All A-Rod talk here
- Thread starter CoRP
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NJ Fan said:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12767427/new-york-yankees-owe-alex-rodriguez-willie-mays-home-run-mark
How is this even a conversation? They're contractually obligated to pay him the bonus, aren't they? I mean, if it's in his contract, they owe him the money. They don't need to give it any fanfare or anything; they just need to pay him the money (and take the luxury tax hit that goes with it).
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ortiz-angry-signature-offered-a-rod-home-run-ball-article-1.2208282
David Ortiz angry his memorabilia offered for Alex Rodriguez's 660th career home run ball without his permission
David Ortiz angry his memorabilia offered for Alex Rodriguez's 660th career home run ball without his permission
He's now lost his backup 3B job to Stephen Drew, at least temporarily. He is playing through a bit of a muscle pull in his leg and jogged to first tonight when it was a clear out, out by 30 feet a few times. This does not bode well for a full season from our hero.
For the record, in 2003 Posada finished 3rd behind A-Rod and Carlos Delgado. Ortiz finished 5th.
I have to see Posada's career screamed PED use - particularly in his 30's, when most catchers I would imagine start to see some serious decline offensively--especially workhorse catchers like Posada.
The guy's best OPS+ year was in 2007 when he was 35 friggin years old.
He was still putting up an 885 OPS at the age of 37 for crissakes.
I have to see Posada's career screamed PED use - particularly in his 30's, when most catchers I would imagine start to see some serious decline offensively--especially workhorse catchers like Posada.
The guy's best OPS+ year was in 2007 when he was 35 friggin years old.
He was still putting up an 885 OPS at the age of 37 for crissakes.
Very few people on this site want to admit it, but Rodriguez is one hit away from 3,000. Regardless of his history, personality, or whatever else you thin about him, I think 3,000 hits is far more impressive than any home run numbers he has put up in his career.
Has he made mistakes? Absolutely. Is he an awful person? Maybe. But the fact that he is about to pass this mark, in my mind, makes him well-deserving of a spot in the Hall (full disclosure: I also think that Clemens and Bonds deserve a spot, and would be willing to argue that McGwire and Sosa do, and also that Bagwell and Piazza should probably be in).
Full, full disclosure: after everything that he has gone through in the past few seasons, I am impressed with how well he has played this year because it would have been an easier road for him to leave the game (money be damned) than to do what he is doing right now, though I never hated him nearly as much as many here probably did.
Has he made mistakes? Absolutely. Is he an awful person? Maybe. But the fact that he is about to pass this mark, in my mind, makes him well-deserving of a spot in the Hall (full disclosure: I also think that Clemens and Bonds deserve a spot, and would be willing to argue that McGwire and Sosa do, and also that Bagwell and Piazza should probably be in).
Full, full disclosure: after everything that he has gone through in the past few seasons, I am impressed with how well he has played this year because it would have been an easier road for him to leave the game (money be damned) than to do what he is doing right now, though I never hated him nearly as much as many here probably did.
I agree with Jon. Both are very impressive but one is clearly rarer. That being said, I really don't see how people can be celebrating it. Even if you want to argue that he would've done it without PEDs, he's shown as little integrity, character and honesty as any athlete during my lifetime. Nothing he does should be celebrated.
I almost gave up rooting for the Yankees over A-Rod. But the game and all the youthful memories of rooting for one team brought me back. I guess I can see how Yankee fans in attendance at home games are openly rooting for him. In my case, sitting at home, I can root for A -Rod again because he is keeping this team in a pennant race. And after all the ball washing of Jeter last year, A-Rod's feats must be saluted, even if they are tainted.glennhoffmania said:
I lump A-Rod and Bonds together under one category ... The Why? category. With all the talent they had, why would they cheat and take chances with their health? Bonds seemingly did it out of jealousy of all the attention Sosa and McGwire were getting in 1998. A -Rod had insecurity issues that led him down his dark road.
This year, I see a nearly 40-year-old athlete playing relaxed and really enjoying the game. Even the scouts have noticed. Some have said he is not squeezing the bat anyone. His young swing is back, in an aging body. I wonder if Ortiz has noticed because David may be trying too hard, too. Just let it flow.
rembrat said:
Sure, but celebrating him has everything to do with his character. One can objectively say that 3000 hits is a big deal without cheering and honoring the player because of behavior.
Ok fair enough. I just meant that his accomplishments are clearly noteworthy but he personally doesn't deserve favorable treatment because of them.
I know this is between you and Rem but I am curious about how we Yankee fans handle this. The diehards are going to cheer him on, no matter what. I am glad they are cheering him because it would be ugly to see 3,000 hits ignored, or 661 dismissed, as team ownership wished. Every franchise needs diehard fans who will defend their team and its players to almost all ends. But for those of us who have become cynics over the years, it is a tougher call. We have spent 12 baseball seasons with A-Rod in pinstripes. He played in Seattle for five years and Texas for three but will always be viewed as a Yankee. He is ours, for better or worse. I still feel sympathy for him over the Jeter business. I respect his output, and suspect it, too. What a great shitfest this has been for a dozen summers. Surprisingly, I kind of like the 2015 version. Maybe they should have banned him for a year in 2004!glennhoffmania said:
I despise A-Rod. The very sight of him turns my stomach. The way he runs, almost as if he has a miniature baseball bat stuck up his ass which makes his strut up and down, annoys me to no end.terrynever said:
But if A-Rod was in a Red Sox uniform right now, and was contributing meaningfully to the Sox being in contention, I would support A-Rod without reservation. I would cheer his accomplishments for the simple reason that cheering him might have a positive affect on him, and I would want him to continue doing what he was doing.
I doubt there are many players who would not be supported by the vast, overwhelming majority of Sox fans if they were on the team and contributing to playoff contention.
Now, yeah, I remain glad that the Sox never acquired A-Rod. The prospect of rooting for him is not pleasant. But under the circumstances I just outlined, it would be rather easy for me to get behind him.
Thanks, Theo. This season reminds me of "Damn Yankees" with the Devil as the DH. You gotta have heart. The ending to the movie could be similar with Alex turning into an old man in September.
And he does it with a home run.
Honestly, I can't explain why 3,000 hits is more impressive to me than 660 home runs, much like i can't explain half the other shit I do in my life, but you guys are probably right that the home runs are way more impressive (I was also two Sucks and a Points Unknown into my night when I typed that last night, so that could have been a factor).
I fully admit that I still think Bonds was the best player i have ever seen play, steroids or no. Like it or not, both the steroids and the lying are a part of that era of baseball, and you can put asterisks on it if you want. Do I hate A-Rod? Sure, though obviously not as much as most of you. I hated Jeter, too, but I still think him getting as many hits as he did was a pretty awesome accomplishment.
Honestly, I can't explain why 3,000 hits is more impressive to me than 660 home runs, much like i can't explain half the other shit I do in my life, but you guys are probably right that the home runs are way more impressive (I was also two Sucks and a Points Unknown into my night when I typed that last night, so that could have been a factor).
I fully admit that I still think Bonds was the best player i have ever seen play, steroids or no. Like it or not, both the steroids and the lying are a part of that era of baseball, and you can put asterisks on it if you want. Do I hate A-Rod? Sure, though obviously not as much as most of you. I hated Jeter, too, but I still think him getting as many hits as he did was a pretty awesome accomplishment.
“@BrendanKutyNJ: Zack Hample of NYC says he won’t simply give the ball back to A-Rod or #yankees #AROD3K http://t.co/g8vhXjL6Tm”
It's not his character but his PED use that taints his numbers. It's arguable that he wouldn't have 3000 hits if he hadn't augmented his physique with drugs on the banned list. Nobody cares if an athlete is a prick, but some of the players themselves (e.g., Posada) resent his being celebrated for what they see as ill-gotten gains.rembrat said:
I still think it's hilarious that the Yankees pretended like the 660 HR milestone in his contract didn't exist, but then it seems like they've been marketing the shit out of the run up to 3000, because there's no bonus clause for that in his contract. I would think that would hurt their legal case about the HR clauses severely when it's heard this offseason, but I have no legal background so really I have no idea.
Only if you truly believe PEDs makes you a better hitter which I do not believe.InsideTheParker said:
In 100 years when we know more about the effects of steroids (they're awesome) and everyone is on them people are going to look back at us and judge us harshly for these witch hunts.
The MLB keeps umpires until they're half blind. Christ, Tim McClelland just retired last year and he was the ump who threw George Brett out during the pine tar incident in fucking 1983.ThePrideofShiner said:
jon abbey said:
It destroys their case. But I have never assumed that they believed they would win. They just want to make A-Rod fight for every dollar.
rembrat said:
The bolded section is a stunning display of willful ignorance. I would engage beyond this, but anyone who would write this cannot be reasoned with, so I'll leave it at that.
The non-bolded section is simply laughable. By your logic, we should all be shooting up heroin because of the undeniable medicinal benefits of opium.
That seems like a wonderful* way to solve the dilemma of what to do about the milestone money the Yankees didn't want to play due to Rodriguez's steroid link.
*wonderful for the Yankees. Not so much for Alex.
*wonderful for the Yankees. Not so much for Alex.
I don't know when the convos with ARod really started about the bonuses, but I think the Yankees were hoping/assuming the ARod would be a bench player batting .200 throughout the season and they't really have a case against him and not marketing any of these milestones. However, he's literally either their best or second best player and they realized they can't just brush him off as a non-contributor
Assuming, almost certainly. But hoping? I think everything that comes along with ARod performing well is a problem the Yankees are happy to be dealing with.
Much like Josh Hamilton and Arte Moreno, A-Rod is in their heads.rembrat said:
They are going to pay him. They just want to make him work for it. And if they can make him look bad (worse?) in the process, that's a bonus.
ARod to get his 3,000 hit ball
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/13192518/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-getting-baseball-3000th-hit-all
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/13192518/alex-rodriguez-new-york-yankees-getting-baseball-3000th-hit-all
Can someone explain to me how the bonus money applies (or not) to Yankee payroll and luxury tax computations...and if donating 3M to charity impacts that?