Playoff performance for A-Rod
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- August
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You knew the Yankees were in trouble when A-Rod said about 10 days about that they had to treat every game like the playoffs.
Tonight was a vintage October performance for Rodriguez: 0 for 5, two strikeouts, two GIDPs and an error. He is 18 of 73 (.247) on the season with runners in scoring position this season and has one RBI in the last seven games.
The game was decided in the seventh inning when Boston rookie Justin Masterson got Rodriguez to swing weakly at a hard slider, right into a double play.
“It was an awful night,†Rodriguez said. “For me personally, it was a long night. I pretty much screwed it up any way you can screw it up.â€
Joe Girardi’s take?
“It’s one game. Tomorrow’s a new day,†he said with his usual optimism.
Girardi is certainly not getting fired this season, nor should be. It’s not his fault. But those who expected that he would be some fiery Billy Martin-type leader did not get what they thought.
It’s shocking how little fight the Yankees have shown in big spots this season. At this time last season, nearly to the day, the Yankees were sweeping the Red Sox and steamrolling to the playoffs.
Now they need to find a way to win the final two games of this series just to make the final few weeks interesting.
By the way, Toronto has A.J. Burnett lined up for Friday and Roy Halladay for Sunday. Then comes a 10-day road trip. It’s not going to get easier.
“We are definitely digging ourselves a big trench to climb out of,†said Johnny Damon.
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on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 12:14 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
God Damn Peter, you really, really don’t like Alex Rodriguez, do you?
season over
johnny, I hate to break it to you buddy, but it was a trench in June.
Its a moon crater now.
Jamal:
I wrote what his stats were and what he said. What is the problem.
Pete: Great line about ARod’s playoff-like performance. In SEA and the Northwest they have this very strong belief in the Curse of ARod. Let’s hope that along w/the stupid buried Ortiz jersey, the new Stadium doesn’t wreak of #13’s HOF career.
bad night for AROD but I’m hoping for him to eventually have a big October, won’t happen in 2008
facing a lot of aces this year in comparison to last… no? not that it would matter… the offense pretty much is terrible vs. anyone with a pulse.
The flying Hawaiin hopefully comes through with a lead off triple. I now have to spend my time rooting for the Phils astodayh I officially declare the season over for the Yanks. I knew it was the case before but this is the first time i have officially declared.
mel
Your homeboy with the leadoff triple for the Phils.
look at this mets game…i mean bret myers is about to pinch hit with the bases loaded and noone out
There is no one on this team that seems to give a damn that they lose, over and over.
It’s one thing for ARod to say “I sucked tonight” which he did say. It’s another thing for him to say “I’ll be back tomorrow with a positive attitude”
Dude. Get pissed off already. Show some freakin LIFE. Show some freakin FIRE.
SOMEBODY WAKE THIS TEAM UP!
Didn’t Schoenweiss hit somebody with the bases loaded earlier this season to force in the winning run in extras?
Is there one person you like on the Yankees besides Derek Jeter and Rivera? The A-Rod blabber is SO 2006.
arod should change his number to anything other than 13…just like marino arod will never win a championship with that number
and he was just digging himself a hole when he said that he took #13 because of marino
anyway, it’ll be a fun rest of the season, im looking forward to going to my last game at the stadium…i just gotta pick a date
The stats are what they are…no editorializing needed…draw your own conclusions Jamal….
Mets: OMG
phils win that game….all of NYC is on suicide watch
Phillies win
That was actually a fun game to watch
A. Rod should change his number to 30M…and instead of an interlocking NY, it should be a interlocking $ on his hat.
gayle: what’d you do in Ocean City? Give me names.
CheyC -
If ARod would stop PLAYING like he did in 2006 then the comments would not LOOK like they did in 2006.
0-5 with 2 K’s, 2 GIDP’s and a popout with 7 LOB tonight. When is it ok to start saying “hey, our MVP needs to get hot and carry us for a little while?”
September 1st? September 15th? When is it ok to say “ARod is a BIG reason we failed this year. He’s not alone but he’s in the top 5.
man… I think that was my last game at the stadium. I want my hundred bucks back.
A Mets fan reaction from PSD
I have Tribe fans who will vouch for my vehement opposition to signing Giambi and A-Rod (and joy that the SOB opt’d out of the contract and subsequent dismay they re-signed him).
My only question is: How long before football season starts? Like Pete I come from that weird world in Connecticut, where it’s possible to be a Yankee – Celtic – and Patriot fan. UConn too…. (I’m on the West Coast now, which is how I know so many people from Ohio)
That would have been the greatest baseball moment I had ever seen if Schoeneweis had walked the pitcher who came to the plate with instructions not to swing.
Mets blow a 7-0 lead and lose in 13 innings.
Wow, that is deflating.
Looks like Santana for another complete game tomorrow.
Scott – Exactly…is it too much to ask for the MVP of the American League to get a hit in 1 or 2 big spots this year…
Pujols he’s not.
Mets blow a 7 game lead last year to the Phillies
Mets blow a 7 run lead tonight to the Phillies
Let the questioning begin!
Expecting Arod to get hits in those situations might be too much.
We can ask for him not to GIDP though.
Pete, Arod Apologists (and they all seem to post here, unfortunately) hate to see the bald facts planted in front of their eyes. To sidestep the issue, they turn an accusing finger on those who are merely stating the facts of “HATING ON” Arod.
Please.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: the Yanks will never win another WS with Arod on our team. So glad he’s here FOREVER…
Gotta love that win for the Phils coming back from 7 down and the Brett Myers at bat was classic.
Nick we stayed at Flanders which is right on the boardwalk 11th street and ocean. Dinner we went to Ove’s one nightm chinese restaurant in Longport about 10 minutes away I think it was called Fays. Then went to Doc in Atlantic City the other night. Went to the amusement paqrk right next to the hotel on the boardwalkand rode the roller coaster with my 4 year old nieces who absolutely loved it. AUntie of course not so much.
Putt putt as well as there are two mini golf places right there as well and Kohrs soft serve custard was a must as well lol. For lunches we brought a cooler down to the beach every day with sandwhiches and snacks as the hotel as full kitchens so bought stuff in advance and just prepared each day that morning.
Yes…Yanks could’ve done without Double Play-Rod tonight…
Turn off the grill… they’re done.
Joba rules, but he should be shut down. Phil Franchise ain’t all that. IPK should be renamed “IPBB,” for “I Pitch Walks.”
Joey Salvia wrote a cool song for the Captain, but he’s hit into too many DP’s this year.
Canó misses Bowa (gotta love how he blew up the Dodgers for their lack of hustle). Girardi has no cred ‘cuz he’s all spin. Where’s the Bad Cop on his coaching staff, anyway?
It’s OVAH, unfortunately. Let’s see what MoneyMan can do for ‘09…
That was a GREAT Mets-Phillies game.
Good news fellas. We’re not stuck with Arod for 9 more years. He will not survive New York if he keeps hitting like this in big spots whether in the regular season or the postseason. If you want to cherry-pick stats with me, I’m game.
Nick in SF
Couldn’t hurt to ask!
Will Arod survive 10 more years in NY?
What if his approval ratings drop to George Bush lows after year 2?
I notice that PA didn’t bother posting Jeter’s number’s after the Baltimore series when he didn’t bother showing up and almost blew the game when his error led to 4 runs. Not that I expected him to. 2-14, a huge error, 3 strikeouts. That series was just as important as this series will be. I could post Rodriguez’ numbers of 5-14, 5 runs scored, 1 RBI, 3 doubles, 2 HBP, 2 strikeouts, 0 errors. See, anybody can pick numbers. And, I have no agenda or axe to grind. Just honest reporting.
Thanks, gayle, sounds fun. We always stay up on 119th street, pretty far out. But convenient for zipping across the Assowoman Bay to the Links at Lighthouse Sound.
Will Arod survive 10 more years in NY?
Nope. Not at this rate.
Wang…true…in the way that players like Manny Ramirez, Pujols and Ortiz attract WS titles….A. Rod repels them.
A. Rod for all his greatness has yet to play in a World Series…going on 15 years of being “the best player” in baseball and not 1 WS appearance to show for it…
And he’s been on really good teams (beside the “take the money and run” years in Texas)
Makes you wonder.
Last year when A-Rod had a lot of clutch hits, does anyone remember if any of those big hits were down the stretch? I seem to remember that the majority of his big hits last year were earlier in the season, but I could be wrong…
Anyone?
No way you can realistically expect a sweep, but must win the series to keep any hopes alive. That means next two games are must win.
Arod is a head case. Gifted and hard working player, but tries too hard in big spots resulting in chokes. People call Jeter clutch, but the difference is just that he doesn’t change his approach in big spots and thus gets better results.
Nick 119th street?? wow that is very very far up with the kids we tend to stay much further down as they can just walk around and enjoy the boardwalk and the beach and then just walk right back to the hotel.
If Brian Cashman can find a way to unload Arod’s contract this winter, they should build him a shrine and give him a life-contract with the organization.
pete can you explain why you deleted my comment that just said
“game over, season over, life over”?
im just lost as to why that did not meet any blog comment guidelines
you don’t want to deal with a real fan’s feelings?
Yes…I also remember he was playing a season in which he had a chance to opt-out of his contract and make him a free agent.
Imagine that… a player putting up MVP numbers in his walk year…what a coincidence.
“Girardi is certainly not getting fired this season, nor should be. It’s not his fault. ”
It wouldn’t be his fault if lets say he wasn’t the manager but he is. He has to take the blame. Torre took the blame. Girardi should take the blame.
This guy is oblivious to what’s going on. Giambi is hitting around .200 with RISP, Arod is hitting Giambi’s overall average with RISP. Jeter for part of the season was a GIDP machine. Nothing changes.
Except of course when they faced a left hander… Then it changed because they ALWAYS faced Sandy Koufax. That’s the time he would play manager, at the wrong time.
This guy is the worst manager I’ve ever seen.
Brandon,
Do you foresee a change in his approach in clutch (yes I use that word) situations, aka big games?
And he’s been on really good teams (beside the “take the money and run†years in Texas)
He nearly eliminated us when he was in Seattle again thank Arthur Rhodes
…. He went to Texas had nothing, not one SP could hold a lead, but 15 yrs. and no World Series it does make you wonder. Pinella was being nice saying he’d think he’d win one, if we do I think I can nearly guarantee it won’t be because of him.
RSM, how much did Jeter’s approach help him in last year’s post season, or 2004.
Jose,
“If Brian Cashman can find a way to unload Arod’s contract this winter, they should build him a shrine and give him a life-contract with the organization.”
Whenever he gets dealt, Brian Cashman won’t have to unload the entire contract. I’m sure he’ll be required to send Arod to the highest bidder but even the highest bidder won’t pay the entire contract. If the Steinbrenner’s are smart, they’ll swallow their pride and reinvest that money in depth throughout the roster.
Dynasty — would love to see the stats on your Q, but I watched most every game last season, and recall primarily Arod “shining” in April and early May as the rest of the team was dead.
Did you hear Kay’s stat on the absurd increase in Arod’s GIDP’s just this month compared to earlier in the season?
Arod’s simply incapable of relaxing when pressure is on. Kind of sad. Just goes to show that towering athletic ability isn’t the “be all end all” in winning. You have to have the mental toughness to be a true champion (e.g. Tiger).
gayle, we do stay right on the beach. There’s plenty for the kids to do out there, we usually only go down to the boardwalk once or twice over the week. It’s a little less crowded out there. I’d probably be just as happy to stay out in Rehobeth or Bethany, though we are within walking distance of the Greene Turtle. Hmmm, forgot to go there this year.
Hey, Twins lost! Silver lining alert!
Torre is 65-67 in the NL West, FYI.
RSM…true…I think it was a very telling image from tonights game…before his AB in the 7th…while the pitching change was being made…the camera caught A. Rod going over the scouting report on Masterson with Kevin Long
Why can’t he just go up to the plate with a clear head…see the ball and hit the ball…
He takes too much information up there with him and the results, at least this season, are disappointing.
Wang is Taiwan,
Arod is mentally weak IMHO. He will break.
With today’s games (Tuesday, 8/26)
Red Sox go 450 rest of way = we need to go 20-11 to tie
Red Sox go 500 rest of way = we need to go 22-9 to tie
Red Sox go 550 rest of way = we need to go 23-8 to tie
Red Sox go 600 rest of way = we need to go 25-6 to tie
White Sox go 450 rest of way = we need to go 20-11 to tie
White Sox go 500 rest of way = we need to go 21-10 to tie
White Sox go 550 rest of way = we need to go 23-8 to tie
White Sox go 600 rest of way = we need to go 24-7 to tie
Twins go 450 rest of way = we need to go 18-13 to tie
Twins go 500 rest of way = we need to go 19-12 to tie
Twins go 550 rest of way = we need to go 21-10 to tie
Twins go 600 rest of way = we need to go 22-9 to tie
Thomas…those are some sobering numbers…
“It wouldn’t be his fault if lets say he wasn’t the manager but he is. He has to take the blame. Torre took the blame. Girardi should take the blame.”
As of this moment the Yankees are two games worse this year than they were last year.
Don’t know how it’s going to end, but I’m just saying.
E-Man, I’ve called Girardi delusional in the past, but oblivious is another excellent adjective to apply.
What a disappointment he has been — thought we were getting something so different. At the very least, he’s got to acknowledge at this point that perhaps switching Arod/Giambi in the lineup may in fact be the only way to get some runs in. But then again, tonight he said he’d rather have Arod batting cleanup than anyone, anytime.
Whatever, Joe. You’re probably the only one in NYC who feels that way.
How is hitting into the Dps later in the year any different than somebody hitting into a ton of them a little earlier in the season? Do those earlier games count that much less?
Wang,
You said:
“Arod’s simply incapable of relaxing when pressure is on.”
Wow, how I hate to agree with you on that…but how can you refute it…just look at his playoff record…
Does anyone think A-Rod will ever get big hits in the post season?
Brett, I agree with you 100%, we’d have to pick up a good portion of the contract.
The Yankees are a very stubborn orginization, I’m not sure if they will cut their losses and admit a mistake so quickly. For the good of the franchise moving forward, they need to, but I’m not sure they will so soon.
But if you read Heyman’s article – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
It looks like club officials are cognizant of Arod’s struggles, that’s a start.
Dynasty,
“Does anyone think A-Rod will ever get big hits in the post season?”
Yup. They’re called morons.
Brandon,
Do you foresee a change in his approach in clutch (yes I use that word) situations, aka big games?
It’s a combo of alot of things, it just may be natural, I would think for someone who has failed in that situation so much he would have the hey if I pop out it ain’t the end of the world type feeling when he swings in pressure spots, but he just can’t. He tenses up, you can see it, he squeezes the bat tighter, he puts a overly concentrated face scowl, instead of swinging at a pitch within his limits he expands his zones and tries to win 4 games in one tight AB. IDK what changes him, I don’t think he can be changed , I just think that’s what he is.
He’s a great athlete, probably the greatest slugger in some time, but not a great hitter.
Thomas is becoming the harbinger of doom.
What does peter want Girardi to do?
Get thrown out because the home plate ump sucked?
Or get thrown out at the Lawrie play at 3rd?
Peter just likes to whine like most of the bloggers.
Hitting with RISP that is there problem again for the 1,000,0000 time it is all about hitting with RISP…
ynasty, who do you think was mainly responsible for NYY winning against Minnesota in 2004 or the first 3 games against Boston….Jeter?
GreenBeret,
Kay’s stat actually highlighted how the combined GIDPs Arod had earlier in the season were fewer than the ones he had in just this month alone.
Hope that clears it up.
Stuart’s in the house.
I do get a chuckle out of the AAs who always like to bring up the Minnesota series to back up poor Arod. Hey! Keep bringing up 2004. That makes us all feel MUCH better about his production in tight spots.
I want to see A-Rod do the HR derby each year at the all star and get over himself. He paralyzed when on the spot.
Would love to stay and post, but gotta run.
GreenBeret,
Yes, I remember, Alex had a good series against Minnesota, then he did well those first 3 games against Boston, but then something happened…
You have to admit, it’s as if he just went completely down hill after that…what has he done in the past 3 post seasons?
Think about it this way when another team’s 4 and 5 batter are due up they get us nervous, those are the key run producers in a lineup, the rest guys like Jetes they are table setters, this is why overrated is understated when you look at the Dynasty Yankees Bernie was the #3 hitter at times our 4, Oneill same thing then they’d even drop him to 5, Tino, Darryl, meanwhile I just don’t see our 4 or 5 striking fear to the other side.
“what has he done in the past 3 post seasons?”
Not enough to warrant $275, 10 years.
A divison series??? In 2004??? That is what the A. Rod apologists are clinging to as proof of his post-season contributions…puh-lease.
Brett, I agree with you. We’d have to pick up a large sum of his contract to get somebody to take him.
The Yankees organization, however, is very stubborn and I’m not sure they want to admit a mistake. Arod is not a winning player and year after year they have evaded the team concept to go after the big name. They need to cut their losses, but I’m not sure if they will so soon. For the good of the franchise going forward, they need to, but I don’t think they are ready to.
But if you read Heyman’s article -
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/08/25/heyman.scoop/index.html
The Yankees brass is cognizant of Arod’s struggles and that’s a start. The problem is that they went after him for the wrong reason in the first place– as a marketing tool. Thats why they put those lame incentives in his contract. They view him as some side show attraction that can fill seats like Bonds. It’s actually a pretty curious decision. Do Hank/Hal really think NY’ers are going to pay through their noses for seats in the new stadium in 5 years if the team isin’t good but Arod is here? NY’ers want to see winning baseball, not a freak show. That may work in San Francisco, not in NY.
when the phillies needed their MVP to step up, he goes 8-10 in 2 games, including 8 straight hits. and did i mentioned he was getting booed also?
yanks need their MVP to step up and its………. (crickets)
he’s a bum, get him out!!!!! i’m tired of him and his drama, also trying to be a hero, i’m sick of him.
wang, kay is no better than the rest of the Rodriguez haters. He cherry picks his numbers. He’s another one that diregards Jeter’s 19 GIDP as nothing special. You harp on this game, but, say nothing about the bummers that The Golden Boy has had this year, and they have been many.
Rodriguez had a brutally bad game tonight. There’s no denying that. Jeter has had worse, but, he gets a pass? Why?
People like to deflect blame to Giambi too. Now can you imagine what things would be like for Mr. Giambi this year if he was playing in the first year of a 10 year, $275 million contract and being made the face of the franchise moving into the new stadium, having no rings at all and a sub .200 BA since midway through the 2004 ALCS?
GB Jetes gets the pass because of his hardware but even that isn’t enough to warrant his horrible season.
church201
Mets fan ?
Jose,
Excellent post. The front office is catching on, as are the fans finally once again bless their hearts.
One more quick note on this comment:
“We’d have to pick up a large sum of his contract to get somebody to take him.”
Does this mean Cashman doesn’t get his shrine and a life-time contract? I say screw it, give him the shrine anyways at the very least.
I think I’m done. Was at the game tonight and the place seemed dead. It was like a living wake.
No electricity in park and none on the field.
Joe Girardi deserves to be fired. How a manager can ignore the lack of hitting with RISP by his 4-5 mashers and not have the stones to break them up in the order is a fireable offense.
He is doing NOTHING to help this team spread out the all or nothing mashers who have consistently failed in the clutch almost all season.
The rest of the offense looks good right now, but the Giambi/Arod combo is the death rattle.
I wish they would release Giambi tonight and stop treating him like he’s Tino or Mattingly. He’s a bum and an old stupid ballplayer.
I can’t wait to see him on another team next year popping up to RF and not getting homers that he was getting here.
The guys sucks. His fielding miscue…I can’t imagine how a manager who cares wouldn’t pull this cement from the game.
But that’s Girardi.
He did not come as advertised. He’s a timid shy deer in the headlights manager. He spins all his quotes. He makes poor in game decisions and his players are not prepared or comfortable to play.
Yes, it’s on the players at the end of the day, but when you have a MORON managing the team…and folks, the guy is a moron, he’s ignoring everything the data is telling him, you can’t win.
If anyone in the front office reads the blog, do us a favor and take Giambi away from Girardi like you used to take Torre’s toys away from him.
Clearly Giambi has photo’s of Girardi’s wife or something, because there is NO explanation why that man is the 5th place hitter, let alone still employed by the team.
It’s not like we’re keeping him for draft picks. If the Yankes are dumb enough to offer Giambi arb after this season and bring him back I may have to give up baseball for awhile.
As for Arod, I can barely speak. Everyone in that stadium wanted to believe he was going to come through, but not a single person was surprised when he choked.
Brandon is right — if we win a WS with him on the team it will most definitely be a championship won in spite of him.
The guy is a mental patient who misses his shrink ex wife.
Kabbalah is certainly taking a hit in the PR department this season. I don’t think Arod is the feather in the cap they all thought it would be over there with their red string bracelets.
When are we going to get another Reggie Jackson type of player on this team? Minus the strikeouts of course…
Where is that clutch hitter who thrives under pressure, who relishes the spotlight, who doesn’t shy away from the situation…
Someone who is fearless…A Paul O’Neil caliber player…a warrior who wants to win so badly you can see it in his eyes, in his body language…
Instead of tension or nerves you see a burning desire to win…
That’s the type of player we need more of on this team…
We atleast got to to the World Series with Giambi and he has had some big hits for us in the postseason through the years, which is more than we can say for A-Choke.
Jeter was 2-5 in THIS GAME…
Jeter was in the middle of two rallies in THIS GAME…
A. Rod was 0-5 in THIS GAME…
A. Rod killed two rallies in THIS GAME…
A. Rod left 7 runners on base in THIS GAME…
THIS GAME was the opening game of the most important series for the Yankees this season…
THIS GAME Jeter showed up and A. Rod didn’t…that is why Jeter gets a pass…
Until A. Rod shows up for one game…one important game…he will never get a pass…never.
Pete wrote:
“Tonight was a vintage October performance for Rodriguez: 0 for 5, two strikeouts, two GIDPs and an error. He is 18 of 73 (.247) on the season with runners in scoring position this season and has one RBI in the last seven games.”
Yes sir, let’s have a standing ovation for the great AROD! Come on…isn’t anybody gonna stand? He’s a first ballot HOFer, he’s the greatest baseball player since Willie Mays…isn’t he?
If they could find some chump who would take this guy off our hands, I would chip in to help cover the costs of his salary. HE IS A COLOSSAL C-H-O-K-E! Come on Cashman find a suck…I mean team that will take this guy. Signing him last year has got to be one of the worst in Yankee history.
” the rest guys like Jetes they are table setters, this is why overrated is understated ”
Jeter’s OPS+ during the dynasty years….
98 – OPS+ 127
99 – OPS+ 153 (Highest OPS+ of all the Yankee starters)
00 – OPS+ 128
You’re right, nobody was worried bout Jetes during those dynasty years.
church201
Mets fan ?
hell no. i’m just making a point as to what MVP’s r suppose to do. i’m sick of watching drag the lineup down with K after DP after pop out. he should take lessons fron abreu, takes what the pitcher gives him, not tryna do much with, the this bum comes up and wants to win the WS in august with one swing.
G-Love,
Don’t hate on Kabbalah. It’s actually pretty interesting if you read up on it. Listening to Madonna in your car 24/4 on the other hand is pretty gay.
Manny and Milton Bradley can be our Reggie Jackson(s).
Get it done, Cash.
And who has been blamed the most for that loss to Boston? No matter what he does, it’s either not enough, or, he’s padding his stats. Had it not been for the production he put up in the last 4 years, NYY would have missed the post season in at least two of them. He’s stunk in the post season, but, no more than the rest of them. Don’t bother bringing up contracts. If Jeter is worth his 23 million, Rodriguez is certainly worth his.
I can point 3 HOF hitters that stunk in the WS/PS. Cobb, Ted Williams and willie Mays. Mantle, the guy everyone points to as post season MR Clutch had a stretch from 1961 thru 1963 where he was 5-46 and 1 homer and 2 RBI. He hit .150 during that stretch.
““what has he done in the past 3 post seasons?â€
Not enough to warrant $275, 10 years.”
You have to get in the playoffs to suck in the playoffs, no?
I like Milton Bradley but he’s got bad knees I think. Not sure he can run the outfield for a full season. I’d rather keep the money, ditch Cano’s contract and exchange him for Matt Kemp. Austin Jackson, Matt Kemp, and Xavier Nady would form a pretty solid outfield.
Manhandled in the biggest game of the season to date.
Pettite’s got a free pass for life so no point in blaming him. He may have pitched the last meaningful game of his career. Usually the offense picks him up with Wakefield but not this year. They had their shots..couldn’t get the big hit. A rod and Giambi with the usual lethargy. Nothing new.
A loss tomorrow and the eulogy gets its first draft with the funeral mass set for Sundays sports sections. Don’t forget what Byrd did to them with their back against the wall at the Stadium last year. And they had Wang going that day. This team 7 down with 30 to play? The Sox are not the Mets. Maybe if they had been climbing for the last few weeks but they’ve been fading away for some time.
Ponson is pitching for a job next year so we do have that going for us. A gem tomorrow from him will look sweet on his resume.
This team has played great for about 20 days this season. a 7 game streak against the NL doormats mid june and the post ASG streak. what have they shown to make anyone believe they’re going to play great for the next 30 days against some of the best teams in the AL? Diddlysquat. That’s what they’ve shown.
Bad losses for both NY teams tonight. However the Yanks went to 6 games out with theirs.
and then here’s another thing: if he doesn’t crawl back to the yankees, who was signing him? would the cubs be where they’re at with A-bum? cardinals? no one wants the guy because he is a headcase.
what happened to Jeter in Baltimore, Jonathan? weren’t the games big enough for him to show up? last that I knew, the games counted just as much.
arod wishes he had the grittiness or guts of jimmy rollins.
rollins got booed and ridiculed and he responded with a vengeance. arod gets booed and he gets worse.
The season was over when they didn’t make the Santana trade.
Reality.
Bronx Jeers…sounds like that eulogy is shined, polished and ready for the display case…
Can’t say I disagree though…the facts are the facts.
Ray,
Ok, so Arod can be credited for carrying the team to the playoffs but excused and not singled out when he fails once we get there?
He sucks in crucial games and high pressure situations whether they be in the playoffs or the regular season. His approach changes and it will always remain that way, meaning he will never do enough to help win a championship to warrant his salary, not to mention the off-field distractions.
hank hal,
Interesting thing about Manny is that I think he would be a good fit for New York precisely because of his whole “Manny being Manny” persona…
That might provide him with the insulation he needs from the media, the fans, etc…
I bet Manny would perform regardless of what they write about him, regardless of what the fans think…
G.Love said:
“Joe Girardi deserves to be fired. How a manager can ignore the lack of hitting with RISP by his 4-5 mashers and not have the stones to break them up in the order is a fireable offense.”
You know, G Love, I have been a huge Girardi supporter this entire season, but, this is without a doubt the most stubborn hardheaded boneheaded decision. Plus, he keeps making the same stupid decision every single day! I’m with you, I don’t get it!!!
I don’t think he should be fired, but I do think he should be called on the carpet for this.
Pete Abraham said:
Tonight was a vintage October performance for Rodriguez: 0 for 5, two strikeouts, two GIDPs and an error. He is 18 of 73 (.247) on the season with runners in scoring position this season and has one RBI in the last seven games.
The facts are the facts…and the Yankees won the games in Baltimore.
rollins got booed and ridiculed and he responded with a vengeance. arod gets booed and he gets worse.
Tonight was the first game Rollins responded to the boos, he’s been horrible all year, near terrible…he got boo’d and got worst, tonight vs the Mets he had a great night you could tell since the Dodger game that he was going to wake up soon, to say Rollins was a better pressure hitter he had 2 chances to win the game tonight and choked. He has been producing since last night but lets not go overboard here w/ propping JRoll.
If Cano is so bad and has such a bad contract, why would the dodgers trade Kemp for him? Unless it’s to unload his attitude and 150 strikeouts.
The thing about Manny is that he doesn’t need ‘more protection’ in the lineup because he’s a legitimate big-game hitter.
That being said, I’d only give him his 4 years or whatever if they can dump Arod’s 9 years on the Dodgers.
Manny for 4 instead of Arod for 9. Sounds like heaven to me.
Arod puts up the most cosmetic stats I have ever seen. I have never seen a star as big as him get so affected by pressure. He holds the bat tighter and his ABs get progressively worse as the leverage of the situation gets higher.
When Cashman goes into the offseason, he has to realize Arod cannot carry a team, he cannot handle that pressure. He is a guy who is along for the ride and doesn’t want to be the driver. You have to surround him with winning players and feared clutch hitters in order for him to be successful.
if not for rollins there would never been a 13th inning or a 9th inning of relevance
If we have Manny instead of A-Rod the past 5 years we have 3 more titles.
That’s a fact.
I would trade Cano for Kemp in a heartbeat. Cashman was stupid to decline that offer (which supposedly included Derek Lowe). I hope it’s still on the table. Kemp, despite his crappy temperament is a complete ballplayer with all 5 tools and he can play CF. I’d take Orlando Hudson at 2b to sure up the infield defense. He’s a free agent.
If the game was 10-3 Boston in the 9th AROd would definitely have homered.
“and then here’s another thing: if he doesn’t crawl back to the yankees, who was signing him? would the cubs be where they’re at with A-bum? cardinals? no one wants the guy because he is a headcase.”
Exactly, Church201, I have friends and acquaintances that are Dodger, Angel, Cardinal, Cub, and Padre fans. You know what? I asked them how would they like to have AROD on their team. No one wanted him! Now I know they aren’t GM’s, but fans are usually suckers for the big name guys, but not one of them wanted AChoke. Everybody knows what a choke this guy is, and that’s probably why we will be stuck with him for the next 10 years.
Are you people serious?
Cashman wouldn’t even trade the average Hughes and two utter scrubs for the best lefty in the league.
And he’s going to trade Cano? The young guy he’s put all his hopes and dreams on?
Get real.
We should have never traded Soriano for A-Rod.
Steve
If A-Rod was hitting .260 with 8HR and 44 RBI but got a big hit tonight, would you be calling him gritty and gutty?
Yeah, right. Ramirez trying to play defense in Yankee stadium would be quite a sight. He’d cost more runs on defense than he could possible knock in. He’s a defensive butcher.
Now we get to face the guy we should have traded for to shore up the rotation. Byrd. They get to see Ponson. Fair huh?
I miss Alfonso Soriano. What a God-awful money-grubbing trade that was.
stuart: ” What does peter want Girardi to do? Get thrown out because the home plate ump sucked? Or get thrown out at the Lawrie play at 3rd? Peter just likes to whine like most of the bloggers.”
Wait. You whine about the home plate umpire, you whine about the play at third, and then say Pete is whining?
Irony!
“Yeah, right. Ramirez trying to play defense in Yankee stadium would be quite a sight. He’d cost more runs on defense than he could possible knock in. He’s a defensive butcher”
His glove really cost the Sox the past 7 years huh???
We put out Damon in CF, Jeter at SS, Giambi at 1b, Cano at 2b and this loser is worried about Mannys defense????
That is comical to say the least.
Um, maybe Manny would be the DH.
let us hope jesus montero becomes our manny, miggy cabrera, pujols etc. who can actually hit all kinds of pitches to all fields in any situationand is good fundamentally, and evolves into an all-round great hitter with advanced understanding of the strike zone not just a slugger like Arod.
stuarts right. blame the umps! cant be because our best player chokes and cant hit when it counts and our best starter has been awful lately.
I miss Soriano. That was an awful awful money-grubbing trade.
let us hope jesus montero becomes our manny, miggy cabrera, pujols etc. who can actually hit all kinds of pitches to all fields in any situationand is good fundamentally, and evolves into an all-round great hitter with advanced understanding of the strike zone not just a slugger like Arod.
You realize Montero is 18 right?
Play Manny at DH. This offense needs some magic to it. No more guys who just want to ‘blend in’. We need a guy who has no problem having the game come down to him and can hit the ball with authority and strike FEAR in the hearts of opposing pitchers. A guy who can also help Arod relax and who he can hide behind.
Until we get a guy like that, this offense is doomed. Too many followers and not enough leaders. Get some guys who want to hit.
I do not want Manny Ramirez anywhere close to a Yankee uniform!
However, if you offered me Manny and Kemp for ACHOKE, you got a deal!
There was never a trade of Cano for Kemp and Lowe. Invent another story. This one’s fiction, written by you. Cano’s number and Kemp’s numbers in the same amount of games and at bats are nearly identical, except for stolen bases….and strikeouts. Top of the line defensive 2nd basemen that hit like Cano don’t come along often. Outfielders like Kemp can be had on the FA market. As for Hudson, don’t make me laugh. he’s almost 32 and is asking for a multi-year contract at 14-15 million a year. He’s not worth 9 million.
Spare me any A-Rod stats.
We all have eyes and can see how much he chokes when the pressure is on. I could care less if he hits 9,000 home runs. He can’t even get a single with RISP.
He can’t get a walk when it counts.
The guy is terrible. He’s a choke artist. He is a stat guy who can’t get a big hit. He freezes up.
It’s sad how little life this team has shown when there’s still a chance to make a run. Maybe one day we’ll have players that give a damn again.
If you wouldn’t trade Cano for Kemp then you got problems buddy.
Odie!!!! That’s the name of a cartoon dog. It fits you well.
The day that Kemp puts up numbers that Cano has put up, then, he’ll be worth talking about. If you want an outfielder that strikes out a 150 times a year, there’s plenty to chose from.
so now we are to the arod vs jeter arguement. I had the met/ yankee arguements just like that when I was 10..
Why compare the 2? What is the purpose?
Arod hit’s 4th and is a power hitter Jeter is not, let it rest.
Peter how is St. Torre doing? His team is below 5oo in the NL worst..
I thought Torre is the genius… Why don’t you cherry pick the DOdger record this week???
The Yanks are not very good, they had numerous chances tonight and never ever came thru except for Jose Molina once..
Matsui was called out on ball 4(it was a ball even NESN said soand showed it), Cano did his overanious standard stupidity and arod an giambi were arod and giambi.
again, will they have a 100 RBI gu? I have been asking this question for weeks..
This team needs wholesale trimming of fat for next year…..
i cannot believe some of you people bashing arod. this guy had a historic season last year!!! one for the ages with 54 HRs/154 RBIs and won his 2nd MVP as a yankee! he carried us on his back to the playoffs and hit 9 9th inning HRs. he had 2 walkoffs in the first week of the season,
this guy is the BEST BEST player in baseball bar none. the guy iis going to break barry bonds record for HRS!! do you realize how much money and fame he is going to bring us?
20 years from now, you will be teeling your kids/greatkids/great grand kids that the all-time HR leader donned pinstripes and did amazing things.
be is class on the field and off the field. so hes not clutch, either was payton manning. arod will have his day. what i do know is that he will be the clean HR leader by the end of his career and he will do it in yankee stadium and he will make us hudereds of millions of dollers in revenue. yankee stadium will be sold out for years to watch him, he is a legend like ruth, damaggio, babe etc.
tim that is all true but the ump still sucked.. arod stunk also and so did pettitte but the 3rd base ump missed an out that cost 2 runs and the home plate umpire was terrible..
maark007 who cares about money he makes the yanks..I will take some victories.
Arod could not hold Babe ruth WHiskey bottle what are you drinking.. By this point in Ruth’s career he probably had 6 championships and won 60 games pitching, stop drinking the koolaid, arod is a good player but he is no babe ruth, he is not even mickey mantle….
mark007-
That has got to be without a doubt the funniest post I have read in a long long time.
I love it! AChoke is a legend, like “ruth, damaggio, babe, etc.” !!!!!!!!! Toooo funny.
“Play Manny at DH. This offense needs some magic to it. No more guys who just want to ‘blend in’. We need a guy who has no problem having the game come down to him and can hit the ball with authority and strike FEAR in the hearts of opposing pitchers. A guy who can also help Arod relax and who he can hide behind.
Until we get a guy like that, this offense is doomed. Too many followers and not enough leaders. Get some guys who want to hit.”
I agree 100%. Next year Damonic can be the full time LF getting spelled by Manny occasionally. Nady in RF. Of course we would need a full time CF. New line-up:
1)Damon
2)Jeter
3)A-Rod
4)Manny
5)Matsui
6)Nady
7)Cano
8)Posada
9)CF???
That line-up seems A-rod proof to me.
150 k’s but you left out the little part about the 5 tools.
I’ll take a player with 5 tools any day, even if it means 150 k’s, especially at age 23 and not making 7 million like Cano and dogging it all over the field, booting routine plays and swinging at everything. Maybe the Dodgers would add in another player because Bowa thinks he can help shape him up. They would be stupid to trade Kemp. He’s a 40-40 candidate if everything goes right. Centerfielders like that don’t grow on trees.
The problem with the 1996er fan is that if Jeter grounds into a DP everyone says, “thats ok Derek, go get em tomorrow” because he was on a successful team 10 years ago.
If A-Rod does it, its “get rid of this choker”.
Hate to break it to you 1996ers, but the golden boy Jeter has absolutely no power whatsoever anymore. Yes he’s raised his batting average over the last month and a half, but he isn’t driving the ball like he used to. The next two years will be hard on the fan who thinks Jeter can do no wrong.
LOL That was just gold.
mark007, you do realize that “babe” and “ruth” are the same player right?
Naaaaa Bret, I live here in L.A. and my son is a huge Dodger fan, and even he wishes they’d get rid of him.
There are four players from the Dodgers I would be interested in:
Loney, Ethier, Broxton, and Kershaw. Any way Cashman could bring a couple of those guys to NY would be huge.
Why hasn’t Hank called out A-Rod by name yet?
Kershaw is likely off limits I would think. Eithier is nowhere near the level of Kemp. Broxton is a power reliever and our bullpen seems pretty solid moving forward with Melancon on the way and possibly Humberto Sanchez. Loney I like but he’s a lefty. Still, I like him. Not sure if I’d want to trade Cano for Loney. Probably not.
Arod’s contract, is going to make Giambi’s contract look like a street-corner donation to the salavation army.
Because Hank is not man enough to admit his mistakes. $275 million bucks and 10 years. Daddy must be so proud.
Cano for Kemp is a steal. Kemp is 2 years younger and can be a 30/30 guy at the majors with GG defense in center. He is a legit 5 tool player. And FWIW, Kemp is a .337 career hitter in April and .296 in May, no slow starts for him.
Would LA do it?
“Because Hank is not man enough to admit his mistakes”
You got that right! And neither is Cashman.
The only way they can get out of this $275 million dollar boondogle is find a way to move him and not look like fools.
That’s gonna be difficult since they’ve already accomplished the fool part.
manny for arod, is a steal.
lol. Torre knows arod. Would prolly want no part.
Kemp doesn’t balls all over the place? he’s a .958 career fielder, and he’s not a 40-40 guy, either. It might help if he got over 15 first. 1000 at bats and he has 32.
hmmm….
Hey Mark007 how again is AROD going to make ME or anyone else who posts here money again?
I’m confused, you continue to say “HE BLAH BLAH WILL MAKE US MONEY”…
ARe you a member of the Steinbrenner family?
Cool if you are but if not…Why put yourself or us into this AROD to raise all bridges $hit?
***Kemp doesn’t boot balls?***
“Pepitone
August 27th, 2008 at 2:11 am
“Because Hank is not man enough to admit his mistakesâ€
You got that right! And neither is Cashman”
Cashman let arod walk, and didn’t re-sign him. Ownership did. The next person who says otherwise, needs to be punched.
Kemp is great but players who K a lot typically frustrate me. I wouldn’t want to be in here when Kemp gets a gold sombrero and Cano is batting .350 with Torre and Bowa out in LA.
GB7:
Thanks for doing the heavy lifting on trying to inject a little objectivity into the ARod debate. It’s a losing battle, especially with PeteAbe doing his best to fan the flames of the bashing, but I really appreciate the effort.
I got a great idea for a trade. Cano and Phil Hughes to LA for Kemp and Billingsley. Kemp is a solid CF with a developing big bat. Billingsley is underrated look up his stats. Pulling this trade off would allow us to swap Phil for a guy who has already thrown upwards of 150 innings in a season who could give us 200 innings next year as opposed to 3 years from now. Also Billingsley is a K per inning guy with a low ERA sure its the NL but his stuff would translate here as well IMO.
I was angry after the loss tonight but lets put this season in perspective…The Yankee rotation this year has sucked. Going into the season if the rotation was Mussina-Pettite-Rasner-Ponson would you expect the Yankees to be in the playoffs? Between Ponson-Rasner-Giese and the wonder twins (Hughes and Kennedy), that comprises 30% of the Yankee starts. Building a team on a six run per game offense and mediocre (at best) pitching has been and still is a flawed strategy.
Yes Girardi has made mistake and is still learning.
Yes A-rod has sucked this year w/RISP
Yes I still think Hughes/Kennedy can be big league pitchers
The team was a roll of the dice this year. A hope that one of Hughes-Joba would be a shut down ace, Wang a #2, Pettitte #3 and then choose between Moose/Kennedy/Hughes or Joba. Well Moose stepped up as did Joba and for a 2.5 mos period the strategy worked. With Joba in the rotation the Yanks went 33-22. Before they were 28-29 and after 9-11. Same non-clutch roster around them, same .250 A-rod w/RISP, just a difference in the make up of the starters…
Pitching and defense wins championships…it’s a cliche for a reason.
You can forget trading Arod. Ain’t gonna happen. Jose put it best earlier when he stated Arod’s signing wasn’t about championships, it was about marketing.
The only way he gets dealt is if NY turns on him and I mean really turns on him to the point that people won’t come to the stadium to see him play AND Arod asks out.
I do believe at some point in the future he will ask out of NY. I think it’s inevitable with him.
This entire off season was a sham from Arod and Cynthia professing how they both wanted him in a Yankee uniform forever and then the sham of this GM who went into a season with a rotation that was screaming trouble to everyone w/o pinstripe goggles on, a 38 year old starting 1b who we spent the past 5 years trying to turn into a DH/part time player because he wasn’t good enough to be our 1b, showing money to the laziest most unfocused player on the team in Cano AND not trading for a Cy Young winner who wanted to be here and will end up costing far less dollar wise than CC will this off season.
If CC doesn’t come here and I don’t think he will come here, the non trade for Johan should be the death knell for Cashman.
The fact that we could have included Cabrera and Kennedy in a deal for him was amazing. It was essentially Hughes for Johan and we passed.
Add in all of the above and you have why this season is in shambles right now and why this is the worst Yankee team since 1992.
I had forgotten the days of Mel Hall and Danny Tartabull until this season — soulless mercenaries past their prime who can care less that their laundry has pinstripes.
This team is a downward spiral and if someone doesn’t start making smart baseball team decisions whether it be the moron in the dugout or the glorified intern in the front office, we may as well get used to being Baltimore 2 years ago.
You think I’m being dramatic? Maybe, but I’ve watched enough of the heartless gutless bunch of headcases to know that winning is something they are very allergic to and it only occurs when the other team makes it easy for them.
I had hope going into tonight that they would turn it on and sweep.
I was a fool.
This team has the ultimate glass chin and after tonight, I think it’s shattered.
Cano for Kemp? No. Hughes for Billingsley or (better yet) Kershaw? You got a deal.
Like I said before, my oldest son is a Dodger fan and we have these conversations all the time. I told him we would trade him ARod for Kemp, and he said no. Then, I said, Hughes (or, Kennedy) for Billingsley, and he said no. As a matter of fact, he said he wouldn’t take ARod if we gave him to them! He does want Hughes, but he doesn’t want to give up Kershaw, Billingsley, or Broxton. He said he would take Hughes for Brad Penny, and I said, uhhhhh…no deal.
“Cano for Kemp? No. Hughes for Billingsley or (better yet) Kershaw? You got a deal.
Like I said before, my oldest son is a Dodger fan and we have these conversations all the time. I told him we would trade him ARod for Kemp, and he said no. Then, I said, Hughes (or, Kennedy) for Billingsley, and he said no. As a matter of fact, he said he wouldn’t take ARod if we gave him to them! He does want Hughes, but he doesn’t want to give up Kershaw, Billingsley, or Broxton. He said he would take Hughes for Brad Penny, and I said, uhhhhh…no deal.”
lol. Ya Penny is a no-go. I really like Billingsley.
Clare, there’s nobody any unhappier about Rodriguez’ season than I am, but, other than Abreu, Rivera and Mussina (not counting the new bullpen), I’m equally disappointed and unhappy with the rest of them, too.
If it was only Rodriguez failing, I could see parts of it, but, it’s most of them. He could have gone anywhere after last season, and, he would have gotten the money. He was upset at the way Boras dealt with the whole thing, and, he made his apologies and took the blame. What’s more, he didn’t try hiding it…he left it out in the open, took the critcsm and dealt with it.
The treatment that he gets is worse than what you see in junior high school towards the new girl in school. The jealousy of the fans and media mongrels is laughable. Like he’s trying to steal Jeter’s spotlight. The following him around, prying into his private life is sickening. I’d love to see someone poke into some of their lives. I’m sure that more than a few “writers” would be scared to death of what got released.
How many writers get their kicks out of going into the locker rooms with the guys? More than a few, I’m sure. Those might make interesting reading. How about the ones that (married or not) hang out in strip clubs and pad their expense accounts.
Regardless of what Rodriguez does, whether NYY wins a WS and Rodriguez hits 5 homers with 4 being walkoffs, it will never be enough because he isn’t a true Yankee. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Jeter and his accomplishments on the field and with his foundation, but, he has his warts, too…not the least of which is that he’s a lousy team captain. The only players he looks out for are his friends…the rest can go to Hell. He’s proven that. He’s the team captain for Derek Jeter and buddies.
Cano is starting to get the same treatment from media and fans as Rodriguez, because of one off season.
I’m through preaching, now. sorry to unload.
it’s kind of sad that the yankees are committed to Alex for 10 years or so. there is absolutely NO doubt at all in my mind that due to his psycho-emotional make-up he is guaranteed to choke in clutch situations. sad but true. he is a large millstone around the neck of the team come september/october. he is truly mr. april.
much attention is paid to players’ elbows, knees and shoulders. what about the head? will sports psychology finally come into its own? A-Rod needs help in this area just as Joba needs treatment for his shoulder. his personal situation might be curable.
Ugh. Just came out of a 5-hour coma. Was hoping that the results of the game had change, but, nope, the box score was still ugly. It was nice to see Philly come back with a nice lift from Shane Victorino. That Rollins dude was pretty good, too.
Enough A-rod talk already. He’s here, he’s ours. yay.
(vinny-b, interesting comment about Cashman. The Alex deal is something that would’ve made me quit. I think he wanted to see the prospects succeed, though.)
Don’t you believe it. Joe G. is totally at fault: One, for continuing to bat Double-Play-Rod clean-up; two, for batting two unproductive hitters (DP-Rod and Giambi) back-to-back in the four and five slots; and three, for not getting himself thrown out of the game arguing the play at third today in the fifth. Lowrie was definitely out.
Joe G.’s also to blame for allowing his players to flub obvious plays with no repercussions. For example, Giambi could’ve thrown home in I forget what inning, but he just stood there between home and first like a deer in headlights. COME ON, PEOPLE.
Also, what’s Damon still doing playing center? That’s on Girardi as well. Are you telling me Nady can’t do better?
I really despise you who trash A-Rod. I really can’t even bring myself to type out an explanation, but if he wasn’t on the team they wouldn’t even have a playoff race to worry about. This myth that a player can be “scrappy and a winner” while A-Rod is “stacking up numbers and losing” is the biggest load of sh*t I’ve ever heard in my life. It’s not the guys fault, he’s the best player in the league, none the less the team.
Gene,
You’re right, Alex is the best player in baseball. I, for one, appreciate what he brings to the team.
But people have to give up on trying to convince everyone to like him. For whatever reason, there’s a disconnect there with the fans and probably with his peers as well. And it’s not about money or jealousy.
Yeah, it’s the Arod-trashers who are ruining our season.
Gene, I could not agree more. Thank you.
to paraphrase t.s. eliot, this is the way the season will end. not with a bang, but a whimper.
i’m ready for next year.
I like Arod. I can’t defend his performance last night. He signed the big time contract. The Yankees needed him to step up last night and he failed. He will be a post season/spotlight failure until he succeeds. Case closed.
The whole strikeout total argument against Matt Kemp is actually kind of laughable.
Sure, you don’t want an entire team filled with players who strike out a lot – but having one guy of Kemp’s ability is certainly not going to bury this team.
Case in point, a certain outfielder in Cleveland by the name of Grady Sizemore has never struck out fewer than 130 times in a season and there’s no Yankee fan on this blog who wouldn’t want him on this club.
So let’s stop with the whole strikeouts argument. Sure, it’s a weakness that Kemp would have to work on – but that shouldn’t shy people away from him.
I’d make the Cano-for-Kemp deal tomorrow and I’d drive Cano to the airport for good measure.
GB7, I second you all the way through on your comments. As Claire has rightly pointed out, you bring far more than your share of sanity to this site.
Look, this is a great blog and I love most of Pete’s comments and his sense of humor. But he gets points for people’s visits here and it’s to his advantage to stir the pot. If he really believes what he’s saying, than he’s certainly not looking at the ARod situation objectively.
As for the ARod haters, I have a single name for you: Mickey Mantle.
As a kid, I faithfully followed the Yankees throughout the 50’s. The booing (and as a kid, it broke my heart) that Mantle got throughout that time pretty much parallels what ARod is getting today from the same sort of stupid ‘fans’ who believe they’re entitled to continual success, year in, year out from their super stars.
Frankly, it sometimes makes me ashamed to be a Yankee fan, as I have been for more than fifty years.
At one time the yankees adopted Paul O’Neill’s character; they played like him, ground out at bats, played hard were intense and commited to winning as a team, a selfless group of players that stepped up when needed.
Now the Yankees have adopted Arod’s character, oversly self involved, satisfied too easily with too little, no intensity only anxiety.
The season (and probably many more)is OVER.
i don’t know how anyone could defend pAyRod today and Giambi should be benched tonight. they have been killing rallies all year and we’ll never win with them in the 4-5 spots. its depressing to watch.
Sure, at this time last year they were sailing into the play-offs where they had a 4-13 record the previous four years.
Funny how Pete and others seem to use Arod as the scapegoat even if Yankees win and Arod have good game. With all the bitterness and negativity this dude gets from fans, no wonder we can’t win games. ARod didn’t pitch tonight, Jeter had an error Sunday’s game and Peter failed to put that on a board. Jeter is also a member of the team, he has had bad games and so has other players. We win as a team and we lose as a team.
It’s a team effort to win. One player didn’t lose this game, as with other games. I doubt if Peter or anyone else can pick up a bat and do any better than Arod or any of the other players. We Yankee fans don’t deserve a winning season with our owner going to the Press bashing other teams and making us look like buffoons against other fans. He’s an embarrassment. Blaming injuries for our lack of wins is a big failing excuse. When Arod was injured, what was our excuse for losing games then? This is why we are hypocrites when it comes to our team. Look at the Rays, and Cubs. Both teams have injuries and find a way to win games.
Neither team is using injury as an excuse. Kinda embarrassing for Yankees fans and media to use this as an excuse for an elite team with the best playrers money can buy. We are so concerned about the professional and private life of one player that we cannot focus on our team. It’s all about watching and waiting for Arod to screw up. The man admitted he played bad and he said he booed himself. WHat are you waitng for this man to do next? We have some fans wishing Arod’s private jet would crash in the ocean with him in it. How can we ever get positive vibes when we go into the game with a negative approach. Peter makes it no better. Hate Arod all you want, it’s not going to change anything about this team.
I don’t care how many rings Jeter has, he hasn’t been the best player on the team this season either. People were talking about Damon being washed up at the beginning of the season. Bashed Moose in the beginning of the season, now he’s our key player that’s keeping us in some of these games. Pitching much better than Andy. Say what you want, but hate is never going to get Yankees back to world series caliber. Neither is making one player a scapegoat in every game.
Don’t worry about banning me Pete, I’m done. I considered you a very good writer, but now I feel like I’m reading a tabloid where they constantly find fault with every hollywood star and glamorize their faults. I could care less about what these guys salaries are. It’s not coming out of my pocket or anyone else. The owners are paying them and I just sit and watch them play. As a brother of an three-time superbowl winner, he even stated in all his years in the NFL he has never seen how a writer bashes one player in and every day out. Worse than how they bashed Deion Sanders.
The “it’s just one game” argument is getting very old.
I don’t want to hear about A-Rod’s 2004. But you know what? I’m sick of hearing about what Jeter, Posada and Mo did in 2000 and earlier. I’m sick of people acting like that was yesterday. That was 10 YEARS AGO. Thats good for adulation, love, “real Yankee” tags and Yankeeography. It means NOTHING this year, last year or the year before it.
If the Yankees aren’t spotted two runs a game in 2008 for what Jeter and the crew did in 2000 then I don’t want to hear it! Save it for reminiscing, not justifying why their lack of production doesn’t matter in 2008.
Kudos Jonathan, it is a team effort and you can’t pin a loss on one guy no matter how bad a game he had. And you certainly can’t pin a season on one guy either. A lot of people did their part to lose last night’s game and, on top of that, the Red Sox just played better.
The biography of Alex Rodriquez should read :
… a ringless stat conscious man in constant search of home runs with every swing of a bat he takes in pursuit of home run records.
… never known as a clutch performer.
… constantly looking in the stands to see who is looking at him.
… the consumate “I” and “me” type of ballplayer.
Its funny. Those who analyze the TEAM objectively by spreading the criticism are the ones labeled A-Rod apologists.
So I’m an A-Rod apologist because I can’t stand to see an entire team lose, screw up and under perform then watch as one person gets singled out. If we’re going to call people out let’s have a thread for each player. Who will the next player be that gets his own thread? Could be real fun.
For all those A-Rod supporters, nobody is debating Alex’s greatness. The fact remains he is and will be remembered as one of the best baseball players in the history of the game. But let’s not be oblivious to what has continually occurred during his tenure in NY. Over his 5 years in Pinstripes, he has failed over and over again in big spots. And this isn’t one rogue fan claiming this to be true. In this case, the stats don’t lie. How the supposed best player on the team is hitting under .250 with RISP is absolutely absurd. The reason the Yankees awarded him that enormous contract last offseason was precisely for those moments last night. Truly great players come up big in those spots. Players such as Mantle and Jackson went up to the plate with one thing in mind – I need to get this runner in from third, no excuses whatsoever. Even players such as O’Neill and Williams knew what they had to do. There was absolutely no excuse for failure in that type of a spot. Now, I’m not saying A-Rod need to hit a grand slam or a bases clearing double. But are you telling me he could not even muster up a simple sacrifice fly? Come on. The great players rise up for those moments. That is what makes them great.
And, by the way, the same applies to Giambi. Giambi has, for the most part, been spared by the media; however, he has been hitting an absolutely awful .205 with RISP. That is precisely why I laugh at fans and analysts who say the Yanks should contemplate turning down his option, but possibly look to sign him to a smaller deal. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. Giambi has been a bust for the Yanks during his tenure. So why on God’s earth would you want Cashman and Co. to re-sign an unproductive player?
Mike, you’ll see a pretty common trait among “A-rod supporters”. They don’t fault legitimate criticism, they fault stupid criticism void of logic. 99% of “A-Rod supporters” agree with the criticism of things like RISP and situational hitting woes. What you’ll always see in common is that they (we) will criticize everyone else too and can’t understand why the “haters” don’t get what we are saying about the singling him out issue when others are just as bad, if not worse (and seem to get a pass)…which brings me to your Giambi question.
“So why on God’s earth would you want Cashman and Co. to re-sign an unproductive player?”
Because they like him and he’s a nice guy. Means nothing to me, I say get rid of him but thats why.
Many fans’ analysis, if you can call it that, of the game is emotion-based. I try not to let my emotions get in the way of how I see baseball and player performance. I think a lot of the other “A-Rod supporters” on this board are the same way.
Alex Rodriquez/A-Dud/A-Bum is the antitheses of clutch. I have been calling him the Yankee curse as a number of bad things have been happening to the Yankees since they signed him and look at what has happened with the Red Sucks who tried to get him and I so wish they would have. However I do not really believe is curses and believe the guy just cannot produce when it matters to the team. Goes to Texas where is gets booed the loudest and goes what 0-14, then prior to Tronoto says the 3, 4, & 5 hitters need to step it up. What has he done since then? Get rid of the bum!
When Damon, Jeter and Abreu all get on base in front of our power hitters something good is supposed to happen
Sigh. Stat Rod has his divorce and Madonna on his mind. He ha been terrible but on the bright side we only have him for 9 more years. Giambi stole $120 M from us and now is in “coast mode” waiting for the end of the year. Canoe is a freaking head case who the Yankees went out of there way to reward. And Girardi has become Torre the Yankee apologist—where did his fire go?
I still can’t believe that Cashman is considered some kind of a genius. This is his team now and has no one else to blame. Going into the year with two unknowns in the starting rotation in ludicrous. This is the YANKEES not the Royals. Not getting another quality starter when Wang, Hughes and Kennedy all went down, is reckless. Does anyone think that a staff that includes Ponson, Rasner and now Pavano scares anybody? The Yankees lost any chance of making the playoffs in June and July when Cashman had a chance of trading for some help. That’s when we had the easy schedule. God forbid we would have traded Kennedy for someone good. It is really too late and too hard now with still another west coast trip to go. His arrogance was a major cause of our problems now. Also you can’t lose 200 RBI’s between Posada and Matzui and not try to replace them.
Sigh again.Where is George when we need him?
Lara08,
you’re crazy to think that fans can not single AROD out with his “woes”….he is singled out and always will be b/c of his CONTRACT! you know the saying, “you get what you pay for”? does that ring a bell to you?
yes, others are just as bad, but also others are way better, with a slice of his contract, so even the ones that are worse with a slice of his contract won’t be singled out b/c of just that-their CONTRACT!
I do not hate A-Rod, and I do not want him to be sent away in the next GoodWill bag to the used player bin.
At the same time I understand the reaction of his critics when the overblown claim is constantly made that he is the best ballplayer alive.
Can we meet somewhere in the middle ground of reality? The guy is an average third baseman, a nervous wreck under high-pressure conditions, AND a great slugger on your normal day.
With him on our team we have a better chance of making the playoffs than without him. We also have a little too much adventure in our lives when he comes up in high-stress situations.
Hyperventilating in either direction, positive or negative, does nothing for credibility.
Jeter’s Future Wife point out to me where I said fans CAN’T single A-Rod out? You CAN do whatever the heck you want to do, no one said you COULDN’T. #423 on my annoyance list. When you criticize someone’s act/words and they reply with essentially having the right to do it. What you should do is defend your reasoning for doing it, not telling me I’m crazy to think you can’t.
I’m crazy? Look at your screen name.
And if your defense of singling him out is the “he makes X amount of money therefore” argument well, that tells me all I need to know. Beware of wasting too much oxygen and key strokes on people who talk about the contracts.
when the title of the entry is “playoff performance for a-rod”, the gist of the blog is anything but just putting the numbers out there. it was a sarcastic statement about his bad season. there’s nothing wrong with that, but let’s stop pretending it’s just about #’s without any personalization.
we might have to sign manny next year to take all the pressure off arod. move him to the 3rd spot in the lineup and keep him there.
with that said, i think we MUST re-sign abreu.
Gutless Pettitte and Loser A-Hole were the whole story last night, Period!
“How little fight…”???
This ain’t football, Pete. In baseball it just sometimes doesn’t happen.
You don’t think A-Rod was trying hard enough?
Come on.
NY Yankees World Series Champs…..in 2018!!
Let’s look at the off season signings, A-Rod 10 for $270, Posada 4 for $60, and Mo, 4 for $50 (roughly). Wow, that’s a lot of coin for two guys on the downhill run to 40 and a guy that can’t seem to come through in the clutch and will be 42 when he comes off the books.
I still can’t figure out why the Yankees let A-Rod off the hook for opting out. Sure, they didn’t give him $350 Million, but that number was a joke anyway, a fabricated dream of Scott Boras. Hankenstein acted like he played hardball and A-Rod came crawling back to him…really? You still gave him the largest contract in the history of sports…WHY?
I have a feeling that contract is going to become an albatross that we will be regretting for years…especially if he continues to struggle in pressure situations and I see no reason to think that he will do otherwise.
My bad, Mo – 3 for $45…even worse.
Why is everybody on AROD so much. OK he GIDP in a big spot, but what if it was Jeter i dont think people would be going crazy like this.
I don’t know why people seem to think that A-Rod is a lousy player in the post-season, while Jeter is a great one. It doesn’t make any sense. A-Rod has a .361 OBP and .483 SLG in his post-season career, while Jeter is at .377 OBP and a .469 SLG.
Enough is enough. The revolution starts today. We cannot deal with 9 more years of this despicable disgrace of a baseball player.
nomorearod.blogspot.com
^^^^^^ Talk about over reacting..why is every body pointing fingers at AROD. their 9 hitters in a lineup not just one.
A-Rod haters make me embarassed to be a Yankee fan. The guy literally carried this team into the playoffs last year. This year he is having a poor year, while hitting .310/.400/.590 with 78 RBI after missing 20 games. He is still the best player on the team but because he can’t carry a flawed and poorly constructed team to the playoffs for two consecutive years he is booed by the fans who wouldn’t have even seen October in 2007 were it not for him.
It’s seriously disgusting behavior and it’s the reason why Yankee fans are looked at with scorn by the rest of the sports world.
Bryan: I don’t know why people seem to think that A-Rod is a lousy player in the post-season, while Jeter is a great one. It doesn’t make any sense. A-Rod has a .361 OBP and .483 SLG in his post-season career, while Jeter is at .377 OBP and a .469 SLG.
A-Rod is 0 for his last 27 with runners on base in the playoffs. He has the grand total of TWO RBI in the playoffs starting with Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. Forget his career OBP. It is meaningless.
Here’s why I don’t wanna here about how A-Rod carried the team into the playoffs in 2007: They made it nine straight years before he got here. They would have continued to make it. They would have had 27 million last year to spend on 3 or 4 other players, so they would have made it anyway. Tehy won 3 Word Series with Brosius at third. What is his career OBS/OPS/slugging etc.? Pales to A-Rod but who cares? His stats ring as hollow as his comments last year after the opt-out.
“A-Rod is 0 for his last 27 with runners on base in the playoffs. He has the grand total of TWO RBI in the playoffs starting with Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. Forget his career OBP. It is meaningless.”
You’re right, let’s ignore career stats.
Jeter in the 2007 ALDS:
176/176/176, 1 RBI
A-Rod:
267/353/467, 1 RBI
OK, you can take A-Rod, I’ll take jeter. If they had swapped career starting points, Seattle would be a dynasty, Yankees would be nowhere, and fans like you and other A-rod defenders wouldn’t be here.
Jeter wasn’t clutch enough for you over the years? God, talk about unappreciative fans. what have you done for me lately? You new yankee fans are too spoiled.
“Over the years” makes a nice Yankeeography. Criticism of anyone’s play in the present is completely legit and not the marks of an unappreciative fan.
Haha okay, it was Jeter, not the great pitching and well-rounded offense, that formed the Yankee Dynasty.
“God, talk about unappreciative fans. what have you done for me lately? You new yankee fans are too spoiled.”
Sounds like you’re talking about A-Rod’s critics this year.
Well Jon if you mention what A-Rod did last year its the past. If you criticize anyone on the 1996-2000 team you’re unappreciative with a short memory. That makes complete sense to me.
OK Jon, enjoy A-Rod and not winning the WS. You probably booed Eli manning until he won the Super Bowl, ran out and bought his jersey, and will want him benched when he throws 3 picks in week 3. Nice to know you think Jeter wasn’t a factor from 1996-2003. You probably wanted Giambi and kicked Tino out the door and thought Torre didn’t matter either.
OK Jon, enjoy A-Rod and not winning the WS. You probably booed Eli manning until he won the Super Bowl, ran out and bought his jersey, and will want him benched when he throws 3 picks in week 3.
What does this mean? Aren’t A-Rod critics the ones booing a player for not winning it all, and wanting him gone because of a few poor performances lately? Again your comments seem to be more directed at A-Rod critics.
I am a big ARod fan and will always support and never boo. However, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t expect a big hit in a big situation this year. While his personal numbers are in-line with his career, there is something to be said about his performance in pressure situations. He’s admitted as such, that he’s been pressing and trying to do too much. I really wish he could just relax and let the ball come to him, instead of jumping at pitches.
Yes, there are 9 hitters in the line up, and yes, they’ve all done their fair share of failing this season so there’s plenty of blame to go around. It just seems like he’s the one that has come up in more big spots (yesterday’s game in particular) and not come through.
Career number between Jeets and ARod are misleading. I think a better comparison would be to show their post-season numbers while with the Yankees. As for Jon’s post re: last year’s numbers, they both failed to come through last year, so that’s not much of a point. Jeter has come through in big spots in the playoffs, so he garners that rep. ARod hasn’t, so he is now has that rep.
Yankee fans seem to think it is their birthright that the Yankees make the playoffs every season.All their problems are due to A ROD and Girardi and Giambi.In reality Torre left this team at the perfect time.He knew he had taken them as far as they could go.They have another big,burly,bombastic,blowhard in charge who knows nothing about baseball.They are a poor offensive and defensive team.Their too slow,too old,and their young players have been seriously over rated.The great YANKEE “mystique”is gone just in time for the new yankee stadium.
“In SEA and the Northwest they have this very strong belief in the Curse of ARod.”
As you can see, we SEA fans are jumping for joy now that we have finally broken the Curse of ARod. I mean, we’ve got Bloomquist! and Clutch Hitting!
“As you can see, we SEA fans are jumping for joy now that we have finally broken the Curse of ARod. I mean, we’ve got Bloomquist! and Clutch Hitting!”
LOL
gg
Hey Seattle guy, you want him back? You can have him cheap!
And for my friend who said A Rod is similar to Mickey Mantle, getting booed, and all that. I saw Mickey Mantle play, take a look at his WS statistics, Rodriguez doesn’t even come close. Alex Rodriguez couldn’t make a pimple on Mickey Mantle’s ass, and I resent the comparison with a true Yankee legend.