Crowd rises to A-Rod’s defense
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 24, 2007 
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There was a small crowd at Legends Field today, maybe 1,000 people, and the music was softer than it usually is.
So it was easy to hear when some joker yelled out, “Hey, A-Rod, you suck!” as Alex Rodriguez was leaving the batting cage after taking a few swings against Kei Igawa.
Even Rodriguez turned and look at the guy, who was wearing a Dartmouth t-shirt. It sort of made you wince because you knew everybody had heard it. A few people turned and told the guy to shut up.
When it was Rodriguez’s turn again, the crowd gave him a nice ovation with some fans standing and shouting encouragement. He cracked a ball into right field and the cheers got even louder.
What does this all mean? Hard to say. But I get the sense that most Yankee fans want to cut the guy a break and are pulling for him.
All the good fans usually come to Spring Training to watch their teams. Yankee Stadium is usually where you run into a few misguided idiots. I always cheered on A-Rod and when I ask someone who boos him why they are doing it, they say he always strikes out when it counts. They cant really say anything else, they read the paper and pawn of what they hear. No offense to everyone in the media Pete but I bet if there were no newspapers, blogs, audio commentary during the game, etc. (the stuff that molds IMPRESSIONABLE people) then u wouldn’t hear nearly as many boo birds following A-Rod.
I dont understand people the boo AROD he is a sensitive dude so if you a Yankee fan and want your team to do well which mean AROD doing well its not helping by booing hum. I understand when someone gets boo’d for not hustling or not giving it there all but this guy tries and really cares. Like for example you can boo a guy like sheff because that can get him mad and he will do better but sensitive guys like AROD who give it there all your not helping the situation by booing him, and if you think different your just blind to the situation.
That’s why Dartmouth is a safety school.
Hell yeah A-Rod ought to be cheered. And the idiot from Dartmouth ought to head back to school and resume drinking.
“But I get the sense that most Yankee fans want to cut the guy a break and are pulling for him.”
It’s only too bad this wasn’t the case last year when almost every sports journalist in NY and practically half the fans in the home ballpark were treating him like a child-molesting leper.
I hope 2007 is different, but I really doubt it will be. This hatred of Alex has taken on a life of its own and it’s almost a compulsory aspect of the Yankee fan experience to go just to boo the guy.
We’ll all be sorry when he’s in Anaheim or Chicago next year, trust me.
I dont understand people that boo AROD he is a sensitive dude so if you a Yankee fan and want your team to do well which mean AROD doing well its not helping by booing hum. I understand when someone gets boo’d for not hustling or not giving it there all but this guy tries and really cares. Like for example you can boo a guy like sheff because that can get him mad and he will do better but sensitive guys like AROD who give it there all your not helping the situation by booing him, and if you think different your just blind to the situation.
I hope Alex saw heard people come to his defense. In my mind you boo the opposing teams players not your own. It doesn’t help!
Smart people don’t boo A Rod. Dumbs ones do.
The guy def. didnt go to Dartmouth, thats for sure.
Living in Red Sox Nation, the Arod bashing is just unbearable. They constantly whine about how much he whines.I have never understood it.
I think they are still bitter about him not wanting to play for Boston a couple of years back. I was a the day game last summer when he hit the walk-off homer against the Braves. At that moment I realized that Arod doesn’t deserve any boos. We as fans are spoiled. We have watched Jeter rise to the occasion time and time again.
I can guaretee that Dartmouth fool made a wrong turn when he was heading to Fort Myers.
Yah Arod……We love you…….!!!!! You are going to have a great year! With a little support from us……and your massive talent……..I am thinking……maybe 55-56 home runs this year. What do you say to 139 RBI’s??!! Go for it Bro.
I would have punched the Darmouth guy in the face. No lie.
Kevin:
A-Rod was willing to go to Boston a few years back, but the players’ association wouldn’t allow the contract restructured the way the Red Sox wanted.
Which makes Red Sox fans’ pathological hatred for him all the more asinine.
Interesting insight, Kevin.
I agree, people sometimes expect too much. I’m not a stat-head, but I recall reading a while back some ESPN (or somewhere else?) analysis that showed that his performance with men on base, his BA was very similar to his overall BA this past year. Not better in the clutch, but not worse. And this was, for him, an off-year. The vast majority of players would kill for a year like that.
I agree, give the guy a break.
Kevin- The problem with your theory is that A-Rod DID want to play for the Sawx; he was even willing to give up a portion of his salary to facilitate the deal. The players’ union then stepped in, and wouldn’t let him do so (fearing it would set bad precedent or whatever).
Then Aaron Boone hurt himself playing pick-up basketball, and we all know what happened next…
He’s just jealous since Arod lives in the greatest city in the world while he lives in the most boring.
Who ever’s that heckling Arod’s probably a Redsox Fan? He’s a dumbass. I hope Yankees ban him .
Hey Pete
What was arod’s reaction to the fan (did he actually say anything, see any birds)? and to the standing o?
Thanks for the awesome work!
Sunny
Red Sox wouldn’t nut up and spend what they needed to to get ARod, so instead of being mad at their thrifty ownership, Red Sox fans blamed ARod. It’s funny.
I’m happy more Yankee fans are passing the IQ test.
my brother from dartmouth was the only one there who has any kind of memory and understands numbers–1 for 14=.071
How about this number Bill? 2007.
Get over the past.
Where was the dude on the segway when you need him? Oh yeah, forcing older patrons from their seats.
Has anyone seen Dustin Pedroia? I think Curt Schilling ate him. Those spikes can’t be good for the intestinal tract.
I can play the numbers game too. Do you realize that the Red Sox had a sub .500 winning percentage against American League teams? Do you realize that their Pythagorean W/L record was 81-81. And do you realize that Mike Lowell cannot pick up Alex Rodriguez’s jockstrap?
stacey– you need to see the same psychologist he sees
“my brother from dartmouth was the only one there who has any kind of memory and understands numbers—1 for 14=.071″
Does your brother understand small sample size or does that come in his 5th year of college?
I see a psychologist already numbnuts. Making fun of someone who sees a therapist is really mature.
Zing
Let’s review:
1) bill is proud that his supposed brother knows nothing about baseball.
2) bill is proud that he knows nothing about baseball or sample sizes.
3) bill thinks seeing a psychologist is a bad thing.
4) bill is unaware that he has revealed that he has more psychological problems than even Freud could resolve.
Dartmouth T-Shirt=Red Sox fan.
My theory on Yankee fans booing ARod:
This is mostly the “Post-96″ crowd. The Post-96 crowd are “fans” (and I use the term loosely) who think the Yankees should win the World Series every year. Any season they don’t should result in mass firings. They are folks who live and die by what’s said on talk radio and what is said by their heroes on ESPN.
In other words, they are clueless baseball fans who want to try and sell the fact the guy can’t play when in fact, his “bad” seasons equal career seasons for most players in the game.
MJ has it right. When he is gone next year, Yankee fans will realize what they missed with ARod. Hopefully, he has a big season this year and leaves NY with a ring.
Make no mistake, he is gone after this season. He would have to be a fool to take this crap from the fans and some members of the media another three years. He doesn’t deserve it.
chris – the larger sample size, his postseason stats with ny is 19 for 79 which is still a small .240
Come on guys, remember what Pete asked of us – just ignore the trolls. They’re not worth the time it takes to reply to them.
79 at bats is not a larger sample size. A season or five is considered a larger sample size. When you’re talking about the number of at-bats where five hits means the difference between .240 and and .303, it’s still a small sample size.
Folks:
I say again, ignore the trolls and they will go away. Do not react and it’s one post and out. I mean I appreciate the traffic but that is not what this blog should be about.
That guy in the Dartmouth shirt, he wouldn’t have been Derek Jeter in disguise would it?
No, Thom. It was your mother.
Back on topic: Yankee fans would be well served to demonstrate to A-Rod (and to Yankee management) this season that we want him to stay.
I’m sure Arod will get cheered until he starts taking pitches right down the middle and swinging and missing by a foot on a ball in the other batters box.
It’s really up to Arod to demonstrate he’s not a mental wimp and can deal with pressure situations.
And if his throwing doesn’t improve, then the boos will be early and often.
Do we want him to stay? I don’t care about the sample size, this guy has NEVER won. Never done well in the post-season. I was definitely in the defender camp last year. Give him e a chance, I’d say, but now, he’s had his chance.
Contrast him with Bobby Abreu. Bobby was the man in philly and couldn’t handle the pressure of being the only one because he put all the pressure of the team on himself. He gets to the yankees, and excels.
A-Rod is the opposite. He wants the pressure for the whole team to be on him, but only if it doesn’t matter. He gets on a championship caliber team and can’t handle the pressure of having backup and actually being expected to WIN. It’s a situation of his own making. If he didn’t want the media attention or the pressure, couldn’t he deal with it gracefully and refuse to talk about his personal life like Jeter? Basically, shouldn’t he just shut up and play? He’s a prima donna, and is bringing the entire team chemistry down.
So greatest ballplayer of our generation or not, he and his media circus are not helping the team. Would you want Barry Bonds in left-field? AS far as team chemistry goes (and remmber that’s whjat won us 3 world series) A-Rod does in fact suck.
So again – Rich – do we really want him to stay?
BTW – I went to Dartmouth. I don’t listen to talk-radio. And I definitely am NOT a Red Sox fan.
rainbow,
How could A-Rod have succeeded to the degree that he has in MLB (and in life) if he was a mental wimp?
I mean, he has had to have produced in nutcracker time numerous times to even be at this point.
Eric,
I do.
How do you plan on replacing his production at 3B?
It amazes me when people give lengthy, indepth analyses of the psyches of those they’ve never met.
Yes, Eric, I’m talking about you.
“AS far as team chemistry goes (and remmber that’s whjat won us 3 world series) A-Rod does in fact suck.”
Wow. I missed that gem. Dartmouth, huh?
I think team chemistry is a bit overrated. For an interesting discussion of chemistry, see page 67 of the book “Major League Baseball in the 1970s: A Modern Emerges” by Joseph Preston. Available online:
http://books.google.com/books?.....8#PPA67,M1
Actually, the discussion of team chemistry starts on page 66 in the aforementioned book. Sorry.
Eric: “this guy has NEVER won. Never done well in the post-season.”
I guess 2004 ALCS and till game FIVE of the Boston series, was not AROD in a Yankee uniform. And he definitely was the one that blew the save for us in game four of that series.
Mental wimp? As per the NY media…right.
You have it right Rich.
to the trolls…serenity now
It’s nice to see that a big majority of comments over here are supporting Alex. I’m sure he’ll have a great season. And we have to root for him. Because if he goes away, we’ll really miss him. Let’s stop the absurd booing.
Dartmouth=basement of the ivies
Oh yea. Lets boo and not get behind the guy who is the best talent in the majors. The guy who won the 2005 MVP award in pinstripes. The guy who will break every big record we hold dear in baseball. The guy who plays hard every single day and doesnt complain about. Never loafs. Never doesnt give his best. Studies the game. Loves the history. Respects his team and his coaches.
Yea, lets boo this guy and not cheer for him. You got to be kidding me. Why? Because he had 2 bad series???
Eric,
Of course you don’t care about sample size. Something tells me you know nothing about elementary statistics.
As far as baseball goes, A-Rod is the most productive players for the Yankees in the last 3 years combined, and two of those have been down years for him. The reason your spoilt mindset does not care about that is because you ignore every contribution that A-Rod made in getting the Yankees in the postseason, and care only about small sample post-season stats.
Sometimes I wish Yankees wish a year or two in the playoffs. Will get guys like you off the bandwagon, and make Yankee fandom that much better.
That should read “Yankees miss a year or two in the playoffs”.
“Never done well in the post-season.”
Well sure, it’s a lot easier to make a point if you complete lie. But hey, don’t let that stop you.
“He wants the pressure for the whole team to be on him, but only if it doesn’t matter. He gets on a championship caliber team and can’t handle the pressure of having backup and actually being expected to WIN.”
Oh, I didn’t know you had access to his thoughts. Sorry, I should never have doubted you.
“AS far as team chemistry goes (and remmber that’s whjat won us 3 world series) A-Rod does in fact suck.”
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Are you really this stupid? So it wasn’t a good offense, it wasn’t great defense and great pitching, it was chemistry. Awesome. And it must have been A-Rod’s fault that nearly the entire offense ate a bag of dicks against Detroit, and he must have told Moose to throw the gopher ball to Granderson…what an asshole.
We need some more top chemistry guys like Clemens, Canseco, Strawberry, Polonia, Spencer, Curtis, and Nelson…
I hate those anti-A-Rod Yankees fan, too. Are they really truely a Yankees fan? If we were talking about the 2004 ALCS, the first guy we should boo is Mariano Rivera. We might need to boo the whole team in that case.
But if you are a fan, would you boo the team that you support? Would you boo your favorite team that you love and care so much?
Praise the lord, this is exactly the news I was looking for:
http://www.nj.com/yankees/ledg.....thispage=1
Essentially, A-Rod is getting help with the inside fastball pitch. If he can fix that pitch with an adjustment in his swing (it also helps that he lost some weight this off-season) then expect a very good season from A-Rod.
I don’t believe in looking at solely postseason stats and criticizing a player. Fact is, no matter how many AB’s Rodriguez has in the postseason, you just cant criticize him on that alone. He could be facing better pitching/worse matchups than other post-season players have been subject to. Even with 79 at bats, if the pitching he faced threw a couple bad pitches to A-Rod then it wouldn’t be such a bad number. Maybe the pitching, most of the time, was just dominant to the point that you cant fault the guy. Then again, maybe when A-Rod learns to hit that inside pitch, you won’t see it happen much anymore.
There are many GREAT players (Wille and Bonds until his last series) that had terrible numbers in the PS. This is just the nature of small sample size and randomness.
Russell… thanks for the link. Just shows you ARod (the youngest player in HISTORY to hit 450 HRs, and will be the youngest to hit 500) is still willing to learn.
Man, imagine if he gets better!
Booing is an American tradition. We boo our president, for christ sakes. boo!
I wouldn’t boo A-Rod because it obviously does not help us win games, haha, but I don’t really care if other people do. I’m with Jetes on this one.
Oh, goody. Yet another season of hand-wringing about poor, poor, pitiful A-Rod and his fragile, wounded psyche. Here’s hoping Daddy Boras takes his boy far, far away at the end of the season so that the Yankees can maybe get back to being a baseball team instead of a group therapy session.
“Oh, goody. Yet another season of hand-wringing about poor, poor, pitiful A-Rod and his fragile, wounded psyche. Here’s hoping Daddy Boras takes his boy far, far away at the end of the season so that the Yankees can maybe get back to being a baseball team instead of a group therapy session.”
Yeah because he was REALLY fragile when he won the MVP.
I wonder if jerks like Bob boo’d Jeter when he was in his 0 fer slump and boo’d RIvera at the start of the ’05 season. Im guessing yes.
Jerk fans like u give all real fans a bad name.
Go back to Shea
Just ignore those idiots.