Where will A-Rod land?

[Mr Crunchy]

damon is in ny to promote his wifes career as the girl who loves water sports in R Kelleys new hit video ""I NEED TO PISS ON YOU"" starring Michelle Damon.,Gary Sheffield,Javier Vasquez and solid gold veteran performer Marilyn McCoo.

 

its a small bit but the begining of something good for the damons

[BudLight]

Quote:

Red Sox would be No.1 on A-Rod's list

Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 8:12 am EST

 

Citing sources close to Alex Rodriguez, the Boston Globe reported Sunday that if Rodriguez could handpick the team he plays for, the Boston Red Sox might be No. 1 on his list.

 

According to The Globe, the source said Rodriguez would love to play for the Sox because he thinks they can win multiple championships.

 

Also, agent Scott Boras has been pleasantly surprised with the early interest in Rodriguez. "Several teams have expressed an interest and there have been a couple of surprise teams I never expected to hear from," he said. Boras would not reveal any names (one of the surprise teams is thought to be the Marlins).

 

Source: The Boston Globe

 

 

With the Yankees out of the bidding for A-Fraud it is no surprise this story would emerge. When one of the two highest spending clubs in baseball drops out (Yankees) Boras is left with no choice except to state something like this. Without Boston in the "mix" the price drops significantly.

[das11209]

Dodgers acquiring Torre should not help the case of A-Rod joining them per Heyman. He always seems to have inside track for Boras client - I believe he broke the news that A-Rod will opt out. Guess Lugofor MVP was wrong when he mentioned that Torre and A-Rod has a great relationship.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/11/05/monday.scoop/index.html

[LUGOforMVP]

Torre said in the press conference today that he does indeed have a good relationship with A-Rod.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Torre said in the press conference today that he does indeed have a good relationship with A-Rod.

 

Out of curiosity, LUGOforMVP, can you think of an instance where a team's new manager has ever taken the moment of one of his first media opportunities to explain his bad relationship with a superstar from his last team, from which he'd been fired?

[YAZMAN]

Quote:

Red Sox would be No.1 on A-Rod's list

Sunday, Nov 4, 2007 8:12 am EST

 

Citing sources close to Alex Rodriguez, the Boston Globe reported Sunday that if Rodriguez could handpick the team he plays for, the Boston Red Sox might be No. 1 on his list.

 

According to The Globe, the source said Rodriguez would love to play for the Sox because he thinks they can win multiple championships.

 

Also, agent Scott Boras has been pleasantly surprised with the early interest in Rodriguez. "Several teams have expressed an interest and there have been a couple of surprise teams I never expected to hear from," he said. Boras would not reveal any names (one of the surprise teams is thought to be the Marlins).

 

Source: The Boston Globe

 

 

With the Yankees out of the bidding for A-Fraud it is no surprise this story would emerge. When one of the two highest spending clubs in baseball drops out (Yankees) Boras is left with no choice except to state something like this. Without Boston in the "mix" the price drops significantly.

 

Hopefully we resign Lowell quickly and he gets hung out to determine his market value without the two biggest payers factoring into the contract.

[Mr Crunchy]

i have given this a lot of thought

boras may have f***ed himself here

outside the free spirit bisexuals in california who admire his courage the rest of basbeall is very sour on this guy.

i am not one of those guys

i think 55-155 in nyc translates into 65-170 with david ortiz in fenway park...

nobody is paying him 360M

i just dont see it happening in chicago or anaheim or from frank mccourt,,who is still past due on his july machine rentals...

[VA Sox Fan]

Re-sign Mike Lowell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rician blast]

I'm not sure how I'll feel about this come the 2008 season but right now, reflecting on the the Sox winning 2 titles in 4 years, I've come to realize something.

 

For me, it's not all about winning.

 

I went to my first Sox game when I was 7. I remember walking up the ramps as we headed to our LF grandstand seats, and I recall finally getting a look at the field, the wall, Reggie Smith was in LF shagging flies, George Scott was there, I got Rico's autograph. I remember the smells, the sounds, I remember it all.

 

I've always been a name on the front kind of fan. I don't get too enamored with individual players, especially superstars. I have always appreciated character and effort as much as talent. I love watching Manny hit, but I equally enjoy watching Ellsbury run the bases. I like seeing guys play hard, enjoy playing the game, and perform as great teammates, not individuals. IMO, baseball is the sport that chemistry means the least because individual performances go such a long way towards team success. Doesn't mean I don't want to see them play as a team, though.

 

I think both the 2004 and 2007 teams showed a lot of the characteristics that I like to see. My concern with ARod IS his character. I think he plays to the camera, I think he assumes (often correctly) that the camera is always on him, I think he feels he is bigger than the team, bigger than the game. I don't like his prancing, the way he sashays out on the field, I don't appreciate some of the tactics he's employed on the field or some of the things he's said off the field. I think he's a phony.

 

All this being said, I am concerned that his presence, even if the Sox win the WS with him, will diminish the experience FOR ME since I've built up a dislike for the guy over the years based on his plastic persona.

 

Selfish? Maybe, but I think the Red Sox can win multiple titles without him, and I'd like to see them try. The Sox are already big-spenders and could be accused of buying a title, a la the NYY. I'm ok with that...but there are limits beyond which I'm afraid the overall experience of being a Sox fan, for me, will be devalued.

 

I've said before, if ARod lands in Boston, I'll support him, and maybe, just maybe, he'll show us all something we haven't seen to date...character. And if they win a another WS title, I guess I'll be happy...but I just can't guarantee that it won't feel a little tainted...a little cheaper...than 2004 and 2007.

 

It's simply not all about winning at all costs for me, and I guess that's why I'm not a Yankees fan (no offense intended).

[example1]

Nice post Rician. I bet all of us can remember seeing that green grass for the first time. Pretty amazing stuff.

 

I actually think that A-Rod hasn't been a negative influence on his teams, he just hasn't been a positive one either. He's been largely neutral (i.e., boring) personality wise. He gets a lot of blame and praise, but I truly don't think his personality has been part of his game since he was in Seattle, or perhaps the beginning of his Texas career. In any case, I could see him lightening up a whole lot with Ortiz behind him, and Ortiz is man enough to pick up the scraps left when A-Rod whifs or makes outs with runners on. If not Ortiz, then Manny. (of course, I probably don't want A-Rod batting 3rd, perhaps 4th would be best).

[TheKilo]

Nice post Rician. I bet all of us can remember seeing that green grass for the first time. Pretty amazing stuff.

 

I actually think that A-Rod hasn't been a negative influence on his teams, he just hasn't been a positive one either. He's been largely neutral (i.e., boring) personality wise. He gets a lot of blame and praise, but I truly don't think his personality has been part of his game since he was in Seattle, or perhaps the beginning of his Texas career. In any case, I could see him lightening up a whole lot with Ortiz behind him, and Ortiz is man enough to pick up the scraps left when A-Rod whifs or makes outs with runners on. If not Ortiz, then Manny. (of course, I probably don't want A-Rod batting 3rd, perhaps 4th would be best).

 

Arod 3rd

Papi 4th

Manny 5th

 

I find it really tough to hear people say he'd be a clubhouse cancer. Look, my hangup with the guy is the length of the contract.

 

If you could do 5/150 for ARod you do that deal yesterday. Any longer than 5 years is not a good investment.

[Taliesin]

I'm not articulate enough to repeat what Rician (and he'll always be CF to me) said, but that explains it EXACTLY for me. It doesn't need to be reiterated.

[See Red]

I'm not articulate enough to repeat what Rician (and he'll always be CF to me) said' date=' but that explains it EXACTLY for me. It doesn't need to be reiterated.[/quote']

 

I'm calling ******** on that one...

[Mr Crunchy]

somehow i find room for 55 155 300

 

ive seen teams with some real **********s win

consider our beloved patriots

would you like to be in a room with belichek alone for 45 minutes??

those yankee teams with mickey rivers and that great pilot orville munson??

the reds with pete rose and joe morgan in the same dugout??

 

now that theyve won,its easy to say ""ya but we did it with good guys""....

schilling and millar should have had their tongues surgically removed,doug meintxxx was a douchebag,who knows why they didnt offer derek lowe a dime....

 

i guess my point is now that we've won its a bit easier to cherry pick what kind of a team we would like to see on the field where as 4 years ago i wouldve settled for the old anguillo crime family starting for us as long as they won...

 

04 went a long way to healing in this area

a very very long way

i can say mike torrez now and not have to swallow my own puke

 

the mere fact that we're discussing this is a beautiful thing

anyone else here george scott on the mike adams show last nite?

he mustve went to speech therapy,he actually sounded like he spoke english

[TheKilo]

somehow i find room for 55 155 300

 

ive seen teams with some real **********s win

consider our beloved patriots

would you like to be in a room with belichek alone for 45 minutes??

those yankee teams with mickey rivers and that great pilot orville munson??

the reds with pete rose and joe morgan in the same dugout??

 

now that theyve won,its easy to say ""ya but we did it with good guys""....

schilling and millar should have had their tongues surgically removed,doug meintxxx was a douchebag,who knows why they didnt offer derek lowe a dime....

 

i guess my point is now that we've won its a bit easier to cherry pick what kind of a team we would like to see on the field where as 4 years ago i wouldve settled for the old anguillo crime family starting for us as long as they won...

 

04 went a long way to healing in this area

a very very long way

i can say mike torrez now and not have to swallow my own puke

 

the mere fact that we're discussing this is a beautiful thing

anyone else here george scott on the mike adams show last nite?

he mustve went to speech therapy,he actually sounded like he spoke english

 

This encapsulates the argument 100%. Well said.

[das11209]

Rotoworld

 

Claiming they filled their spot when they acquired Edgar Renteria, the Tigers won't pursue Alex Rodriguez.

 

"We don't have any interest," GM Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday. They probably no longer have the funds anyway.

[das11209]

and the Marlins:

 

The Marlins won't consider blowing up their budget to land Alex Rodriguez, team president Larry Beinfest said.

 

Beinfest stated that the Marlins "do not plan on speaking to A-Rod or engaging in any type of conversations."

Source: Miami Herald

[a700hitter]

The game itself is what is beautiful, especially when it is played at it's highest level. I don't care if those who play the game like or despise each other. I don't care if they are good guys or not. I like watching the game and I like when the Red Sox win. If ARod will help the team win, I am all for it.

[Varitek33]

The game itself is what is beautiful' date=' especially when it is played at it's highest level. I don't care if those who play the game like or despise each other. I don't care if they are good guys or not. I like watching the game and I like when the Red Sox win. If ARod will help the team win, I am all for it.[/quote']

 

My feelings are generally the same.

I may not like ARod as a person, but I know what he would bring to this team.

[Taliesin]

but I know what he would bring to this team.

 

Abject futility when it really counts and a divisive personality who commands LOOK AT ME, ME, ME into the first truly cohesive team from the top down, in my lifetime. I totally agree.

[TheKilo]

Abject futility when it really counts and a divisive personality who commands LOOK AT ME' date=' ME, ME into the first truly cohesive team from the top down, in my lifetime. I totally agree.[/quote']

 

It's not even worth trying to make the argument anymore.

 

You know who else had a "ME ME ME" attitude? Pedro Martinez.

[Jayhawk Bill]

You know who else had a "ME ME ME" attitude? Pedro Martinez.

 

Yes, but Pedro was somehow almost cute while doing it; abrasive, but cute. And he was smart--when it wore thin in his contract year, he brought Nelson de la Rosa along for comic relief.

 

A-Rod hasn't yet found a ballclub that can assimilate him. For what it's worth, I believe that the Boston Red Sox could do that: I believe the team to be greater and stronger than A-Rod's personality. I just have to say that those who believe otherwise might have a point.

 

Although...if A-Rod came to Boston for 26,999,999 per year guaranteed for three years and 29,999,999 per year guaranteed for five more years, I think that every shred of ill will generated in the past could be dissolved with the stroke of a pen on the contract.

[Taliesin]

Well then don't bother, because I'm not arguing with you or anyone else. I'm expressing an opinion. Lot's of players have that kind of ego. No way to succeed at that level without having an enormous opinion of your ability. Not simply arguing that he is a colossal dick...could care less about that in reality. I don't know any of these people personally. For all I know Schilling kicks his dog on a regular basis. This isn't Petey w/ his quirks, this is a person who will bring the circus to town every day and not in a good way. Actually no circus is good...clowns frighten me.

 

He's a huge clown. This a person who not only thinks he's above the "beautiful game"...he deters from it in ways that I find egregious. If you ask me to explain it by connect the dot numbers, it's not going to happen, because it's just a feeling I get when watching how he goes about his merry smarmy way in every respect. The team ain't broke. Doesn't need fixing...just some tweaking. Greed...with apologies to Gordon Gecko ain't good and every single moment of the next ten years would be about him.

 

Not willing to sell my soul just yet and this isn't a remake of Damn Yankees.

[Paradisecity]

I'm not for or against A-Rod coming here. If the sox get a good deal, good for them, if not, happy to see him elsewhere- a couple thoughts:

 

"this team ain't broke. Doesn't need fixing".

 

True. 2004's team wasn't broke either. Petey, DFL, KFC, Dougie ballhog, O-Cab, Billy M, JD Forehead. These men were loved by many, some of them by all. And if we kept them we wouldn't have won another World Series.

 

What about A-Rod makes him a dick? A fag? ok, sure, he tries to hard and parts of his personality scream, no define "effeminate". Lets get it straight people. He doesn't treat people like Barry Bonds. He speaks out much less than Curt. He cheats less than Boggs, or DFL.

 

A-Rod's personality is what the media makes of it, much like "spy-gate", steroids in MLB (and somehow NOT in the NFL), and any other story or lack thereof. If they decide to put something, or PART of something in the spotlight, thats just how it is. They can ignore blatant game fixing (see last sunday) just as easily as they can put up 24 hour media coverage about Michael Vick. If this isn't clear to you, ask Jim Ed. He'll explain it for you loud and clear.

 

What did A-Rod do in New York that was so awful, honestly? Did someone piss on his wife? Was he speaking in the third person in every interview? Was he picking fights with teammates? Smoke crack out of his glove between plays at third? So far I haven't heard of any of that. But i did hear that HE HIT 50 f***ING HOME RUNS AND BROUGHT IN 150 RBI'S AND BATTED .314 IN THE TOUGHEST PLACE TO PLAY FOR THE MOST FICKLE, BANDWAGON, TWO FACED FANS ON THE PLANET.

 

So if they canget him for the right money and not sign him for the next decade, then who the f*** cares? Give him a shot.

 

Anyone remember who hit that grand slam after the two "important, awesome, best ever" players went down with the bases juiced. essentially killing the Guardians pitching staff for the rest of the series?

 

I'll give you a hint. He hit over .300 in the postseason, despite being known as a "choker"

 

We don't need A-Rod. I don't need a million dollars. but If I can get a million dollars for 750,000....i'll take it.

 

And lastly, I don't think any of this matters, because I don't think he would have opted out if he was concerned with money first. He was sick of the circus, and sick of millions of fans judging everything from his left nostril to what ugly women he brought home. He was sick of hearing about whether he was a "true yankee". He must have been sick of it, because we were sick of it, and he had to hear it 100 times for every one time we heard it. If so, good for him.

[Taliesin]

Excellent post PC and I don't buy into the media manipulation in any way as I imagine you know about me by now. Jim Ed was reviled by their ilk..the list of our own players who have been eaten by the wolves is legion. See: Shank: Manny/Schilling/Petey et al. Buckley blows, etc. Teddy Ballgame was a wonderfully cantankerous thorn in their sides for years and only revisionist history on their part changed the dynamic of that relationship in their minds. Yaz was a cranky, non-speaking curmudgeon. They revile and spit upon those who deign not to bow to their absolute power which corrupts absolutely. Eddie Murray comes to mind.

 

This guys own teammates despise him. He is universally disliked ...and that is by actual quotes and non-quotes and non-support in the most telling situations when you would think someone (and not just the kid he ostensibly saved from a bus) would say anything to support him.

 

Ya...I think his leaving was a big f*** you to the bozo MWID fan base and the constant unending pressure to play in that cesspool under those bright lights. He should definitely come to to friendly Fenway where hardly anyone cares about game results and the denizens of the Boring Broadsheet will give him puff pieces every day of his career. Much less pressure to play in Boston. He didn't do a damn think when it counted in that Cleveland series. Dice-K has bigger post-season hits. Throw down the .300...it matters naught.

 

This isn't a trip down memory lane and absolutely that 04' team should have been dismantled and only nostalgia would have said otherwise. There is a glaring possible hole as a RH power hitter in the not to distant future. We need a catcher pretty soon. 3B is up in the air. We also have a core nucleus that was not there in 03' 04' ...for years to come ...built on...wait for it. PITCHING. Which is the most important thing IMHO. :-)

[example1]

Jesus, what a joke! I know its nice to dislike A-Rod and everything, but really, does he deserve to be vilified the way some here are doing? I mean, he's not Milton Bradley. He's not out there saying "I am the greatest". He's not demanding to leave early to go home instead of the all-star game; he's not showing up late at spring training; he's not sitting on the bench down the stretch; he's not lolligagging around the bases.

 

If anything we're talking about taking the guy who carried our biggest rival last year and placing him either on our team or on a less-significant team. There is no truth to the fact that A-Rod is a clubhouse cancer. He just didn't fit in in New York. There were too many egos and he was acquired at a time when the Yankees wanted to win very badly. They didn't and he took the blame. A-Rod would be less of a personality than either Manny or Ortiz, and I guarantee that Curt Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Papelbon, Varitek, Youkilis, Pedroia and Drew would be enough talent and big-names to take the pressure off.

[Taliesin]

I'll send him a stripper gram for you. I mean group hug. Now, he's a vilified misunderstood man-oh-the-people. (Has Boras stopped by your house tonight?) While he rapes and pillages his way to an obscene contract that could support most third-world nations, not to mention buy 11 major league teams. I've never been a cap person, but he's starting to change my mind. And, hey I'm a capitalist and go for it...but Yeesh. No...he doesn't lollygag...so to speak. He slaps balls ....ah hem and yells Ha! and generally offends people who play the game right (and before you start w/ the Manny argument I'll stop ya...Manny has a W.S. MVP) Arguably, the most physically gifted baseball player of perhaps all time. What you little one's don't see are intangibles.

 

Yes, I'm sure the transcendent shine of all of our players in all of their glory would make him a humble servant of the lord of baseball. The naivete is astounding. Crunchy can be forgiven because he's been voting Democrat since Truman and has some ingrained mental defect in general and poor P.C. is stuck in a frozen communist country that wants to defect and elect Ben and Jerry as President, but since the majority believes the fraud as the second coming I'll just retreat to my expatriate dreams. Can you spell duped?

 

He doesn't "say" anything BTW. He's a glossy P.R. machine. The opposite of all that I like about baseball players and THE GAME in general, and that's just my f***ing opinion.

[example1]

I'll send him a stripper gram for you. I mean group hug. Now' date=' he's a vilified misunderstood man-oh-the-people. (Has Boras stopped by your house tonight?) While he rapes and pillages his way to an obscene contract that could support most third-world nations, not to mention buy 11 major league teams. I've never been a cap person, but he's starting to change my mind. And, hey I'm a capitalist and go for it...but Yeesh. No...he doesn't lollygag...so to speak. He slaps balls ....ah hem and yells Ha! and generally offends people who play the game right (and before you start w/ the Manny argument I'll stop ya...Manny has a W.S. MVP) Arguably, the most physically gifted baseball player of perhaps all time. What you little one's don't see are intangibles. [/quote']

 

I'm not hating on Manny. I love the way Manny plays the game. Manny being Manny is no different from A-Rod being A-Rod or Barry being Barry. Is it really that hard to see that they are all just superstars and they all have their peculiarities? Many people outside of Boston really, really dislike Manny. Is that justified? Perhaps, but they would be stupid to think that he would come to some other team and ruin its chemistry.

 

The last 3 years the Yankees have scored 968 (1st), 930(1st), and 886 (2nd) runs. A-Rod is an offensive machine and didn't hurt his team. I think the naivety is coming from he who feels inclined to say that one of baseball's best hitters ever (in his prime) is somehow 'tainted' and will come in and suddenly the lives and careers of pitchers like Papelbon, Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Schilling will just fall apart. David Ortiz will suddenly forget how to hit and not know how to relate to his teammates. Terry Francona will start losing all faith in statistics and move A-Rod to 9th in the batting order.

 

 

I'm not A-Rod's biggest fan. I'm about as fond of him as I was of JD Drew before the Sox got him last year. He's looked like a douche, but he hasn't done anything to "ruin" the game. Don't turn this argument into a "who earns what" discussion. Instead of talking about salary, we can talk about value. How do you feel about all the guys who make millions and SUCK. Do teams loaded with players who suck sell out game after game? Do people lineup on the sidewalks and online to buy seats to see teams loaded with Alex Cora's? There are some players who get people to pay to watch, A-Rod is one of those guys, and frankly it's not even close.

 

In an era filled with guys who have been loading their bodies to add more power, I am always skeptical of being too enamored with guys who put up Ruthian numbers. If I were the Red Sox I would tread carefully until the players are identified from the Mitchell investigation.

 

If the Sox end up with Lowell then great. I think both are fine options. I just don't think anyone should jump off a bridge if the Sox FO is drawn to A-Rods ridiculous numbers.

[yankeessuck013]

Dice-K has bigger post-season hits. Throw down the .300...it matters naught.

 

Let's not overblow the ARod in the postseason thing.

 

Miguel Cabrera - 68 at bats, .786 OPS

Alex Rodriguez - 147 at bats, .844 OPS

Derek Jeter: 495 at bats, .846 OPS

Manny Ramirez - 353 at bats, .889 OPS

David Ortiz - 189 at bats, 1.005 OPS

 

For all the talk about Jeter's postseason heroics and ARod's colossal failures, they've put up quite similar offensive lines.

[ORS]

Yeah, but Jeter's numbers are more in line with his career stats, ARod's fall short of his career baseline. Of course, Jeter's had almost a full season's worth of stats, and I suspect given similar opportunities, ARod's would be closer to career levels.