A-Rod

[Izzo=great]

:icon_pidu

[Patriots4ever]

I think E-Rod is an asshole. I will not elaborate. That is all.

[oldskool138]

Maybe he can get a makeup deal to he can sell purple lipstick. Hey, Jeter's selling collogne...It could happen.

He'll opt out of his contract after this year. He can get a similar contract from a small market team and play SS.

I just want that douche out of the AL East...I'm tired of seeing his face 19 times a year.

[Fully Tilted]

Unless he puts up ungodly numbers like .335/.420/.990 40+ HR/140 RBI/100 Runs--he'll be booed. Expectations and criticisms are sky high for him because he

A) Was offered and signed the largest contract (total dollars) in the history of baseball

B) Sought a trade to NY or Boston from Texas because he wanted to prove himself on a winning team, AFTER being named captain of the Texas Rangers

C) Sounds very rehearsed in his responses to the media

I think that NY has already made up their minds about him and unless he puts up numbers like the one's above, he'll be chastised for his faults instead of praised for his talents.

I don't hate him but I have no problem with him failing considering he plays for our rival team. However, he will go down as one of the best players to EVER play the game--if not, the best. He will shatter numerous records before he retires and as a baseball fan in general, I feel it's a shame how things turned out. Part of the reason I don't hate him is because I wanted him on my team in 2004 and he wanted to come to Boston. He wanted to restructure his own mammoth contract to take LESS money but the Player's Union would not allow it.

[Patriots4ever]

He puts up those gaudy numbers against mediocre pitching.

He doesn't come through in the clutch. Ortiz comes through in the late innings. E-Rod does not. His numbers go down in the later innings. The guy is a complete stat whoring fraud. I don't doubt his ability, and I don't doubt his willingness to win, but in the clutch, the guy just simply doesn't get it done, and MFY'ers hate that. They'd much rather have Ortiz.

I have been to Yankee Zoo, and all of those MFYers are scared of Ortiz and Manny. They boo the shit out of E-Rod, and they have earned the right to do so because he aint a Yankee, and he hasn't proven himself to be a Yankee. They MFYers will always feel this way until he does something useful in the postseason. The guy just tries too hard to succeed, and unfortunately for him, it really affects his play.

Regarding E-Rod - Us Patriots fans are familiar with the saying (per Lawyer Milloy) --> Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.

I really don't feel sorry for the guy. He brought it on himself, and he is failing miserably. :D

[Fully Tilted]

He puts up those gaudy numbers against mediocre pitching.

If he puts up those numbers over the course of a full season there's no arguing them. That's a runaway MVP-caliber year hands down.

He doesn't come through in the clutch. Ortiz comes through in the late innings. E-Rod does not. His numbers go down in the later innings.

I can't find the numbers on "later innings" but the rest of that is general misconception. Here's why:

Bases Loaded (2004-2006 Totals)

47 AB .383 AVG/.444 OBP/1.082 OPS

Close and Late (2004-2006 Totals)

231 AB .268 AVG/.368 OBP/.810 OPS (I'm not impressed but that's not terrible)

Man on 3rd <2 Out (2004-2006 Totals)

102 AB .294 AVG/.386 OBP/.866 OPS

Men on, 2 Out (2004-2006 Totals)

352 AB .273 AVG/.399 OBP/.899 OPS

Runners On (2004-2006 Totals)

889 AB .298 AVG/.396 OBP/.931 OPS

Men in Scoring Position (2004-2006 Totals)

532 AB .282 AVG/.399 OBP/.878 OPS

Men in Scoring Position, 2 Outs (2004-2006 Totals)

234 AB .278 AVG/.421 OBP/.904 OPS


So despite what our eyes tell us, his numbers are more than respectable in "clutch" situations with the exception of "Close and Late" which is great and all for SportsCenter but a run in the first inning is just as important as a run in the 9th inning IMHO. If you win a game in the 9th inning with a walk-off HR, 1-0, what happened to all of the other AB's throughout the course of the same game? Those carry significant importance too. If you go 1-5 with 4 K's and a 9th Inning GW HR, that's not really a great day overall.


I really don't feel sorry for the guy. He brought it on himself, and he is failing miserably. :D

I don't see how he brought it all on himself though. Anyone in their sane mind would sign the deal he signed and he has put up good numbers. It's just like people killing JD Drew as a precursor to this year. I would take the same deal--who wouldn't? Like you though, I do not feel sorry for him.

[SlumpBustR]

the A-Rod "Clutch-or-No-Clutch" argument will be a never-ending one until the guy is on a World Series winning club while putting up "standard year A-Rod type numbers"

until that time, clutch / no clutch will be debated because of his ungodly contract initiated by that fool owner, Thomas O. [for Obtuse] Hicks, IMHO

right or wrong, most peeps gut feel tells them "Big Contract = Big Expectations"

until A-Rod puts a team on his back when it counts, he will go down in history as A-Fraud

[oh and BTW ~~ this most recent press conference where he pronounced that "yes, it's true Jeter and I aren't the best of friends" after how many years of bum-bum massaging ain't helping his I'm-a-phony image much either]

[Fully Tilted]

right or wrong, most peeps gut feel tells them "Big Contract = Big Expectations"

until A-Rod puts a team on his back when it counts, he will go down in history as A-Fraud

Absolutely--The funny thing is I was listening to XM Radio about a month or so back and this Baseball DJ (Holden Kushner) was reviewing the 10 largest contracts in baseball and whether he thought they were "worth" their contract or not. A-Rod? Yes. Manny? No. I was baffled.

As far as putting the team on his back goes he has stopped doing it in the Postseason over the last few years.

Starting with the 2004 ALCS Vs. Boston to present (2005 ALDS Vs. LAA and 2006 ALDS Vs. Det) his numbers are atrocious:

60 AB 11 H 3 2B 2 HR 5 RBI 6 BB 15 K .183 AVG/.283 OBP/.699 SLG

Prior to that his numbers were far superior, including 2004 ALDS Vs. Minnesota where he did actually put the NYY on his back:

19 AB 8 H 3 2B 1 HR 3 RBI 2 BB 1 K .421 AVG/.476 OBP/1.213 OPS

And ironically enough his best PS series may have come against the Yankees in the 2000 ALCS (which the Yankees won anyway, but to no fault of A-Rod)

22 AB 9 H 2 2B 2 HR 5 RBI 3 BB 8 K .409 AVG/.480 OBP/1.253 OPS

[oh and BTW ~~ this most recent press conference where he pronounced that "yes, it's true Jeter and I aren't the best of friends" after how many years of bum-bum massaging ain't helping his I'm-a-phony image much either]

You should hear people in this area. They're all saying they're glad A-Rod is finally being "honest". I think he sounds ridiculous and once again sounds like an idiot after opening his mouth.

[#1Patsfan_chica]

I can't stand the guy so I hope he gets booed every time, all the time, especially by his own fans.

[TITAN126]

I don't think it's possible for anyone to become a more popular Yankee than Jeter...especially A-Rod. I don't think they'll stop hating him until he matches his regular season numbers in the postseason. In the 2005 postseason he was 2-15, and in 2006 he was 1-14.

[Pa_Pats_Fan54]

Jeter just publicly broke up with A-Rod so No more ATM sessions = A-rod should be more focused on the game.

I hope he gets booed off the field though.

[Mikiemo83]

unpopular opinion here but I trade Manny for ARod today

[PatsDVD]

unpopular opinion here but I trade Manny for ARod today

May be unpopular, but you do that deal in a heartbeat. Assuming the batting #'s are roughly equal, you always take a SS over an outfielder.

(In the playoffs, however, I want an imbecile like Manny who doesn't think about the pressure or anything else instead of a choke-artist like A-Rod)

[Mikiemo83]

I think Arod doesn't like being moved from SS when he was better at the position and a return to the position with Lugo going to LF or 3rd makes the team as good


remember it works because both Manny and Alex are right handed bats in a left handed lineup - if Helton gets added he also is a left handed bat with Drew and Ortiz and Manny is a distraction while ARod plays every day almost to a fault and if it fails miserably ARod wolks in the fall and the money goes to Andruw Jones

[southcarolina]

May be unpopular, but you do that deal in a heartbeat. Assuming the batting #'s are roughly equal, you always take a SS over an outfielder.

(In the playoffs, however, I want an imbecile like Manny who doesn't think about the pressure or anything else instead of a choke-artist like A-Rod)


If the regular season Arod RedSox would roughly equal the regular season Manny RedSox (that is to say both teams would have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs) and then by your own admission the playoff Manny RedSox are better than the playoff Arod RedSox, how can you say that youd make that trade in a heartbeat? Isnt winning in the postseason what its all about?

[Mikiemo83]

If the regular season Arod RedSox would roughly equal the regular season Manny RedSox (that is to say both teams would have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs) and then by your own admission the playoff Manny RedSox are better than the playoff Arod RedSox, how can you say that youd make that trade in a heartbeat? Isnt winning in the postseason what its all about?
because manny could stub a toe and be out for a month destroying yor playoff hopes while ARod will be in th elineup all dolled up with makeup

[PatsDVD]

If the regular season Arod RedSox would roughly equal the regular season Manny RedSox (that is to say both teams would have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs) and then by your own admission the playoff Manny RedSox are better than the playoff Arod RedSox, how can you say that youd make that trade in a heartbeat? Isnt winning in the postseason what its all about?

Actually, winning the bets I make on sports is what it's all about. :)

If I'm the Sox GM, I look at the two players and put more value defensively on a shortstop than on a left fielder, all other things being equal. I make the trade. I would still consider the A-Rod Red Sox to be the better team even in the playoffs.

As GM, I did my job and put the better team on the field. I shouldn't have to take the blame if the players choke and do not perform in the playoffs. :)

[Mikiemo83]

other than in NY - didn't arod do ok in the playoffs, once carrying Seatle against NY while the rest of the Brunner led team sucked the tailpipe?

I think it is the NY fit that is bad - the getting lost in the mix, not being needed as a leader that nother him

I say do it and do it today - call George he will make the deal

[southcarolina]

Actually, winning the bets I make on sports is what it's all about. :)

If I'm the Sox GM, I look at the two players and put more value defensively on a shortstop than on a left fielder, all other things being equal. I make the trade. I would still consider the A-Rod Red Sox to be the better team even in the playoffs.

As GM, I did my job and put the better team on the field. I shouldn't have to take the blame if the players choke and do not perform in the playoffs. :)

Oh ok....im not the GM, im just a fan. All i want is to win another World Series. Im not trying to be an ass, but to me people who say trade Manny for Arod are suffering from The Grass Is Always Greener Syndrome. I agree that SS is a more important defensive position than LF, but Arod hasnt played SS for what 4 years? Could he even do it anymore? Who knows. I dont hate Arod. If i could somehow add him the RedSox without giving up Manny i would. He would definately be an upgrade over Mike Lowell. :D But, with his recent post season struggles, i cant say that having him replace Manny makes the RedSox more capable of winning a World Series.

[oldskool138]

other than in NY - didn't arod do ok in the playoffs, once carrying Seatle against NY while the rest of the Brunner led team sucked the tailpipe?

I think it is the NY fit that is bad - the getting lost in the mix, not being needed as a leader that nother him

I say do it and do it today - call George he will make the deal

The Sox have a bunch of leaders ('Tek, Lowell, Timlin, Wake) already. Manny, for all his faults is still wildly popular despite the efforts of talk-radio and Shank to bring him down. A-Rod get's booed because he has the most lucrative contract ever signed and is not a leader. It would be the same in Boston if he were to come here.

Personally, I love it when the NYY fans turn against one of their own. :icon_supe

[PatsDVD]

I think it is the NY fit that is bad - the getting lost in the mix, not being needed as a leader that nother himl

Yeah, A-Rod's problem in NY is that no matter what he does, he's always going play second fiddle to Jeter. If I were him, I'd view being at third base as sort of a Scarlett Letter - a symbol of the fact that Jeter has higher status and I'd probably get pissed off every time I took the field.

[southcarolina]

other than in NY - didn't arod do ok in the playoffs, once carrying Seatle against NY while the rest of the Brunner led team sucked the tailpipe?

I think it is the NY fit that is bad - the getting lost in the mix, not being needed as a leader that nother him

I say do it and do it today - call George he will make the deal

You think Georgie would trade Arod for a DH, a position the Yankees are pretty stocked at?

[Mikiemo83]

You think Georgie would trade Arod for a DH, a position the Yankees are pretty stocked at?
I said to go to George not Cashman for that reason

[Fully Tilted]

other than in NY - didn't arod do ok in the playoffs, once carrying Seatle against NY while the rest of the Brunner led team sucked the tailpipe?



Yup, check out my page one posts, I outlined his stats in detail over the last 3 seasons and noted that 2 of his best 3 PS series have been for Seattle.

I do that trade in a heartbeat as well for the simple fact of age difference. A-ROd has a nother 10 years in the league and Manny has, well, less time. Who knows with him really but A-Rod is younger and will be around longer. Nevermind the fact that he is much more versatile considering he could probably play 3/4 IF positions and possibly the OF. Manny is stuck in LF and can/will DH in the future.

[Mikiemo83]

Manny will never go for it because of the hair cut that would be needed but I think a Johnny Damon could talk him into it

as for ARod - I think he would be a unreal 1st baseman but a return to short might help his mental state enough to carry over into the playoffs

[Fully Tilted]

as for ARod - I think he would be a unreal 1st baseman but a return to short might help his mental state enough to carry over into the playoffs

I was hesitant to say this but was thinking the same thing (re: 1st base). If that would be the case I think he would be fine playing any of the 4 IF positions.

If we step outside the "I hate Alex Rodriguez" box for a moment and remember that we all wanted him (for the most part anyway) when he was trying to get to Boston and that he is an extremely talented ballplayer, you remember how good he is and can be. I would take him for Manny in heartbeat. that said, I love that we have one of the greates hitter's ever.