ARod’s Shattered Dreams of Joining Boston

nolasoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 11, 2004
7,352
Displaced
Paraphrasing the old saying, "Sometimes the best trades are those that are never made."
To this day, the thought of ARod as a member of the Boston Red Sox makes me throw up in my mouth.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
39,387
Paraphrasing the old saying, "Sometimes the best trades are those that are never made."
To this day, the thought of ARod as a member of the Boston Red Sox makes me throw up in my mouth.
At the time I was VERY excited, checking Boston Dirt Dogs daily with Magglio and A-Rod coming over.

I wonder if we would have won it that year.
 

Yelling At Clouds

Post-darwinian
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,904
I’ve been curious: what was the real-time reaction to the possible A-Rod-to-Boston deal on SoSH? Is there anyone who was around in those days who remembers? My guess is that it was mostly positive, but I wonder how many people will admit to that now.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
39,387
I’ve been curious: what was the real-time reaction to the possible A-Rod-to-Boston deal on SoSH? Is there anyone who was around in those days who remembers? My guess is that it was mostly positive, but I wonder how many people will admit to that now.
I was reading SOSH but not a member yet. From what I recall, the hype was huge. Similar to the Nick Punto trade, just fast chatter about it. A-Rod - at that time - was a God.
 

E5 Yaz

polka king
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
95,150
Oregon
I’ve been curious: what was the real-time reaction to the possible A-Rod-to-Boston deal on SoSH? Is there anyone who was around in those days who remembers? My guess is that it was mostly positive, but I wonder how many people will admit to that now.
Hardly anyone even noticed
 

E5 Yaz

polka king
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
95,150
Oregon
The board might have crashed when it was pointed out the Rangers had taken him out of the picture in their website masthead
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
20,182
Had that trade gone through, Jon Lester would not have won 2 rings as a member of the Red Sox. He was the prospect going to Chicago for Ordonez.
 

Rovin Romine

Johnny Rico
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
25,961
Miami (oh, Miami!)
I was reading SOSH but not a member yet. From what I recall, the hype was huge. Similar to the Nick Punto trade, just fast chatter about it. A-Rod - at that time - was a God.
That's my recollection as well. It was clear Nomar wasn't the pre-injury Nomar, and A-Rod stood alone. Ordóñez looked fantastic as well.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
49,513
Hartford, CT
I’ve been curious: what was the real-time reaction to the possible A-Rod-to-Boston deal on SoSH? Is there anyone who was around in those days who remembers? My guess is that it was mostly positive, but I wonder how many people will admit to that now.
Along with G38, it was my introduction to this site.

I don’t think anyone was thrilled with Donald Fehr, though that likely didn’t represent a change. I also recall a notable number of posts agreeing with Steinbrenner that Henry was cheap after the ‘sour grapes’ statement.

I want to say that it was one of the all time traffic peaks in the site’s history, but that, as they say, is ultimately a question for Senator Nipper.
 

jmcc5400

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2000
5,858
We had John Henry himself dipping in to say "it transcends baseball" (Fehr and the union blocking the deal).

From a baseball perspective, the board leaned pro trade but was pretty even. Nomar and Manny were coming off great years (6th and 7th in MVP voting) and the offensive upgrade from Nomar to ARod was pretty much offset by the downgrade from Manny to Mags, plus we were giving up Lester. And Nomar at that point was still Nomah! so there were emotional considerations as well.
 

Saints Rest

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Along with G38, it was my introduction to this site.

I don’t think anyone was thrilled with Donald Fehr, though that likely didn’t represent a change. I also recall a notable number of posts agreeing with Steinbrenner that Henry was cheap after the ‘sour grapes’ statement.

I want to say that it was one of the all time traffic peaks in the site’s history, but that, as they say, is ultimately a question for Senator Nipper.
My recollection is that it was one of the first mega-threads. My guess is that it’s no longer a top-5 biggest thread, but probably still near the bottom of the top 10.
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,516
I was OK with it falling apart because I LOVED Manny...but I was also apoplectic when the MFY got him. That SUUUUUCKED at the time. Funny how shit works out.
 

jmcc5400

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2000
5,858
I was OK with it falling apart because I LOVED Manny...but I was also apoplectic when the MFY got him. That SUUUUUCKED at the time. Funny how shit works out.
Yup. Was more than ok with keeping Nomar and Manny, each of whom I loved at the time. And ARod already had a preening phoniness to him at that point, so I didn't mind that either. But when the MFY got him and SIAS crowed about it, that was a bit much to take - like when they acquired Clemens off of two Cy Youngs after three world series wins in a row.
 

mauidano

Mai Tais for everyone!
SoSH Member
Aug 21, 2006
37,405
Maui
42321
Funny how things sometimes work out for the best. Fuck him and the centaur he rode in on.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
SoSH Member
Feb 4, 2012
39,387
I was OK with it falling apart because I LOVED Manny...but I was also apoplectic when the MFY got him. That SUUUUUCKED at the time. Funny how shit works out.
It was all so perfect.

Boone, the guy who ended our season in '03, gets injured and they need a new 3Bman. And you just knew it was going to happen then.

Just more shit to pile onto the curse of the Bambino...and now? We're spoiled.
 

Oil Can Dan

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2003
8,376
0-3 to 4-3
I was here and it was around 50/50 from what I remember. I loved me some Manny and Nomar but also realized that ARod was ARod. So I, like many others, was conflicted.

But that fuckin statement from SiaS about how sad it was that Henry wouldn't go "the extra mile" or whatever so enraged me. Talk about gasoline onto a fire for me. So glad he was alive to see '04 happen.
 

AlNipper49

Huge Member
Dope
SoSH Member
Apr 3, 2001
45,710
Mtigawi
Along with G38, it was my introduction to this site.

I don’t think anyone was thrilled with Donald Fehr, though that likely didn’t represent a change. I also recall a notable number of posts agreeing with Steinbrenner that Henry was cheap after the ‘sour grapes’ statement.

I want to say that it was one of the all time traffic peaks in the site’s history, but that, as they say, is ultimately a question for Senator Nipper.
This was back in the EZboard days if I recall correctly
 

Nick Kaufman

protector of human kind from spoilers
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2003
13,993
A Lost Time
I’ve been curious: what was the real-time reaction to the possible A-Rod-to-Boston deal on SoSH? Is there anyone who was around in those days who remembers? My guess is that it was mostly positive, but I wonder how many people will admit to that now.
It probably was the longest thread in this board's history. Top 5 for sure. 200 pages plus.
 

slamminsammya

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
11,007
San Francisco
Well I just went and looked up Magglio Ordonez's career numbers since I remember being devastated he was going to replace Manny.

Who knew he randomly put up a 1029 OPS season at age 33 bookended by two good not great years?
 

Niastri

Member
SoSH Member
I started being a regular lurker around that time, in part because of the importance of the trade. I remember telling my dad "this site (SoSH) has every possible angle of the trade figured out. You could read all day!"

But I don't remember SiaS... Who is that?
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
11,845
I was reading SOSH but not a member yet. From what I recall, the hype was huge. Similar to the Nick Punto trade, just fast chatter about it. A-Rod - at that time - was a God.
Same. And yes people were incredibly excited at the thought of A-Rod coming here
 

Oil Can Dan

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2003
8,376
0-3 to 4-3
I had to look it up:

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: “We understand that John Henry must be embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed by his failure in this transaction . . . Unlike the Yankees, he chose not to go the extra distance for his fans in Boston . . . It is time to get on with life and forget the sour grapes.”
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
40,059
Hingham, MA
I had to look it up:

GEORGE STEINBRENNER: “We understand that John Henry must be embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed by his failure in this transaction . . . Unlike the Yankees, he chose not to go the extra distance for his fans in Boston . . . It is time to get on with life and forget the sour grapes.”
I mean, it really was a phenomenal quote by the Boss. He knew how to twist the knife.
 

Plantiers Wart

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 16, 2002
4,258
west hartford
What a pandering douchebag. Is he trying to win over Sox fans??
im glad it didn’t happen. Love Manny. And manny did what ARod never could in a big spot.
And no way he ever got drunk enough to puke. Especially out with his wife. Go fuck yourself ARod. Try to win back Yankee fan
 

BaseballJones

slappy happy
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
26,785
Obviously happy with how it all turned out. But ARod and Magglio in the same basic trade would have been one of the biggest deals in baseball history. They were both absolute monsters.
 

Marceline

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Sep 9, 2002
6,587
Canton, MA

Minneapolis Millers

Wants you to please think of the Twins fans!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
4,753
Twin Cities
I was here and it was around 50/50 from what I remember. I loved me some Manny and Nomar but also realized that ARod was ARod. So I, like many others, was conflicted.

But that fuckin statement from SiaS about how sad it was that Henry wouldn't go "the extra mile" or whatever so enraged me. Talk about gasoline onto a fire for me. So glad he was alive to see '04 happen.
I was lurking at the time, and this is exactly how I and many others felt. (Also wasn’t a huge Ordonez fan.)

But the end result? The very definition of poetic justice, in my book.
 

moondog80

heart is two sizes two small
SoSH Member
Sep 20, 2005
8,764
I was lurking at the time, and this is exactly how I and many others felt. (Also wasn’t a huge Ordonez fan.)

But the end result? The very definition of poetic justice, in my book.
It's interesting., Ordonez was a FA after 2004, I wonder if they would have tried to re-sign him. He wasn't a disaster with Detroit -- one kick ass year in 2007 and a bunch of OK ones, 13.5 WAR in 7 years. Over the same period, Manny has 18.6 WAR.
 

EllisTheRimMan

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 6, 2007
4,560
Csmbridge
I was OK with it falling apart because I LOVED Manny...but I was also apoplectic when the MFY got him. That SUUUUUCKED at the time. Funny how shit works out.
Yup. Me exactly. I wasn’t here on SOSH for the ARod-Manny almost trade. I love Manny, so was quite conflicted even though Rodriguez was an insane talent with huge upside and “Less Baggage”. Pass.

But when he went to the MFY, I was beside myself. Especially after AFB and he who will remain nameless.

Found SOSH right before G38 showed up. Googling for Schilling to Sox updates. Hooked from day one. That was before the “win It for” thread and all our 2nd millennium glory. Thanks guys.

Oh and thanks Alex. You can’t always get what you want.
 

OCD SS

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
I want to say that it was one of the all time traffic peaks in the site’s history, but that, as they say, is ultimately a question for Senator Nipper.
Or LanternJaw… too bad The Ezboard meltdown a couple years later wiped out a bunch of the archives or we could all go back and relive it… except maybe the few who stayed in in Pripyat, I wonder what happened to them… I wasn't a member until later, but was reading, and sometimes things really popped off. I remember the all night explosion based on a rumor that the Sox were going to trade Nomar for Delgado being a pretty seismic event for one night.

As I remember it the deal was Manny, Lester, and a lot of Manny's salary to Texas for ARod. Then Nomar would've been flipped to the ChiSox or Magglio. It looked like the Sox were keeping the offense about the same, but really improving the defense. OTOH the amount of money the Sox were eating made it seem a bit lopsided, but I might be editing my memories on that side. I think that Magglio wound up having some kind of serious leg injury that season that derailed his offense often gets overlooked as another bullet dodged...
 

EllisTheRimMan

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 6, 2007
4,560
Csmbridge
Or LanternJaw… too bad The Ezboard meltdown a couple years later wiped out a bunch of the archives or we could all go back and relive it… except maybe the few who stayed in in Pripyat, I wonder what happened to them… I wasn't a member until later, but was reading, and sometimes things really popped off. I remember the all night explosion based on a rumor that the Sox were going to trade Nomar for Delgado being a pretty seismic event for one night.

As I remember it the deal was Manny, Lester, and a lot of Manny's salary to Texas for ARod. Then Nomar would've been flipped to the ChiSox or Magglio. It looked like the Sox were keeping the offense about the same, but really improving the defense. OTOH the amount of money the Sox were eating made it seem a bit lopsided, but I might be editing my memories on that side. I think that Magglio wound up having some kind of serious leg injury that season that derailed his offense often gets overlooked as another bullet dodged...
MLBPA and MLB objected to the money the Sox were eating. It was out of range for the CBA. Kudos to Henry and Co for being bold.

Nevertheless, trading Manny Ramirez to the Fucking Rangers of that era is a crime against baseball. And we have the evidence because Manny stayed for 2 rings. 2007 ALDS Glorious Walkoff

42331
 

exGloucester

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2003
1,304
D.C.
I hated the idea of losing Manny, and spewed bile in that thread. As Stiffy put it, I think later during one of the trade deadline wait-outs, there is but one Manny, and there shall be no equivalencies.