Good Riddance
Monday, October 29, 2007 at 07:29AM 
Yes, I am very surprised that A-Rod opted out of his contract. I'm even more surprised by the tacky way he did it.
Reportedly, the Yankees were offering huge bucks for a 5-year extension, but A-Rod opted out before even beginning negotiations with the Yanks. He refused to return calls to the Steinbrenners and to GM Brian Cashman. Since the Yanks have made it clear that they will not negotiate with A-Rod should he go down this road, he's gone. Too bad, but certainly not the end of the world (to quote my least favorite player, Manny Ramirez).
Translation--A-Rod's agent (Scott Boras) must have a deal in place with someone else, and it will cost them upwards of the 230 million that would have been owed A-Rod if he played the next ten years for the Yankees.
Good luck to whoever signs this guy. He's a great player, but he's driven by money, his agent is a snake, and he hasn't shown that he makes his team any better. To make such an announcement during the final game of the World Series, stealing Boston's thunder, is about as tacky as it gets. Don't forget that the Mariners won 116 games the first season after A-Rod left.
So, while I am surprised, I am not saddened. The Yankees have not won a World Series with A-Rod. They'll have oodles of money to spend on pitching. And as we have seen with this year's Red Sox, last year's White Sox, and so on, it is pitching, pitching and more pitching which makes a team successful.
A-Rod is walking away from a chance to enter the Hall of Fame as a Yankee and have a plaque one day in his honor in Monument Park in the New Yankees Stadium. Now he'll just be seen as a greedy hired gun, without a team, without a World Series ring, and without any shame. As Pete Abraham puts it (Click here: The LoHud Yankees Blog), "he's now the homeless Hall of Famer." He is, as Buster Olney puts it, trying to place himself above the game (Click here: ESPN - Olney: A-Rod upstages the World Series - MLB). Baseball fans tend to frown on that.
So, A-Rod, good riddance! To you Angels, Dodgers and Red Sox fans who may end up with this guy, be careful what you wish for -- caveat emptor!
Reader Comments (23)
but goodness, is there anyway the Yanks make the playoffs w/ out A-Rod this past season?
A-Rod didn't make the Yankees any better?
Yankees fans will turn on this guy, then cheer when they go out and sign some 3B to a $10 mil. per season contract.
Good thing there aren't pastors out there who use churches as stepping stones, looking for the best call, where their "family's needs will be met".
They Yankees have suffered in the recent few years due to many changes in team members. They lack the cohesion they once had as a team. They operated as one fluid unit in so many ways for years, now there are too many separate egos, each wanting their own spotlight.
Hopefully, the Yankees will invest their money in obtaining some excellent proven pitchers. That is their strongest weakness.
The Yankees survived many winning years without A-Rod, and they will rise again ... provided they strengthen their pitching pool.
Personally, being from Long Island originally, I'd love to see another Subway Series!
Everyone happy.
However, as a Cardinal fan, I drool at the thought of Pujols and Rodriguez in the 3 and 4 spot.
Matt Holst
I totally agree with everything Pastor R. just said.
However, as a Cardinal fan, I drool at the thought of Pujols and Rodriguez in the 3 and 4 spot.
Also as a die-hard Cardinals fan, I would be happy with a total of 20 wins out of Carpenter/Mulder next year and spend the 300 gazillion dollars putting more seats in the stadium. Tried to get Cardinal tickets recently??
FWIW
Just another example about why the Yankees are so loathed by so many baseball fans. Again...it's not necessarily the players, but the attitude of their management.
Listen to how we turn on someone and slander them when we really do NOT have the proof we think we do.
a. Teams are better once A-Rod departs
oh really?
What did Seattle do the last five years while A-Rod was battimg .340 and continuing on pace to break Barry Bonds record?
How about Texas the last five years?
Both of those teams would not be better w/out A-Rod? Oh please...
b. A-Rod only cares about the money?
Good grief folks, and why is it Boston has gotten Free Agents to come sign with them? Because they pay out a payroll trying to compete w/ the Yankees, that's why! Schilling, Manny, Dice K, Beckett don't care about the money but A-Rod does?
I see. Yea, right.
c. A-Rod would not have hit vs. the pitching of 40 years ago.
Again, goodness, If A-Rod couldn't, then would you please tell me who playing today could?
Oh, yea, Manny Ramirez, I forgot.
Next thing you are going to tell me is Manny is a better all-around athlete / player than A-Rod too?
By the way, before you jump to the wrong conclusion, I ALWAYS since 1978 have rooted for the RED SOX vs. the Yankees.
So see, I am not a Yankee fan.
It was also suggested, too much winning going on in Seattle and NY Yankees and that is why A-Rod is leaving?
Are you people for real?
Tell all of us, what is the greatest disappointment A-Rod has in Baseball.
It's easy, he did not get it done in October! He was crushed by it, why? Because he wants to win!
Then I read since he doesn't care about winning look for him to go to KC, Pitts, or Tampa Bay.
People do you see what you are doing?
You are automatically imposing bad motives on whatever he does! You are placing A-Rod in a catch 22. He can't win whatever he does and you get to cast the first stone... and evidently many more as well.
What if A-Rod DID go to Pitts, KC, Tampa? Why can't you say, "he wanted out of the huge fishbowl, the unfair criticism of the NY media who never gave Jeter the same criticism when he stunk it up in October!
Honestly, I am surprised by how you are all so easily piling on as you are.
Lastly, it was not A-Rod but his agent strategically putting A-Rod in the news. Scott wants his client's name in the sports news as much as possible. Perhaps you should cast some of your christian stones his way?
Lastly, just because some one has big numbers does not mean he is NOT a team player. You are confusing basketball which necessitates much more cohesion.
Folks this is baseball. You know... pitcher vs. individual batter 4 or 5 times a game?
Bottom Line:
A-Rod has the greatest offensive numbers out there because he has and remains the best offensive player in baseball.
And for some reason you fail to admit that in every profession people are moving to where they get what they feel is the best deal for them and their family.
And yes, it even goes on in the church.
I live to far away (Colorado) to make it to Cards games anymore. I didn't realize that getting tickets was an issue. I suppose for the team that's a good problem to have!
I agree with your take on Carpentar and Mulder. If those two are healthy next year and Wainright continues to improve, the Cards could again have a top pitching staff.
So, A_Rod is a clubhouse cancer just like Kobe Bryant?
Oh is he?
Oh, when did A-Rod demand that he or Jeter be traded because the team either had to be A-Rod's or Jeter's?
When did A-Rod give Joe Torre trouble as Kobe has repeatedly to Phil Jackson?
Again, I have NEVER rooted for the Yankees / A-Rod, but I am amazed at how we are freely throwing stones, making unfair accusations at A-Rod revealing we don't know what we are talking about, and we freely slander him not caring if we are right either. People we are merely imitating sports talk radio and its callers.
Think about it.
You must not follow the Yankees very close. I would suggest reading the story from Buster Olney linked above. Then read Murray Chass from yesterday's NY Times.
A-Rod's behavior was better this year, but the way in which he left the Yankees is about as unprofessional as it gets--especially since he spent all year telling his teammates that he felt at home and that he wanted to stay. He opted out without talking to the owner, his GM or his teammates, and he made his big announcement when the Red Sox were celebrating their WS victory. Tacky.
A-Rod's circumstances are different than Kobe's (in terms of what was demanded and when), but it is the same disease--"me firstism." I think that is all Walt was saying.
Contrast that with Andy Pettitte's comments today about being grateful and honoring his commitments to his team.
"I live to far away (Colorado) to make it to Cards games anymore. I didn't realize that getting tickets was an issue. I suppose for the team that's a good problem to have!"
Yeah - the new stadium maxes out at around 45,000 (you could get 52-53,000 in old Busch). Every game is sold out - which is great unless you're looking for tickets.
The ironic thing is, do you remember when scalping tickets was illegal...and now it can be done right from the website by season ticket holders!!!
Oh the trials and tribulations.....nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
Just kidding
By the way Ivan - decent post. Even sports and sports personalities need to be viewed and commented on through the lens of Scripture.
Peace, love and joy in Christ!
Think about it."
I actually don't listen to sports talk radio. Haven't in at least 10 years.
That aside, all I was saying is that the 'me-firstism' is a cancer to any ball club and must be rooted out. No I in team. But the comparisons between A-Rods philandering and Kobe's are there, if you want to draw them.