Allow me to preface this blogs' inaugural entry by stating that I was one of Alex Rodriguez' most avid supporters. In 2006, when he was being unfairly attacked by the fans and the media, I spent many a night defending Alex to my unsympathetic friends and blogging counterparts. At the various games that I attended, I stood and cheered Alex while he was mercilessly booed. To me, his only failing seemed to be the ridiculous notion that he was not "a real Yankee." I rejected that oft-repeated assertion, and respected Alex for being a great player who was willing to swallow his pride and move to third base in order to join a winning club. So when A-Rod began to curry favor among Yankee fans with his exceptional season, I looked on with a mixture of pride and haughtiness, giving myself credit for sticking with A-Rod until he became a 'true Yankee'. However, as I sit here today, I cannot help but feel as if I personally, as a fan, was duped. Alex spent the entire season reassuring Yankee fans that he loved New York, and would love to stay a Yankee. He even had the gall, the audacity, to state that he could not imagine himself playing for any other team. Yet, when Opening Day 2008 rolls around, he will be in some other city, in some other uniform, hitting cleanup in some other lineup. Had Alex listened to the Yankees offer and found it unsatisfactory, that would have been upsetting, but at least understandable. Rather, he refused to even come to the bargaining table prior to opting out, which is indicative of one thing: his incredible desire to leave New York. He claims that the state of flux the club is in was the reason for his decision, as he was unsure of the direction that the team was going. There has never been a more disingenuous statement made in the history of free agency. Query any player in baseball as to which team they had the most confidence in to be a contender on a yearly basis, all would pick the Yankees. Claiming that he feared the Yankees were going to ALLOW themselves to fall from contention is so patently ridiculous that it is fairly insulting for Alex to believe that the Yankee faithful will accept it as a reasonable impetus for opting out. The Yankees were about to offer him a spot on the richest and most consistently competitive team in the sport for the remainder of his playing days, with a contract worth 10 million dollars more annually than the next greatest non-AROD contract in history. He turned down that chance because he cannot handle this city, cannot handle the media, and cannot handle the spotlight. I have rejected the notion of "the True Yankee" for many a year now. However, the disastrous A-Rod chapter of Yankee lore, which included a historic collapse to Boston, 3 first round exits, and two Boston World Championships, has opened my eyes. I do not know if there are, in actuality ,specific qualities that make one fit to play for the Yankees. I do know, however, that if there are such qualities, Arod clearly does not have them. To him I say, good riddance. The Yankees went to 6 World Series in 8 years before you appeared, and will return once you are gone. You leave a team that is loaded with young pitching, a team that may not be able to replace your statistics, but can easily replace your heart, easily remedy the very tiny hole you leave in the clubhouse. The Yankees will be fine. They will have to replace Alex by getting stronger in various positions, such as at first base and in the bullpen, as well as signing a capable third baseman to man the hot corner. They will continue to win, because they are the Yankees and that is what they do. Of course, Alex will continue to do what he does- hit long homeruns and infuriate fan bases around the country. Whoever signs the regular season warrior may win some more games, but will never win the big ones. Wherever he does go, the fans of that city will eventually come to know the feeling that I am suddenly experiencing now- an intense dislike and disrespect for one Alex Rodriguez.
The purpose of this blog, just to set the stage for its (hopefully) continued existence, is twofold. Firstly, I hope to provide my feelings and opinions about the New York Yankees on a daily basis, and I look forward to some stimulating and intelligent discussion regarding the club as well as baseball in general. Furthermore, I hope to indulge my petty side from time to time, following and mocking the trials and tribulations of the 252 million dollar man and his incredibly ridiculous life. I hope that the blog can achieve some level of success with your support.
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7 comments:
I completely agree with you feelings. I never was a huge A-Rod fan but I still defended him and stuck by him. When he had the year he did, I thought finally people will start accepting him. Finally the team and him start to mesh and he becomes a true yankee. When I heard all the news reports and "experts" about how A-Rod would definitely opt out, I didn't agree with them. I thought the Yankees wouldn't let him go. I thought A-Rod finally had a chance to really become part of something. Instead of being the richest player in baseball, and just some "hired gun" who goes to the team who offers him the most money, I thought he'd stay in New York and be known as a Yankee. Sadly, A-Rod said what type of person he is. A-Rod and $cott Bora$ showed the country and New Yorkers what type of person he really is. I hope the team that signs him truly in aware of the person he is. He may break record after record but he is all about himself. If the Mets or Red Sox want him, I say go ahead. I'd love it if the Sox went after him and Lowell became a free agent. No longer will I ever defend A-Rod! I don't know your thoughts on Melky but I think he has earned himself a spot as a starter. I think Matsui has basically become a DH. I'd like to see the Yankees cut ties with Abreu. I feel like he is really overrated. I think we should spend some of that extra cash on either Torri Hunter or Aaron Rowand. Then I'd like to start rebuilding the bullpen. See if there are any takers of Farnsworth, Igawa, Matt DeSalvo, Chase Wright, Tyler Clippard. I think it is becoming clearer and clearer that the Yankees do not see Wright, DeSalvo, or Clippard as starters on the Yankees in the future. Besides, there are much better pitchers coming up behind them Horne, Sanchez, or Betances. There are usually reasons why guys are 27 and still in the minors. I'd see what we could get for those guys, probably in the area of relievers. We've got to bring back Mo and Posada. I feel like those two are irreplaceable. I'd like to see Vizcaino return and the same goes for Edwar Ramirez. I think Sean Henn is garbage. I think the Yankees rotation could be very very good next year. At the same time, I know there are some huge question marks. I am praying to the baseball gods that Andy returns. I dont know where we will be if he leaves. I do have a lot of faith in Hughes, Joba and Kennedy pitching well next year. Lets just keep our fingers crossed. The bullpen is where we really could be screwed. Lets do the best we can with this off season on look forward to March. New season
I completely agree with you feelings. I never was a huge A-Rod fan but I still defended him and stuck by him. When he had the year he did, I thought finally people will start accepting him. Finally the team and him start to mesh and he becomes a true yankee. When I heard all the news reports and "experts" about how A-Rod would definitely opt out, I didn't agree with them. I thought the Yankees wouldn't let him go. I thought A-Rod finally had a chance to really become part of something. Instead of being the richest player in baseball, and just some "hired gun" who goes to the team who offers him the most money, I thought he'd stay in New York and be known as a Yankee. Sadly, A-Rod said what type of person he is. A-Rod and $cott Bora$ showed the country and New Yorkers what type of person he really is. I hope the team that signs him truly in aware of the person he is. He may break record after record but he is all about himself. If the Mets or Red Sox want him, I say go ahead. I'd love it if the Sox went after him and Lowell became a free agent. No longer will I ever defend A-Rod! I don't know your thoughts on Melky but I think he has earned himself a spot as a starter. I think Matsui has basically become a DH. I'd like to see the Yankees cut ties with Abreu. I feel like he is really overrated. I think we should spend some of that extra cash on either Torri Hunter or Aaron Rowand. Then I'd like to start rebuilding the bullpen. See if there are any takers of Farnsworth, Igawa, Matt DeSalvo, Chase Wright, Tyler Clippard. I think it is becoming clearer and clearer that the Yankees do not see Wright, DeSalvo, or Clippard as starters on the Yankees in the future. Besides, there are much better pitchers coming up behind them Horne, Sanchez, or Betances. There are usually reasons why guys are 27 and still in the minors. I'd see what we could get for those guys, probably in the area of relievers. We've got to bring back Mo and Posada. I feel like those two are irreplaceable. I'd like to see Vizcaino return and the same goes for Edwar Ramirez. I think Sean Henn is garbage. I think the Yankees rotation could be very very good next year. At the same time, I know there are some huge question marks. I am praying to the baseball gods that Andy returns. I dont know where we will be if he leaves. I do have a lot of faith in Hughes, Joba and Kennedy pitching well next year. Lets just keep our fingers crossed. The bullpen is where we really could be screwed. Lets do the best we can with this off season on look forward to March. New season
sorry didn't mean to hit that twice
Its cool with the twice thing. I agree, I would love for the Mets or Sox to get him. Send me Lowell. Id keep Abreu for one year, Have Damon in left and Matsui as DH. I would use Melky as tradebait for a Santana (Maybe with Wang and Marquez?), and sign Hunter, and try to add Chad Tracy or Nick Johnson at first. With that plan, you lose Arod, but the improvement at first, in center, and in the pitching staff more than compensates for the gap between Alex and Lowell.
Arod is a true piece of sh!t. He doesnt wanna play here? Fine. I dont want him here, he will get a worse offer from a worse team and will never win a world series. I used to subscribe to the popular motto "I'm a fan of 2 teams- the yankees and whomever is playing the redsox". I'm gonna chnage it to "I'm a fan of 3 teams, The yankees and who ever is playing the redsox and whomever is playing against the team arod is on."
The Yankees need to dump Damon, Abreau, Giambi, and Mussina, and somehow trade for Santana, it would help if it involved them and perhaps Wang and some other prospects aside from Joba, Phil, and Ian. The Mets would never get A-Rod because they have already invested money in Reses and Wright, and they are both well liked by the fans. If the Bosox get him, he'll be playing short once again, and Lugo will be out, because Lowell is gonna stay. The Angels might go after him, and you maybe, maybe even the Dodgers, theres really no telling, but my moneys on the Angels or Bosox. The Yankees are going to need to get a third baseman as well unless they have a prospect there too. They'll most like spend 10-15 mil and overpay someone for a couple of years but what are you going to do.
Whether we like it or not, Giambi is going to be on the team in 2008. He is owed over 21 million next year. No one would take on that salary for someone who hit .236 14HRs 39RBIs and is a constant health risk. Not to mention, Giambi also has a no trade clause. So as much as I'd like to see them get rid of him, it seems almost impossible. We're stuck with him until the end of next year. I agree with you that we should get rid of Abreu. He should be killing the ball with that short porch. There is no way he is worth 16 million, which he is owed if we pick up the option. I am really hoping the red sox so how let go of Lowell. I dont think they will but if they did, that would be amazing!
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