They love you, Alex, they really do
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 28, 2007 
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A few people have e-mailed me about Project 13, which is a web site that supports Alex Rodriguez. Once Deadspin put it up, I figured I had to.
I’m not sure whether this is serious or not. Does a guy who makes $27 million a year really needs fans to join “a movement” to support him?
This from their web site:
If we can each clear our minds of the headlines, the hype, and especially the money — which is both corruptive and corrosive by its very nature — we can start this relationship over with a renewed sense of opportunity. We can believe in him, and his abilities at the plate, without expecting anything in return…belief in its purest form. If we can do this, The Movement will begin, and the possibilities are endless.
Um, OK.
Here’s my view: Stop worrying about what everybody thinks and just hit.
Pete, they’ve declared war on you!
“Here’s my view: Stop worrying about what everybody thinks nd just hit.”
I second that. Not that he asked for this “support” or this website, but it makes him seem pathetic as a man and as an athlete that one was created…… but there are plenty of whack jobs in this world, so I guess it mainly just means he’s famous and had a “bad” year.
You know, I like Alex Rodriguez and I root for him, BUT this is just beyond belief. But if you’re cheering on the internet and no one logs in, does it make a sound?????
Is this website serious, or just a big joke?
When these guys were kids, they screamed “We believe in fairies” really loud during “Peter Pan”. They must think all that ‘poison’ you evil press guys are writing is killing Alex.
I agree, Pete – Alex needs to ignore all the crap and just play…
Wow. I don’t know whether to laugh at it as some kind of joke posted by a BoSox fan or if this is one serious U-dog man-crush for this guy. I like the idea of supporting A-Rod (I confess that I cheer for him), but do we really need a blog telling us what to do? Does U-dog really need to be coddled like a 6-year-old? I think he’s primed for another MVP campaign, but I don’t think Project A-13 will have anything to do with it.
blondlobo, man-crush, definitely man-crush…..; or the president of the glee club still searching for a cause 30 years after high school; or both.
it sucks that it has come to his, but this is all because your peers in the media have wrote consistantly negative stuff and the fans are to silly to always make up their own minds. This is a backlash to feed people who are incapable of own thought some other opinions on a-rod.
I know many writers have now said that no one should boo, but that is because it got so bad, that it is a better story to write how crazy it is. Writers root for a story, not a player. People forget that to much.
I just actually visited the website; my initial reaction was based on your quote, Pete. It sounds like a manifesto or a credo — the religion of A-Rod. What nonsense. Yes, I believe fans should support their hometeam players. But a movement??? Not only should Alex just ignore, shut up and play, but people in general need to cool it, too.
I’ve come to the opinion that, for myself, if A-Rod ends up leaving NY, that is not something in my control. It won’t affect my life, and the Yankees will go on. If he stays, good. If he leaves, so what?
I think the webmaster of that site also sent A-Rod a singing “hug-o-gram” signed “Derek Jeter.”
You’re good enough. You’re smart enough. And doggone it, poeple like you!… rolls eyes.
I guess next to Jeter, Posada, Mo and some of the guys who are new but still feel like old school Yankees, Arod must feel like the red headed stepchild. So I guess if someone wants to make a supportive website…good for them. Who knows….maybe it’ll just turn his whole season around.
I checked out the site and had to laugh, not at the quotes or affirmations, but at the description of the author after last season….I did the same thing. I still haven’t been able to get that remote control fixed.
I saw the web site, it’s good. It’s not just about ARod and cheerleading for him, it’s about not booing a member of our team. Booing messes with a players head, that messes with his game. So, if you are a fan, booing a player is not only rude and disrespectful it is stupid.
but why is it purple?
i will not take part in anything that has a slogan even closely resembling an “anti-booze” sentiment.
By the way, Alex has nothing to do with the web site. It was started by a guy that got really pissed off about Yankee fans booing a Yankee.
Umm…. Is saying “Don’t boo him” the same as A Rod needing to suck it up?
It was ridiculous last year! If A Rod hits a HR and then grounded out the next AB, he was booed. No one can be held to those standards.
He hits a walk off HR against Atlanta, and a week later he was being booed. It was out of control.
…or was it started by alex rodriguez posing as some random guy? can we start some crazy conspiracy hype nonsense? y’know… something for the tabloids to run with…
I like A-Rod, but I’m curious what the thoughts out there are. Who would you all prefer to have on the team, Soriano or A-Rod?
would we still get cano as well, fernando? i love fonzie, but i’d hate to miss out on watching cano regularly.
Here’s my view: Stop worrying about what everybody thinks and just hit.
What, he hasn’t hit the past three seasons? Get over yourself, Peter.
For the sake of argument, have Soriano be a third baseman.
A-Rod. When the trade was made, I was mostly against it becuase we had Soriano cheap and his personality fit in the clubhouse. But Soriano is not exactly as “happy-go-lucky” as we all thought he was. He was a difficult personality that refuses to do things he doesn’t want to do for the sake of the team (maybe that would have been different had he been on the Yankees, maybe not).
People quickly forget how “unclutch” Soriano was in the post-season his last year here, just as they forget he made some contributions the year before.
A-Rod is by far a better defensive 3B than Soriano was a 2B. Soriano probably would not have been happy being pushed into the outfield to make room for Cano either.
So Wang “feels nothing” in his leg? Reminds me of the eccentric Dizzy Dean. After he was hit in the head by a line drive, the next day’s headline was “X-RAYS OF DEAN’S HEAD SHOW NOTHING”.
“Umm…. Is saying “Don’t boo himâ€? the same as A Rod needing to suck it up?”
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Thank you. If you are saying what I think you are saying, kudos.
Some people are just unreal.
mmm, I don’t recall seeing Peter say A-Rod didn’t hit. I took that as “do your job and don’t worry about what other people think.”
How exactly is that bad advice? That can be applied to anyone in any job….
chris ny, in the ’01 series, didn’t soriano hit the HR late in game 7 to give the yankees the lead? that was definitely clutch. it wasn’t his fault that gonzo got a lucky bloop single.
and although he resisted the switch to left, he offered to move to CF this offseason. i got the impression that he had learned from the previous offseason’s theatrics… but i admit that i could be (and probably am) way off on this one.
No one is booing A-Rod. We’re all saying “Boo-urns.”
Chris NY:
You are 100% right. Soriano was cheap and exciting, but he was a butcher in the IF and struck out 500 times in the post season. Hammers the fastball, though.
It also came to light recently that Soriano is 2 years older than the Yanks thought. He’s the same age as A-Rod.
YFiB, that’s what I mean.. I may be off on the how/when.. but I remember everyone whining that Soriano was terrible in the Playoffs.. and for the most part he may have been, but he also contributed (I think I saw the game you’re talking about recently on YES Classics….).
He may have learned his lesson, but only after his wallet was threatened with the Nationals after he refused to take the field. Refused to do his job? WHAT?? That wouldn’t fly here and I would like to think (because I do like the guy) that wouldn’t have been the case here, and I think he even then had mentioned he would move to the outfield for NY only, but still….. the guy refused to do his job. A lot of us didn’t realize at the time how much of a pain in the a$$ El Duque was either, but he was.
Long and short, A-Rod is a better player all around, flat out. His numbers say so, even though they have been slightly “less than normal” for him in NY.
Zander, exactly. We all loved him because the guy was always smiling and was just unreal the way this “skinny kid” was hammering the ball and running all over the place. But he wasn’t AS good as we thought when you look at the big picture. Damn good, but not a 5-tool player that has repeatedly and continues to be called the best player in the game.
http://i54.photobucket.com/alb.....pavano.jpg
So, gloomy, Mets or Red Sox?
Guys, if Giants fans can still cheer and love a roid-raging Barry Bonds, then as Yankee fans I think we can embrace A-Rod.
Believe it or not, there was a time when good players did not want to play in the Bronx. 15 years ago a player of A-Rod’s ability wouldn’t have even considered the Yanks seriously (except to help drive up his FA value – anyone else remember Greg Maddux in ’93?).
The Yanks have turned the ship around, but if every FA has to wonder if they’re gonna get the A-Rod treatment because they’re not a “true-Yankee,” they’re not gonna want to play here, all other things being equal.
It’s been pointed out on a few other blogs, but it is really starting too look like Pete has a personal thing against Arod. He’s arguably the best player on the team and puts up unreal numbers. He had a slightly off year last season and was still the best third basemen in the AL. Arod gets much more than his share of the blame when the team loses and almost zero credit when they win. THAT is what this Project A13 is about. It’s about being a smart, informed fan and not just booing because Mike & The Mad Dog or Lupica say Arod isn’t clutch.
Arod’s Win Shares:
2004 – 30
2005 – 37
2006 – 25
gloomy, are you a long distant relative of Joel Sherman, or Joel himself?
Unfair. The only purpose of this post was to get a jab in on A-Rod. Newsflash: he didn’t make the website.
Yeah, thanks, but no thanks to this website… I’ll choose when and how to root for ARod, which has been the same since he’s gotten here. If he performs, he’s got nothing to worry about; if he doesnt, then he should.
He’s going to hit and then everyone else can shut up.
Stacey, unfortunately, that’s not entirely accurate. Even when he hit, he got booed if he made an out his next 2 AB’s (ie, batting .300)… Foolish, yes, but an unfortunate reality.
That said, that website is a joke. While it’s points may have merrit, it’s still pathetic to need existence.
Well, if anyone around me tries to boo him on Monday, they’re going over the Upper Deck railing no matter how big and/or fat they are.
Keith,
I’ve read this blog from the beginning and have never seen Peter do anything but report the news on A-Rod. There is nothing personal.
That site is just dumb.
Here’s my view:
fans need to stop booing a guy on the team they root for
Good Stacey, I like that attitude. Hope to see some slob being tossed overboard on the highlights.
Pete, you are my favorite blogger out there, but this is like the 4th post this week that you made that I COMPLETELY disagree with. Is it true, do you have a vendetta against A-Rod for no reason like the rest of the NY Media?
Maybe you have spent too much time in the Florida sun. Time to get back up here man.
Are you tired of being against him? Are you tired of expecting him to fail, and standing up to boo when he does so? Are you tired of not feeling good about having Alex Rodriguez play third base for your favorite team? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are ready. Welcome to The Movement.
the guy/girl who created that sight is laughing at each and everyone of us who reads it…..
Before you boo A-Rod, visualize Miguel (“Shrek”) Cairo or Chris Basak at 3B for 162.
Stacey:
Were you the one who pushed that drunken teenager into the netting last year?
Hey, booing is within a fan’s rights, and there were times A-Rod deserved a few. But it got out of hand, and hopefully we’re all over that silliness now. Yanks fans just need to drown out the stupid boos by taking the cheer up a notch or 2. And maybe telling the idiots to shut up when they’re offbase.
But Christ, that site is just out of there. I’m waiting for the Webmaster to recommend the set of crystals A-Rod should sit under before games, get his shakras aligned and check his chi. Of course, no offense to anyone who believes in that stuff.
Its preposterous, of course. Completely inane. Beyond laughable. Just like the morons that have gone out of their way to bash him for no reason. Exactly like that.
Come on people, its obvious that Pete has a hate for the following players:
A-Rod, Pavano
For some reason, he has a man crush on the following players
Damon, Minky, Igawa
The personal bias has been pretty easy to see.
““Here’s my view: Stop worrying about what everybody thinks and just hit.â€?
You realize that’s not his website, right? It doesn’t seem as if you do.
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/.....t_id=15156
Sean (NY): What are your division winners and wild card predictions?
Jim Callis: My predictions (not the consensus BA ones that ran in the issue): Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Mets, Brewers, Dodgers win divisions. Yankees and Phillies win wild cards. Red Sox defeat Brewers in World Series.
Well, if anyone around me tries to boo him on Monday, they’re going over the Upper Deck railing no matter how big and/or fat they are.
stacey, you rule. let’s make out!
Ugh, I think even Alex might be a bit embarrassed about that website if he saw it. I mean, the general gist of it isn’t so bad – support your teams players. But it sounds creepily too much like a freaky cult to me.
Hey, I think the ticket price of admission would be worth seeing ROR pitch AND Stacey throwing some 200lb person off the the upper deck.
Its a two for one deal.
Jim Callis predicting the Brewers and Red Sox in the World Series is comedy at it’s best.
“Stop worrying about everyone else and just hit”
3 straight seasons of at least 110 runs scored
3 straight seasons of at least 105 RBI
3 straight seasons of at least 35 HR’s
1 MVP Award
1 Position Change
’05: Led league in OPS and Runs Created.
Yeah Alex, would you just wake up and hit already. All of these so called Yankees fans need to get over themselves already.
PS. Jim Callis just lost all credibility by picking a team with 2 second year players hitting in the heart of their order and a closer named Francisco Cordero for the World Series.
Im thinking a 30 year anniversary celebration of the best Championship rivalry in North American sports.
Yanks-Dodgers
http://espnradio.espn.go.com/e.....id=2815623
New York Yankees
GameNight’s Spring Training Cheat Sheet: 1050 ESPN Radio’s Jim Leyritz says Carl Pavano can win back some fan support on opening day
First comment here, but Don V. is right on – after looking at the stats A Rod HAS but up, who can Pete say just shut up and hit – he HITS all the time, his ENTIRE career. This is crazy, chasing away one of the best players baseball has EVER seen and ever will see in New York. BTW, I’m a lifelong Yankee fan and I know the Yankees will move on with or without A Rod, but i think it will be easier with him on the team not against us.
Here’s Jayson Stark and Buster Olney audio who both says Yankees will not make the Playoffs because Yankees rotation are question mark and injuries.
Jayson Stark
http://espn-mp3-od.andomedia.c.....2007_8.mp3
Buster Olney audio clip
http://espn-mp3-od.andomedia.c.....2007_3.mp3
Jim Leyritz…. Thanks for stating the obvious!
This thread will officially prove 1 thing. There are more supporters of this guy than bashers. You all better show your faces when the season starts.
Joel Sherman says ARod’s footwork at third is worse this year than it was his first year. Does he know what he’s talking about or is this just more ARod bashing?
At least Sherman is talking about something legitimate – what Alex does on the field. I think that’s the ONLY thing the press should be talking about at this point.
Pete, question:
if this blog had comments containing nothing but criticism and bashing of your opinion, and skills as a journalist, regardless of their accuracy, do you feel like the job would be as special to you as it is right now?
Just think about it, even if you ignore it, posting on this blog, and writing daily columns for readers who dont appriciate your efforts just isnt as fun.
Not only that, but even if you are the personality who can brush things off and not let negative nancy’s bother you, there is no way that it wont be somewhere in the back of your mind, making each thing you do, slightly less enjoyable.
i’m thinking his people may have started it! very bizarre.
also: i want to clarify
I dont necessarily think a lot of yankee fans are unjustified in their criticism of the man who makes more than any other player in baseball. Im just trying to play devil’s advocate and suggest why it maybe affects him more than we think it should.
From his eyes, hes a sensitive guy, and its definately tough on him.
This is beyond Bubba Crosby worship, far far beyond.
A movement of fans who oppose fellow fans? I’m glad I have friends in real life who like the Yankees. So much easier to talk baseball with.
Josh: If they pay me $27 million to do this blog, you can comment whatever you want. Beyond that, I consider the source. I get 15 positive e-mails for every one rip or stupid attack.
Jeff: I root for quick games and good stories. The rest of it doesn’t matter. Like anybody else I like some people more than others. But read my Journal News stories or blog postings when I have defended Alex before you make a statement like that. It’s just silly.
“For some reason, he has a man crush on the following players
Damon, Minky, Igawa”
Those first two are from the 2004 Boston glory years and we know what a big Boston troll he is.
Alright, Peter’s back! How did Pettitte’s bullpen go? And Wang’s catch?
An investigative reporter could easily find the owner of the domain name…Dateline? Pete? Come on someone! Inquiring minds want to know!
Peter,
So what are you saying – you stop caring what people think if you make what that kind of money?
Um, no, I don’t think so. And why respond to a comment asking you to put yourself in Alex’s shoes with a reference to his salary? That wasn’t the point. But I do think it’s revealing on your part.
Just from Pete’s last post you can feel the resentment of Arod’s salary. Maybe that’s what this all comes down to. His contract should have no bearing on his play on the field, in my opinion it shouldn’t even be public. The Rangers are paying almost a third of it anyway. Based on what the Yanks pay him Arod is a huge bargain.
How much do you make Pete? If we know the athletes salaries, why shouldn’t we know yours?
For the record I am a big fan of the blog, but I think you and the rest of the NY reporters treat Arod unfairly and absolutely differently than the rest of the team.
“Yeah Alex, would you just wake up and hit already.”
Now, That is funny.
So now we’re taking swipes at A-Rod based on the fact that SOMEBODY ELSE started a goofy Website on his behalf?
Amazing. Also not surprising.
“chris ny, in the ‘04 series, didn’t a-rod hit the HR in game 4 to give the yankees the lead? that was definitely clutch. it wasn’t his fault that bill mueller got a lucky single.”
there, now we can hold everyone to the same standards.
Pete, i find it hard to believe that youre defenses are that good that any sum of money will allow you to be happy no matter what.
No one wants the kind of treatment alex gets, even if he does make that much
“Josh: If they pay me $27 million to do this blog, you can comment whatever you want. Beyond that, I consider the source. I get 15 positive e-mails for every one rip or stupid attack.”
Peter I love your blog and all but you cant compare making big money in your job and making big money in pro sports.Facts is there is alot of pressure in pros sports. Its become PC by some people who to say “he makes 27 million” just because alot of people have blue collar jobs and envy him. Fact is there’s about 450 give or take pro baseball players in the world that can play baseball better then everebody. Why dont people complain about movie stars that make 20 million a film when there is absolute no proof that they are better actors then actors on broadway?
Fact is Arod makes alot of money and deserves it stop the hating. Is there talk radio criticizing your job? Is there 50,000 people that pay money to watch you at your job? Are there people go to blogs to follow what you do for a living?
So frnakly the whole “he makes 37 million dollars” gets old when the guy does something that alot of people cant do and our capitalist system of supply and demand allows it. I know some of you morons think teachers, police officers etc… should be paid more but fact is anybody can become a cop, teacher if Arod retired tomorrow and tried out for the police academy he would make it. If evereybody on this blog tried to make a major league rostor 100% would get shut down.
I will repeat,I know alot of people dont want to admit it but he makes every penny he makes!
Essentially, the website is attempting to slice through the negativity which can ruin the entire experience of being a fan. After all, if being a fan becomes a burden, what’s the point anyway? I will agree with many, the writing style, tone, and content is a bit out there, but the basic message is a pretty positive one.
This is what happens though, amidst unrelenting negativity. It’s bound to be countered by an opposing force, in this case, ceaseless optimism. A site like this was inevitable. Me, I look for the middle ground. I support A-Rod, but I don’t consider myself above the frustration and disappointment entailed with his failures. I won’t however, boo without just cause, like in the first inning or something. That’s where I draw the line between high standards and basic stupidity.
Well, it is what it is. Just like Arod. Much like Schilling’s blog, it polarizes polarized players.
Before Arod, it was Randy Johnson’s intro to NY, before that it was Giambi and Balco, before that it was Kevin Brown’s fist into a wall,… it’s always something with the fans.
I cannot express how old this whole multi-faceted ARod analysis and debate is getting.
Meanwhile, Rasner stumbles through the 2nd inning, giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and an error. Thank God the Yankees won’t need a 5th starter for a while.
Josh: I get attacked by assorted clowns now and unless they go after my family, I don’t care about it. It’s part of my job.
Giambi was buried by media and fans and he came away successful and smiling. Some people have that personality and others do not. It seems like Alex cares too much about what others think. Is that a flaw? Probably not based on how great of a career that he has had. But I do think that gets to him in the postseason.
It’s too bad. He probably could be even better than he already it.
Arod will have a clean slate on opening day, but if he starts taking fastballs right down the middle and flailing at breaking balls in the other batters box, then the booing should be fast and furious.
And the fans who want to waive pom-poms and cheer no matter what he does can do that, too. The Arod saga and the return of Carla Pavano…should be an interesting opening day!
Alright well you’ve now admitted there is a weak spot for you, which is understandable, I wouldnt want anyone talking about my family either.
I know i’ve read once that alex has received threats against his family, anonymously of course. But Im sure hes got weak spots just like you and me.
again im not saying that the criticism is unjustified, because sometimes i get incredibly frustrated with him too, but i do feel like he gets it pretty terribly.
it reminds me of the movie 61, remember what happened to maris (i have to go by the movie, it was before my time)? the threats against his family, losing his hair, wanting to give up. Yes obviously he perservered but that doesnt mean he wasnt deeply affected by what the fans thought of him. And you cant say arod was totally affected either, he did win the MVP in 2005 and he was still one of the top run producers in the league last year even though it was a struggle. I believe his avg in the 9th inning was better than ortiz. Although ortiz was obviously more clutch than arod overall. I just think the expectations were so incredibly high that comming through 29% of the time, while acceptable for everyone else, wasnt for arod.
Peter,
You’re still missing the point. Giambi got buried for CHEATING. What the hell did ARod do wrong?
Plus, Giambi’s never gotten the relentless, negative press that ARod has, where every word is misinterpreted.
So, he cares what people think. If he didn’t care, you and everyone else would call him arrogant. The point is that he cannot win. If he didn’t care, if he wasn’t “too sensitive” you’d find something else to criticize.
“Giambi was buried by media and fans and he came away successful and smiling.”
the contrast in treatment between a-rod and giambi by yankee fans is one the fanbase’s biggest embarrassments. the hypocracy is sickening.
a-rod is blamed for the 2004 ALCS. but where was giambi? maybe a-rod could afford to go cold for a few games if giambi wasn’t on the bench nursing a steroid-induced tumor.
disgraceful and hypocritical.
the other thing i thought that was ridiculous was how the media blew up the interview with mike and the maddog.
I thought the interview was excellent and he was being open and honest. the media made it sound like he was paving the way out of here. Was he? maybe, but that was maybe one comment in a 20 minute session, the rest of the stuff was great and everyone in the media chose to totally ignore that.
Even M&MD responded to the articles the next day saying they were absurd and that the interview was very open and fair.
i am referring to the forgiveness and complete and total acceptance of Giambi once he hit a few HRs in 2005. all was forgotten.
“Even M&MD responded to the articles the next day saying they were absurd and that the interview was very open and fair.”
man, when those 2 are asking people to take a step back and be fair, you should maybe take a good look at yourself in the mirror.
I usually think that the A-Rod haters are pretty absurd in their level of animus (it’s a strange mixture of jealously about money and a twisted desire to impugn his character [cuz, you know, he said bad things about our boy Jeter]), but this website is just straight-up creepy. It’s a tasty brew of quasi-religious fanaticism (Worship A-Rod or die!!!) and authoritarian politics (Boo and die!!!!). Well, in light of this, I’m starting my own movement: Apathetic for A-Rod. It’s for all the people who don’t care whether A-Rod is a phony or not, don’t care whether Derek Jeter likes him or not, and don’t care how much money he makes. I don’t care who he eats dinner with, how he spends his leisure time, or whether he likes puppies or not. So join me, or don’t. I could care less. Because, you know, I’m apathetic about A-Rod. So apathetic, so indifferent, that I’ll probably forget about him as soon as I hit “submit comment.”
@ mike:
perfectly reasonable. And I agree, its blown so wildly outof proportion that I almost feel the need to defend arod. Im not saying one should support him or bust, but you have to admit, the hating is absurd.
I ultimately dont care, but I care enough that i’ll defend my players when I feel they deserve that defense.
Josh: As I said in my post, I’ve always thought that the level of hating is absurd, and I’ve attempted to defend him before. But, ultimately, it’s useless. It just seems that the hate comes from so many directions that there’s no way to parry the attacks: they hate that he makes too much money, they hate his perceived phonyness, they hate that he talks too much, they hate him because they love Jeter so much [this one intrigues me greatly, for I've always believed that there's some overlap between the most irrational A-Rod haters and the people who believe in Derek Jeter's clutchy intangibleness], and they hate him because he “chokes” in the post-season. Now, for where I sit, the last one has some merit (he has been pretty wretched the last two postseasons–but so has the pitching and pretty much the rest of the team); but the rest of the criticism is either irrelevant and/or stupid.
I’ve said this before, but I think a lot of the criticism that A-Rod gets is less about A-Rod the man than about A-Rod the symbol. I think many current Yankee fans either weren’t around for the 1980s and early 1990s or don’t remember those dark years, and all they’ve known are championships. So, now that the Yankees have come up short for going on seven years, they need an explanation: in essence, they need someone to blame. And A-Rod is symbolic of the mercenary tendencies that the Yankees have operated under during the championship drought. In many fans’ minds, players like A-Rod are the reason that the Yankees haven’t one the big one since 2000 (and conversely, they believe, the Yankees have been hampered by a lack of players like his arch-nemesis, Derek Jeter). And since he’s such an easy target, they can’t resist taking a shot at him.
But, that’s just my take.
“I think many current Yankee fans either weren’t around for the 1980s and early 1990s or don’t remember those dark years, and all they’ve known are championships”
i think this is a large part of it.
the sense of entitlement around yankee fans these days is sickening.
Wait Peter, you are wrong. He can’t “just hit.” He can only hit when the Yankees are down by 2 runs, 1 run, in a tie game, or when the Yankees are up by 2 runs tops. If he hits when the Yankees are losing big or winning by more than 3 or 4 runs, he will just be padding his stats. He is ONLY allowed to hit in very tight games, preferably late in the games too. What you have to understand Peter is that the runs later in the game count more than the runs earlier on. So actually, he is only allowed to hit in tight games in the 7th inning or later. Anything other than that is a waste.
Sure, some of it is defintely entitlement (We’re the Yankees and we deserve the World Series each year), but a great deal of it is the “If we don’t win the World Series, the season’s a failure” mentality thats come to surround the team after the 1996-2001 period. It’s gotten to the point where I feel like fans don’t actually enjoy the regular season anymore. It seems, to some of them at least, that the regular season is just some boring preview that they have to sit through until the feature (the playoffs) starts. The entitlement, which I dislike because of the arrogance of it all, is at least partly understandable; the World Series or bust mentality (thanks a lot, Derek) is just borderline demented. If you can’t enjoy the triumphs of the regular season, why even watch baseball at all? Why not just tune in in October?
Why can’t we all just get along? (snicker)
Mike, your take is awesome. That kind of thinking, proliferated by misery mongers like Mike Lupica, is demented. There’s no better word.
Of course your view is that way Pete, you are one of the media culprits who love to tear A-Rod down, but I am glad to see you grew up and stopped calling him underdog.
Jeff A – ” I know some of you morons think teachers, police officers etc… should be paid more but fact is anybody can become a cop, teacher if Arod retired tomorrow and tried out for the police academy he would make it.”
I think saying “anybody” can do those things is going way too far, but I agree with your underlying point. Pro-Athletes get paid an absurd amount of money for doing something most of us would do for free IF we had the ability, but the reality is this is capitalism and if someone wants to pay $100 a game to watch me play a sport, I’ll sure as hell take my cut of that money, so good for them.
But you’re the “moron” if you think “anybody” can become a cop or teacher. I know I for one don’t have the patience to teach 25 six year-olds how to read at the same time…. From your post, I doubt you do either.
Pete
Deadspin is your reference for what should be written about?
WOW!
Enough said.
yeah, chris you’re right alex had a bad year for alex, but a great year for ninetyfive percent of the rest of mlb. he, will be just fine.
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