this year) would be a disastrous move for him.

Mattingly didn't do or say anything that merited booing, unless you count some of those haircuts.

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously you did not pay attention

last season to what happened to ARod. This was not a case of occasional scattered boos from time to time. It seems silly to debate it since you were not watching.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 9, 2007 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

I was watching

The guy who everyone says is the best player in the game. I was watching the guy who many people say might be the best player to ever play the game when all is said and done. But this same guy lost his ability to field and throw the ball, couldn't buy a hit in the big spots, crumbled under pressure, and ended the season batting 8th in the lineup.

Which guy were you watching?

And if you want to blame these results on his hometown fans booing him too much, how do you explain the similar performance issues he had while on the road?

Stop making excuses for him, he has enough of his own (his mom came out and said his grandma died, he had some mysterious injury he didn't want to tell anyone about, he's seeing a shrink, he got too much sun while shirtless in Central Park, etc. etc. etc.)

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Whatever. You want the right to boo. You've

got it. I have the right to think that people who boo are classless jerks.

P.S. You seem to be hung up on a lot of tabloid bullshit. Shouldn't you be mourning Anna Nicole or something?

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Feb 9, 2007 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

Now that you brought it up

Can I get an official deadline for Anna Nicole jokes? I would submit that it should be considerably shorter than for Cory Lidle jokes.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 9, 2007 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Deadline was yesterday

RIP Anna Nicole. Thanks for the mammories.

by Willton on Feb 10, 2007 2:00 AM EST up reply actions

I agree,

well said.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 9, 2007 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

Booing is classless, Q.E.D.

Just because fans from Philly, NYC and Boston mercilessly boo their own players a lot doesn't make it right. Philly is known for having the WORST fans in the country, and Boston and NY fans are only slightly less vilified. Holding up Philly and Boston as the standard of behavior is pretty weak, and it only worsens your position. Trust me, you will never see that kind of bullshit in St. Louis or Atlanta.

The only thing that I could possibly condone booing for is not trying. However, A-Rod tries every day.

By the way, if we're going to vilify A-Rod for his postseason woes, why aren't we doing the same thing to Matsui?

by Willton on Feb 8, 2007 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah!

That bastard broke his wrist!!! Against the Sawks, no less!!!
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by arodriguez on Feb 8, 2007 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

East Coast fans...

are also known for being the most knowledgeable.

Atlanta is widely considered one of the country's worst sports cities.

More is expected of ARod than Matsui. And quite frankly, Matsui delivers much more frequently.

p.s. he also doesn't speak English, so it's kind of hard for him to say any of the stupid shit that gets Arod into trouble all the time.

by matthaggs on Feb 8, 2007 6:09 PM EST up reply actions

Knowledge doesn't excuse buffonery

"East Coast fans are also know for being the most knowledgeable."

Really? 'Cause every time I walk into a bar in Jersey, rarely do I hear any intelligent remarks about the Yankees, let alone the game of baseball.

The fact that you just said that shows how ignorant and arrogant you are. To think that by virtue of living on the East Coast you are smarter than a fan from the mid West is extremely narrow minded.

by Willton on Feb 8, 2007 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

Have to disagree

with you on this one. People from the east coast are alot more passionate and usually more knowledgeable about baseball in general. Many players that played on the east coast, then left (trade or FA), have stated that baseball is alot more exiciting and passionate in the east coast.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Feb 8, 2007 11:53 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Econo, I wasn't giving you my opinion on the subject, I was giving you the opinion of anyone who's ever written or talked about sports for a living.

As ReLaunch said, the northeast fanbase is generally considered the most knowledgeable and passionate. With passion comes some occasional booing and rough treatment. Whether you think it's wrong or right is irrevelant, it's here to stay.

by matthaggs on Feb 9, 2007 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

On knowledge

Feel free to cite your evidence from unbiased sources. I may concede that point then. And whether it's true or not, knowledge of the game does not excuse lack of class. For the most part, fans of other teams don't hate the Yankees or Red Sox because of the players or the team. They hate them because of the hordes of buffoons that claim to be fans of those teams. Rarely do you hear bad things about the fans of midwestern teams.

by Willton on Feb 9, 2007 12:35 AM EST up reply actions

Christ my spelling sucks

Buffoonery, not buffonery

by Willton on Feb 9, 2007 12:26 AM EST up reply actions

A-Rod has won two MVPs and two Gold Gloves

That doesn't happen if he never gets the big hit in the clutch or can't play the field.

A-Rod had a subpar 2006 -- by his lofty standards -- and ridiculous embecils in the stands and in the media couldn't wait to throw mud at the guy no matter what he did.

Secondly, don't give me the "fans can do whatever they want" crap.

I'm not arguing that they don't have the right to boo or scream at him, but it's pretty clear that these people aren't true Yankees fans if they continuously look for reasons to lynch their own player -- especially when they know it bothers him.

Fans who continue to badger the guy and sling mud aren't smart enough to realize that they are doing more harm to this team than good.

Everyone has the right to be assholes if they wish, but that doesn't mean the rest of us Yankees fans can't criticize their foolishness.

These rights you speak of go both ways.

by anaconda on Feb 7, 2007 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

I have no doubts

that Rodriguez will settle in between his 2004-2005 levels, which makes him still one of the best the game of baseball has EVER SEEN!

Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win! -John Sterling

by goyankees on Feb 7, 2007 5:39 PM EST reply actions

A good article on Arod

I just came across this article that Mike Celizic wrote today. It kind of embodies the whole Arod phenomenon and what everyone has been talking about on here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17015315/

by danbrady143 on Feb 7, 2007 5:51 PM EST reply actions

Don't even have to read it

Mike Celizic is an idiot.

Off the Facade
An interesting alternative to the mainstream.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Feb 7, 2007 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

American Legends

I love the blog that you have. I was wondering if you would link my blog to yours and in return I would do the same for your blog. If you want to, my site name is American Legends and the URL is:

http://www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

If you want to do this just go to my blog and in one of the comments just write your blog name and the URL and I will add it to my site.

Thanks,
Mark

www.americanlegends.blogspot.com

by JMEnglish on Feb 7, 2007 6:59 PM EST reply actions

Rosenthal chimes in too

In the last few days, I have seen articles on A-Rod opting out as the main focus of the baseball section of Foxsports, SI and ESPN. I realize that is a slow time in the offseason, but I think that is an indication that this story will be around all summer.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Feb 8, 2007 9:29 PM EST reply actions