Here we go again with A-Rod
-
- December
- 4
Remember when Alex Rodriguez couldn’t decide whether he was American or Dominican before the last World Baseball Classic? He ended up playing for the United States after much drama.
Guess what? Now he’s a Dominican.
David Ortiz told Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports that Rodriguez said he plans to play for the Dominican Team.
Prediction: Between now and the start of the WBC, he’ll change his mind several more times (as he did in 2006) if only to keep the story going.
For the record, Alex was born in New York City in 1975. But under the loose rules of the WBC, a player is free to pick his team based on the ethnicity of his parents or even his grandparents.
UPDATE, 9:32 p.m.: Jeff Passan has a good take on the situation.
————
Austin Jackson, who is American, was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospects team despite hitting .246.
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on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 7:46 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
It’s Madonnas fault!!!
Great, now he’s got another identity crisis. So that means he’ll finally break the good “odd” year streak!
Best quote in that article is Ortiz on Manny:
“I’ve got a better shot to talk to Obama.”
And you wonder why Rodriguez refuses to talk with reporters. Time for another article on how he unfairly snubs the writers.
So now Ortiz is his spokesman? Or because Ortiz says something it’s “Here we go again with Arod?” Ortiz is also the guy who said he didn’t know if he ever took steroids. Why isn’t this “Here we go again with Ortiz?”
Alex, Alex, Alex…
Are you kidding me? You deleted my post again?
A-Rod is the best player on this team and you are going out of your way to find reasons to bitch about him. If you are going to write stupid insignificant stuff like this then be a man and take the criticism.
“Austin Jackson, who is American, was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospects team despite hitting .246.”
Does that not concern anyone? Yes i know he has all this talent. But Melky hit over .300 in AAA before being called up. AAA. AJax is at .246. Prospects are a crap shoot. Lets not hold our breath and look for a legit center fielder. If he dominates in the next couple years. Im sure we will find a place for him.
ugh…. you were born in America Alex…. you live in America…. and you make your money playing in America…. play for your team!!
S.o.S.
December 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
“Austin Jackson, who is American, was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Top Prospects team despite hitting .246.”
Does that not concern anyone? Yes i know he has all this talent. But Melky hit over .300 in AAA before being called up. AAA. AJax is at .246. Prospects are a crap shoot. Lets not hold our breath and look for a legit center fielder. If he dominates in the next couple years. Im sure we will find a place for him.
————————————————————
Jackson is legitimate. Great athlete and still learning. He’s only had 3 years of dedicating himself to strictly baseball, but, there isn’t anything on the field that he doesn’t do quite well.
Here we go again with Peter bashing ARod.
You really think ARod wanted Ortiz making that announcement to the press?
“Now he’s a Dominican”. That’s fair and objective, Peter. He grew spent several years as a child living in the DR, and his mother is Dominican. She wanted him to play for the DR last time, but was overruled by his wife.
So, if ARod now wants to play for the DR to make his mother happy, what exactly is wrong with that, Peter? And if he “changes his mind” – well, maybe Ortiz jumped the gun. If ARod had made a final decision on it, don’t you think he would announce it himself?
It sort of looked like Arod was changing teams in that picture at Madonna’s concert.
What? WBC teams?
Never mind.
Not to say that Alex won’t change his mind, but maybe we should wait to hear it from Alex’s mouth, rather than from David Ortiz.
Pete, get off Arod’s back already. Look if he plays for the Dominican team so be it. Didn’t Mike Piazza play for Italy? He’s American yes but he might want to show a little respect for his roots. Remember last time it was his wife that supposedly wouldn’t let him play for the Dominican team. Well now that said wife is out of the picture. We still don’t know if this is true, it was Ortiz who said it. Let’s see what Alex says. Let him play for the team he wants, this isn’t war people.
Who cares about an exhibition. Team Dominican seems ridiculous, A-Rod, Ortiz, Pujols, Vladdy, Manny, Cano, not saying all those guys play but sounds like a sick offense.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Gee, Green Beret, as somebody who claims to be a veteran, I would think you would want Alex to represent the United States and not a foreign nation.
Meanwhile, how is this the media’s fault? Alex changed his mind at least 4 times about the WBC in 2006. Now he’s changing teams. I can only report what the guy does and what team the best player in the game wants to play on is news. You’re free to judge him however you like.
———————————————————–
He holds a duel citizenship. Actually, with the BS he’s subjected to for not being as phoney as Jeter is with the media and fans, I’m not that upset about it. So, now, you go with 2nd or 3rd hand information from somebody like Ortiz, who’s spent 5 years supporting a slug like Ramirez instead of hearing it from Rodriguez himself.
I can only report what the guy does and what team the best player in the game wants to play on is news. You’re free to judge him however you like.
————————————————————-
You edited the original comment. I’ll take that as an admission of wrong doing.
Peter,
I am a veteran (and would be happy to fax you my DD214 to prove it), and I couldn’t care less which team he plays for.
Being a veteran has nothing to do with objecting to the press manufacturing issues about which to criticize ARod.
I read that Team Dominica wants to trade Cano for Kemp.
I don’t think they can do it, personally.
Maybe I’ll try out for Ireland
The hot stove has a little bit of life now. However no news on the big fish
I’ll also disregard the remark about what I claim to be. I can prove that a lot easier than you can your claims of not having an agenda or axe to grind with Rodriguez or Girardi.
GB7,
I get that he has high potential. But we bang on Gardner for not being able to use his blazing speed when he’s going back to the bench on a K. Or hitting .240 in the bigs. Sent Melky down for hitting in that range. Austin got promoted to AA as i recall wasnt hitting well in the lower levels and did well. Do we scrap it up to its not enough competition to get him going? I also noticed that his K’s were high. Whats a good time to know if his potential will finally flourish?
E.Duncan tore it up in winter ball and we all thought he would be something. We all know how that ended. Like i said a crap shoot.
ARod and Madonna were made for each other.
Looks like blosox fans across America can’t get enough of Alex Rodriguez.
Now Gordon Edes, a Massachusetts native and Boston Globe nitwit has nothing better to do than quote David Ortiz, you know, that genius that said Pedro ‘ain’t going to no Mets’.
Edes bases an entire article on Alex Rodriguez based on the dimwit Ortiz’s thoughts about him.
Obsess on, chowderhead fools!
< http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ge-rodriguezdominican120408&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
S.o.S.
December 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
GB7,
I get that he has high potential. But we bang on Gardner for not being able to use his blazing speed when he’s going back to the bench on a K. Or hitting .240 in the bigs. Sent Melky down for hitting in that range. Austin got promoted to AA as i recall wasnt hitting well in the lower levels and did well. Do we scrap it up to its not enough competition to get him going? I also noticed that his K’s were high. Whats a good time to know if his potential will finally flourish?
E.Duncan tore it up in winter ball and we all thought he would be something. We all know how that ended. Like i said a crap shoot.
———————————————————–
The difference is that Jackson is showing it during the season while always being younger than 95% of his competition.
“Offers for CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira seem unlikely, but Sabean refuses to rule them out. However, Sabean also says: “We’re not out there swimming with the sharks. There are too many teams with more seemingly to offer financially than where we’re at right now.””-MLBTR
Seems like Feinsand’s article about the Giants riding in with a 9 figure deal were a bit premature.
And, the article by Edes says that Ortiz hasn’t even talked to Rodriguez recently about the WBC.
Blaming ARod for Ortiz talking about things he has no business discussing is pretty lame.
“Who cares about an exhibition. Team Dominican seems ridiculous, A-Rod, Ortiz, Pujols, Vladdy, Manny, Cano, not saying all those guys play but sounds like a sick offense.”
If you put it that way. Hell if you cant beat em join em.
Jackson also didn’t get regular playing time in arizona…much like Miranda, Sublett and omine in their leagues, they played less than half of the games.i
For a smart guy, arod can be so stupid.
The braves are rumored to be offering aj a possible fifth year and the yanks are thinking about upping their offer to four years with an option for a fifth. Both teams are thinking about at least 15 mil per season and probably more. In my opinion, AJ is worth far more in the NL East than he would be in the AL east. His two best seasons of his career were both in florida in which he pitched to the tune of a 3.3 and a 3.4 era. In his best season in toronto he pitched a little more than 160 innings and put up a 3.75 era and a 1.18 whip. Last year, which some people claim was his best in toronto, he had a era over 4 and a whip of 1.34 but he managed to pitch 200 innings and somehow, I am not too sure how he won 18 games. I think the reason people view him so highly is due to the 18 wins even though that is the least relevant of his stats. I think the yanks feel he is worth 4 years mainly because he has very good career numbers against tampa and boston. Despite that fact, AJ is never going to stay healthy for four season straight and he certainly wont give us 200 innings each year. I have no idea what he would give us but the fact is he has only had one good season out of 8 in which he was not in his walk year (2002). Every other year he either didnt pitch well or didnt pitch a complete season due to injury. To me, this is a very telling and ominous sign. This along with his managers comment that AJ does not know the difference between injury and pain tells me AJ plays for himself more than the team and once he feels comfortable with his big, long contract, he will not put up good numbers and/or will not pitch 200 innings.
Derek Lowe is also pushing for a five year contract which i find amusing considering the fact that he is 35. And I have heard Lowe re-invented himself in LA but i HAVE to take that 5.42 era in Boston in 2004 as some indication of how he may pitch if he comes back to the AL east. Lowe has put up solid and consistent numbers for the dodgers and he may do that here but i would not expect an era under 4. And it isnt that far fetched to think he may have an era over 5. And 5 years at 35 years old for a starter with average stuff and good control in a market that is supposed to be dropping MLB salaries – they cant be serious. That sounds like a lot compared to last years contracts.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2008/12/alex_rodriguez_undies_for_sale.html
Have fun, A-Rod lovahs.
Peter, no, I’m the veteran.
So which one of us are veterans? GreenBeret behind door #1 (sporting his job classification in his moniker), Clare behind door #2 (sporting her sexy DD214), or Sevrox behind door #3?
You cannibalizing Yankee fans are a joy to behold during the offseason.
Fan since ‘67.
Jackson is still learning the game. He was a top rated point guard in high school so, chances are he didn’t focus on baseball in high school. Give another 2 years in the minors so he can refine his skills.
Pete may be cranky about this but somewhere D. Wright and Evan Longoria just said YIPPY!
YEA A-Rod is dominacan go to his site wwww.arod.com he always been dominacan but hes so dumb he cant decided and whats wrong with Dominacans they one of the funnest persons like me am Dominacan i dont have a problem with it the Dominacan team is going to win this year
C:Two be decided
1B:Pujols
2B:Cano
SS:Hanley Ramirez
3B: A-rod or Aramis rameriz or Beltre
DH:Ortiz as much as i hate to say it
CF:Tavarez
RF:Gurerro
LF:Soriano
who can stop that lineup
In the words of Dr. Percival Cox:
Giant who cares?
Some people are missing pete’s point i think. He wasnt bashing him for playing for DR, he was bashing him for changing his mind 20 times last year and then, appearing as if he may do it again this year. I agree with pete. Its stupid already and clearly to get attention. Just pick a team or debate it in your head. Why does everyone have to know every time Alex changes his mind. He should make a decision and then, announce it to the media. This constant back and forth nonsense makes him like stupid.
We must blame Madonna.
But back to this:
“Ortiz said he has not spoken recently with Rodriguez about his intentions, but that as far back as the All-Star Game last July in New York, he said A-Rod had expressed a desire to play for the Dominican Republic.”
Who knew that a desire automatically meant “He is going to play for the Dominican in WBC”.
I think I’ll wait till I hear a direct quote from Alex.
And to be honest, I’d really prefer it if no Yankees played in the WBC.
Let some other team’s stars risk injury.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2008-Kevin-Youkilis-Game-Worn-Spandex-Boston-Red-Sox_W0QQitemZ250336838664QQihZ015QQcategoryZ73419QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
OH GROSS!!! That just makes me want to vomit.
Who cares what team Arod plays for.The questions we need to be asking is
What team will Eric Almonte play for?
Will he need to show a birth certificate?
1. Who cares about the WBC?
2. I don’t know why some people are surprised by Pete’s comments. This is par for the course. Pete likes to chastise the fans for making judgements about people they don’t like, but he does (read: IPK or Phil), but he has no problem making judgments about people he doesn’t like. A Rod is on Pete’s bad side for some reason.
I’d suggest you get used to it.
Remember, Pete always knows better than you do. Even ask him.
http://cgi.ebay.com/2008-John-Farrell-Game-Worn-Spandex-Boston-Red-Sox_W0QQitemZ250336833702QQihZ015QQcategoryZ73419QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262
The pitching coaches underwear!!!.
Thanks to those rules of the WBC, Team México could have some players like:
1- Dan Haren
2- Joel Zumaya
3- Carlos Quentin (unfortunately, it seems he is injured)
4- Matt Garza
5- Mike González
6- Nomar Garciaparra
and, surely, some others. All of them US citizens, but with mexican parents.
“The U.S. will be playing in Toronto. Maybe Madonna doesn’t want him going up there unsupervised”
Pete, well played.
Alex likes to be talked about. I think that’s the crux of the issue. He attracts so much unnecessary attention to himself that it is befuddling.
So David Ortiz is a legitimate source for ARod news? Nice standard. Btw, the World Baseball Classic or whatever Comrade Bud extruded is a colosal joke that should be mocked and ridiculed at every opportunity.
Alex could change his mind 50 times and I really don’t care.
The only thing that really concerns me right now is which team CC will be playing for in the 2009 MLB season.
UConn is playing like dog doo doo right now. This is embarrassing.
I want to see Giambi and Sal Fasano play for Italy, lol.
Well, except that the only one that’s saying it is Ortiz who then says that he hasn’t even spoken to Rodriguez, so, it seems to be fabricated for the excitement value. That occupation is getting closer and closer to that of lawyers and politicians. That’s as low as it gets.
love to see a poll on what pct of folks give a flying rip about the wb clasic.
I could give a flying rip about which team arod wants to play for in the wbc. It is all forgotten once the regular season starts. The key is nobody gets injured.
Pete
I saw the news value. I posted it in the comments in the last thread- just in a less judgemental way than you did.
who cares it’s the WBC, AKA extended spring training.
Manny and ARod in the same lineup is just a preview of what they can do when together.
I hope the Steinbrenners are watching.
People who cant or couldnt make their minds up.
Bret Favre
Clemens
Michael Jordan
Joe Leiberman
Michael Jackson
Arod
C.C.
All these petty arguments need to stop. Since when did baseball get full of such whiny cry-baby fans?
“I want to see Giambi and Sal Fasano play for Italy, lol.”
That was funny. In a related topic. Will teams pitch around Mexico’s Jorge Cantu?
His playing is news. Honestly, I think everyone responded to your sarcasm Pete. Which surprises me. I would think everyone would be accustomed to how you generally treat A-Rod on the blog. At this point, its just plain funny.
Like its been said, he has duel citizenship and it would make his mom happy (she wanted him to play for DR last time). What is so bad about him playing for DR? Can’t bring up flip-flopping because he hasn’t done that this time. Why bring up 2006? This isn’t 2006.
Oh, another military veteran here (Signal Corp). This country thing means nothing to me. Its just a baseball tourney as far as I’m concerned.
“Well, except that the only one that’s saying it is Ortiz who then says that he hasn’t even spoken to Rodriguez, so, it seems to be fabricated for the excitement value.”
He want to play for the DR last time so Ortiz probably knows of what he speaks just spoke out of turn.
Peter,
Despite your liberal use of strawmen when criticized, let me make clear that no one will criticize you for reporting real news about Yankees.
What I, and others, will criticize is when you use “news” as an excuse to demonstrate your bias against certain players and/or managers.
For example – Ortiz says ARod will play for the DR is news. “Now he’s a Dominican” and “I predict he will change his mind several more times . . . if only to keep the story going” is just an expression of your dislike for the man.
First, as I’ve noted above, Ortiz hasn’t even talked to ARod recently about this, so he’s certainly not authorized to make this type of announcement. Blaming ARod for this story is absurd.
Second, ARod changed his mind last time based on pressure from MLB to play for the US. He didn’t do it to “keep the story in the news.”
Alex,
They are also auctioning off Youklis underwear.
Now that is scary. You ever see the way that guy sweats?
The WBC gear they sell is cool. I’d have no problem sporting a Dominican Arod shirt.
Really I don’t care what team he plays for. I’d just like for him to perhaps hit 20-25 more RBI’s next season. They’ll need the production.
Clare – why dost thou haveth such a rockhardiness for Pete and his blog?
Ease up vet Chick!
Here’s hoping Arod hits .362 with 56 homeruns and 180 RBI’s this coming season. That would mean Damon, Jeter, and Matsui are doing their job.
so hes playing for the DR instead of the US, thats his right, hes not pissing on the American flag or anything… maybe next WBC he’ll play for the US again? Its the SECOND WBC – theres no tradition to operate on, maybe its something that other players will try and do down the line, pay homage to every side of their lineage instead of choosing one absolutely?
you spend the whole season remarking that Alex is pressing, Alex needs to calm down – he has to relax and start to perform, he needs to carry the team, etc etc. and when you’re not too busy saying that, you’re doing your best to spotlight every single thing this guy does.
so whats the idea? you rip the guy to shreds along with every other sportswriter and then when he seems to be overwhelmed by pressure, you criticize him for not being relaxed… its like this awesome self perpetuating story that you can keep creating and reporting on 365 days a year.
look. despite him being a nasty ballplayer and the centerpiece of the team, i think hes a tool: madonna is all woof. his fashion sense is a joke. overall, his personality leaves a lot to be desired, yes – Alex should check himself. But – you know what? none of that crap matters. if he keeps posting numbers like he does, he can do whatever he wants. at a certain point, even the biggest targets are no longer fun to hit if you keep hitting them over and over again. no matter what you report, hes not going to change, but he is on this team – at what point are you going to realize you’re beating a dead horse? He’s a strange guy… so what? Let him be strange. After he gets a ring, will he be afforded some room to live his life how he wants? Is that what you’re all waiting for?
so whats up with all this entertainment news you’re bringing us here? all you’re doing when you post stories like this is make it harder for this guy to settle down and concentrate on baseball and give idiotic entertainment news / tabloid junkies something to gossip about. If you’re gonna do this personal drama stuff, go out and find out what everyones doing, i’m MUCH more interested to know about how Robbie Cano is doing with his personal plan to improve this offseason, or what Moose is doing in retirement? why is it always about something dumb that ARod said or did? I’m not trying to protect ‘poor Alex’ im just sick of these stories, they’re tired and lame.
Leave the tabloids to the tabloids, i know i respect you much more when you do.
Lara08
December 4th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
His playing is news. Honestly, I think everyone responded to your sarcasm Pete. Which surprises me. I would think everyone would be accustomed to how you generally treat A-Rod on the blog. At this point, its just plain funny.
Like its been said, he has duel citizenship and it would make his mom happy (she wanted him to play for DR last time). What is so bad about him playing for DR? Can’t bring up flip-flopping because he hasn’t done that this time. Why bring up 2006? This isn’t 2006.
————————————————————
It’s not as much funny as it is pathetic and hypocritical. He jumps at anyone to talks about his “friends” in the media, but sees nothing wrong with doing it to readers and others, such as players. He is however the first to write about players who refuse to talk to the media and can’t understand why.
Oh Bronx Jeers, Youk? I’m losing my dinner here.
And on the WBC and playing for your country thing….just a note, you have people switching countries in the Olympics. I would think that would be more bothersome to people who equate sports with patriotism than the WBC.
I think that people who have strong reactions to these meaningless stories about Mr. Rod and Mrs. Penn (lo, many years ago) are mindlessly feeding into the beast –
Who cares? I root for the Yankees – and until I see this nonsense making an impact on the field (a la Plaxico) then I will sleep soundly with visions of CC’s dancing in my head!
“I can only report what the guy does and what team the best player in the game wants to play on is news. ”
Really…
Really you want us to believe it when it comes to R-Rod or Girardi?
Read your own entry aboe and make a judgment of what you wrote and see if you just wrote the news or colored the way you want. And be honest to yourself when you go thru that exercise.
AJ possibly getting an offer for exactly what he wanted which was 5 guaranteed years at 15 million from the braves is exactly why the yanks cant make a plan A and a plan B like some fans think is the case. Our supposed plan A was to sign CC while our backup plan was to sign AJ. But players dont always or ever have to sign in a specific order. So teams can make plans and backup plans but it becomes irrelevant when the players dont sign exactly how the yankees may predict. I am really hoping that CC signs with the yanks for the original 140 mil ASAP. Burnett takes this ridiculous 5 year offer from the braves which they are apparently willing to give him (God knows why) and Lowe signs with the sox because he has stated multiple times that he wants to go back to Boston. I also hope sheets declines arbitration. The yanks may think Burnett and Lowe signing elsewhere is a curse but i think it is a blessing. Out of the 3 of them, Burnett and Sheets are better and younger. Burnett wants a five year deal, Lowe wants a 4 or 5 year deal and Sheets will take a 2 year deal if thats the only offer on the table. With Sheets being the best out of the three and signing for the least time and money, the yanks get their third choice which just happens to be the best one.
Rumors are Madonna broke her hip salsa dancing in mexico.
The poor thing also lost her dentures. Thank goodness she has Medicare coverage.
so whats up with all this entertainment news you’re bringing us here? all you’re doing when you post stories like this is make it harder for this guy to settle down and concentrate on baseball and give idiotic entertainment news / tabloid junkies something to gossip about. If you’re gonna do this personal drama stuff, go out and find out what everyones doing, i’m MUCH more interested to know about how Robbie Cano is doing with his personal plan to improve this offseason, or what Moose is doing in retirement? ***why is it always about something dumb that ARod said or did?*** I’m not trying to protect ‘poor Alex’ im just sick of these stories, they’re tired and lame.
———————————————————–
Most times it’s not what he said or did, but, what he didn’t say or do. If he does or says nothing…just invent something. Pa worries about who Rodriguez dates or wears, but, PA isn’t exactly a fashion plate….Who Rodriguez dates is no concern of mine. I only worry about what he does on the field and as long as he works and leaves it all on the field every game, I could care less.
“The poor thing also lost her dentures. Thank goodness she has Medicare coverage.”
If she lost her dentures – I have a pretty good idea where we might find’em
Follow the money$$$
The Yankees never brought in 4 million fans until ARod arrived.
Mike Piazza announcing he would play for Italy put fans to sleep…z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z
Look for headlines in all the city papers tomorrow! ARod to play for the Dominican team in headlines and in small print on page 56 (according to David “Pedro ain’t going to no Mets” Ortiz).
ARod brings fans into the ballparks, name alone on headlines gets folks to buy newspapers, and has fans responding to a blog late on a work night.
Excuse me while I notify the guys on the west coast to keep this one going late into the night.
Talk about having double standards, huh?
Ortiz may be friends with ARod, but that doesn’t make him a primary source, and since you have some access to the Yanks, Peter, I would expect you to fact check this before blasting ARod.
PA:
I know you used to cover the Huskies–are you watching this game? I’m definitely not liking this. I know close games are inevitable but they really should be pounding U-Buff right now.
It has nothing to do with how one looks as much as how bad a reporter/interviewer one is.
I meant right about the double standards.
What’s the procedure for nominating a thread for the LoHud Hall of Fame?
Pete,
mlbtr reported that you put in a post a while back that manny would have to decline artbitration if he opted out. Multiple reporters are now debating if he will accept arbitration? Isnt he forced to decline?
Pete.
I LOVE you blog, and your sense of humor. Keep it up, if readers don’t like it, they can hang with the tards at NYYFans
this is really gettin good.
i RECOMMEND anyone who like burnett for four or five years or Lowe for four years better than sheets for two to read the article below:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3695863&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines
“What’s the procedure for nominating a thread for the LoHud Hall of Fame?”
Nick –
First, we need your city’s congresswoman Pelosi to earmark some funds – - – the rest should just take care of itself!
Guys,
Thought we were talking about the yankees here
Well this has taken a turn for the strange
i think alex not being able to make up his mind shows his personality & character defect.
he was born in the usa but not proud enough to demonstrate it.
i am not as big of a fan of arod anymore.
regardless of his roots i would respect him more if he was proud to play for the country he was born in.
it doesn’t make him a bad person but he seems very unsure of a lot of things.
i wish they never gave him a 10 year contract.
Nobody has any ridiculous trade ideas right now, Dave.
Manny and Ortiz are both American Citizens now. Maybe they’ll play for Team USA.
Wasnt much baseball in the post for us to talk about dave.
I;m sure that Rodriguez will survive your disapproval, Bru. I know that I do.
S.A., that was the purpose of this subject. It’s a slow night and there hadn’t been a petty subject on Rodriguez in two days. He was just trying to stay in practice.
this is great.
get em pete.
i fell off my chair from laughing so hard.
brb have to go get a beer.hope i don’t miss anything.
dave’s all mad because nobody is reading his 25 minute posts
‘If she lost her dentures – I have a pretty good idea where we might find’em ‘
Do they come with the underwear?
“he was born in the usa but not proud enough to demonstrate it.”
bru- that’s absolutely ridiculous. i was born in the US but my parents were not. Does it say something about my “personality and character” that I can’t decide who I’m rooting for when there’s a game between the two countries? People who are first generation citizens have split loyalties. It’s narrow minded to think being a US citizen trumps all.
S.A., that was the purpose of this subject. It’s a slow night and there hadn’t been a petty subject on Rodriguez in two days. He was just trying to stay in practice.
———————————————————–
LOL
Looks like he is ready for the 2009 season
People who are first generation citizens have split loyalties.
—
This always kind of puzzled me though. Wasn’t there a legitimate reason for leaving one country for another? Wouldn’t the place being left behind be the worse of the 2?
The Edes article has really no factual basis to it. I’m not an English major but it reads pretty clearly to me. Here’s what we know:
1)Alex mentioned to Ortiz back in July he was interested in playing for the DR.
2)Ortiz hasn’t spoken to Alex recently about it
3)Ortiz says he wants to play for the DR
4)Ortiz is going to talk to Alex about it when he comes in for the golf tourney and he’ll “probably” announce it here
I’m sure Ortiz’s plan is to talk Alex into playing for the DR and getting him to announce it while he’s in the DR but that doesn’t mean that either will happen.
How does any of that add up to fact? Edes is passing it off as a done deal when in fact it isn’t even close. It’s probably going to work out that way but to report it as fact when it’s based on no factual basis whatsoever, makes it seem like something to start some A-Rod bashing. Let Alex say what’s what before anyone passes any kind of judgement.
And for the record, who cares? He has a right to play for them if he wants. What’s wrong with honoring his heritage?
gb:
i’m sure he will to.
i think he is the 2nd best player in baseball & a very charitable person but very strange that’s all.no big deal.
i would much rather have 2 15 million dollar a year pitchers because the team would be better.
i don’t blame him i blame the yankees for giving him the money when these huge contracts never work.
they prevent teams from improving in other areas,debth,etc……
we saw it with seattle.as soon as he left they became better.the bedard contract,zito & on and on.
then you look at the rays,a’s.
they unload the big players & get a ton of good players in return.
the yankees on the otherhand overpay all their players making them unmovable.
the only reason why it isn’t all that bad is because of his chase of the hr record.
saucy- economically, in terms of opportunities to make a living, sure the US is better than most countries and a reason people would come here. but people leave behind their friends, family, and culture to move to a place where they will be treated as strangers (at least initially). your loyalty to that country doesn’t disappear and that is likely something you pass on to your children.
A-Rod’s contract isnt preventing the yanks from doing anything. Teams with limited resources are hurt by big A-rod type contracts.
The key isn’t paying the A-Rods his money, its when you overpay everyone else.
saucy –
I kind of get it even though I am like a 6th generation American of german descent – in the World Cup I root for the US and Germany, but if they faced each other I would pull for the US. However if I was 1st generation I could certainly understand identifying with my folks home.
The great thing about our country is you can express yourself – usually 2nd and 3rd generation Americans lose nearly all touch with their folks’ homeland allegiances
blimpie
December 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
“he was born in the usa but not proud enough to demonstrate it.”
bru- that’s absolutely ridiculous. i was born in the US but my parents were not. Does it say something about my “personality and character” that I can’t decide who I’m rooting for when there’s a game between the two countries? People who are first generation citizens have split loyalties. It’s narrow minded to think being a US citizen trumps all.
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feel free to leave anytime you wan’t.saucy said it perfectly.
blimpie
December 4th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
saucy- economically, in terms of opportunities to make a living, sure the US is better than most countries and a reason people would come here. but people leave behind their friends, family, and culture to move to a place where they will be treated as strangers (at least initially). your loyalty to that country doesn’t disappear and that is likely something you pass on to your children
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thanks to the patriot act the goverment is for sure tapping you’re phone.
“This always kind of puzzled me though. Wasn’t there a legitimate reason for leaving one country for another? Wouldn’t the place being left behind be the worse of the 2?”
Because the first generation in a new country TOTALLY had the choice, right? I know my unborn grandfather totally wanted his parents to emigrate from Italy.
“feel free to leave anytime you wan’t.saucy said it perfectly.”
what? saucy asked a question and I responded. He didn’t make a point. and i stand by what i said. i’m assuming that your family has been in the US for a long time because it is common for those whose parents immigrated to the US to have split loyalties.
Lara08:
i understand what arod brings to the team including huge revenues.i just don’t think a 30 million dollar a year 3rd baseman is needed.
that contract is going to be ugly towards the end.
now you see the yankees slowing down on their spending.
50 million a year or close to it for 2 players is insane.
“feel free to leave anytime you wan’t.saucy said it perfectly.”
Did you seriously just make an “America: love it or leave it” argument? Come on. I don’t even know you but I know you’re smarter than that.
“thanks to the patriot act the goverment is for sure tapping you’re phone.”
did i offend you in some way? i work for the fbi anyway. i don’t mind if my phone is tapped.
“i understand what arod brings to the team including huge revenues.i just don’t think a 30 million dollar a year 3rd baseman is needed.”
When that third baseman could possibly go down as one of the top 5 people to ever step on a baseball field, yes it is needed.
i just respect the crap out of people who are loyal to the country they were born in regardless of what that country is.
“i just respect the crap out of people who are loyal to the country they were born in regardless of what that country is.”
So someone should feel loyal to something they were born into with absolutely no control? So despite my absolute and fundamental right to disagree with the govt. about whatever it is, I should just ignore that and be loyal because I was randomly born somewhere? Please. The idea of nationality is a joke anyway.
bru: perhaps you misunderstood me or i wasn’t being clear. what i meant to say was i dont love the US any less just because I also love another country, nor should this be a problem to anyone. anyway, didn’t want to incite a major argument so i’ll drop it.
They are slowing down on Brown, Pavano, Johnson, Giambi contracts. They’ve burned a lot of money that wasn’t going to A-Rod that could have been used more wisely and brought the needed pieces.
His contract won’t be painful if they are smart with who they sign.
Oh my God, Alex Rodriguez’s defenders SCARE ME. Really. Chill out, people.
yepp i hope he play for da dominican teammmmmmmm cuz thats were im from lol
Get off his sack Peter. He’s U.S. born and of Dominican descent which makes him both. That’s automatic dual citizenship. A-Rod’s not the problem, you are. You are always on him about something. Get a life.
didn mean to open a can of worms.
Stay classy, Pete.
I’m not even seeing Peters responses that people are quoting. Am I missing something?
Pete, love your blogs about baseball. The others, not so much, but that’s not why I’m begging you to whip out some purely baseball threads quick — it’s because your commenters are even more profoundly, embarrassingly ignorant on other topics and the whole mess becomes completely unreadable.
Please, even if it’s just some stats and graphs. Anything to get people discussing something they may actually know a little bit about.
Is it a good take because you agree with it? Point is, most times we look for things even when they aren’t there. Unless A-Rod told Ortiz to open his mouth this isn’t calculated on Alex’s part.
Media gets a narrative and they like to stick with it. I can understand commenting on the news report, I just don’t understand the need to dump on him before we even know whats going on and before he seems to have done something wrong.
People ripped into Michelle Obama when the NY Post said she was ordering caviar and lobster. I mean they said some pretty ignorant things…then it turns out it wasn’t even true and the NY Post retracted it.
Pete, how does it feel for people to constantly analyze your motives regarding everything you say and do? I’m pretty sure some times your critics are wrong, right? Seems to me you reporters don’t seem to stop for a minute and think you might be wrong about players and their intentions. But its like groupthink, if more than one person feels a certain way you must all be right.
And deciding to play for DR in the WBC doesn’t seem like a bad thing. Its an exhibition baseball tournament…if Wang played for Argentina and Albert Pujols played for Israel I wouldn’t care.
Newsflash to young Jeff Passan, I’m constantly searching, seeking and yearning too. Its called living.
Some stuff just ain’t that deep; this is one of them.
Let him do what he wants, just hit in the G** D*** playoffs!
This is so ridiculous it is unreal. Why is it that so many peoople yearn to come to America but the people who were born and raised here talk about “their roots”? What? Is Alex going to relive his days going to the Aventura Mall as a teenager? Mike Piazza’s “roots” of going to the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Penn?
Yes, strip someone of their career earnings, which are more than the GDP of Grenada, and have him live in the DOminican for a year and see how he feels about his roots. And Mike Piazza, just because your mom made a mean baked ziti doesn’t mean you are Italian either.
Let me know when there is a Lithuanian team so I can join up- I used to have a mean knuckleball for my high school JV team in Vilnius, I mean South Florida…
Yeah because once the people who yearn to come to America arrive they forget everything right? Language, recipes, traditions?
This roots stuff is crap. One of the major reasons the world has so many problems is a narrow & provincial regressive conveniently claimed cultural dodge. Vick with dog fights, Pedro with cock fights. Burress with packing a handgun.
Respect a heritage yes. But how about taking a stand in the place you live. Piazza played for Italy because he would be a standout in a nation woefully weak in baseball talent. AS half the MLB is Dominican, I don’t think that’s their issue. And yeah, half is an exaggeration to make a point.
On the other hand, in the Land of the Free, A Rod is free to be a continuing goofball. Even in another ‘ land.’
He should have been played w/ team Republico Dominicana, he just caved in because he couldn’t decide for himself. Hopefully this is true because he’d play SS where he belongs meanwhile kick every other team’s a… w/ Manny and Papi and Robi
Pete – Why sully up a great blog with yellow ‘journalism’? I know it’s a quiet Hot Stove, but really dude! Are you that desparate for page hits to ‘publish’ second hand trash talk? What a crime Pete. THE GUY CHANGES HIS MIND. MORE THEN ONCE. HANG THE BAST*RD!!!
I remember a report that ARod invited a kid dying of Cancer to his home, and spend the day with him. But what? Only ONE day? WHAT AN *SSHOLE!!!!! I guess, if we want, we can find a never ending source of ways to trash ARod. (And Jeter spent a day with that kid also, right?)
C’mon Pete. How about some interviews? You got a press pass? You actually get paid when you work? TALK to some players one-on-on. Talk to them about BASEBALL. Talk to them about the YANKESS. Then tell us about it. Is that so hard?
And Bru…. dude… there are just so many things wrong with many of your posts, I would need to create a blog just to begin to address them.
And for your information, 2 separate financial houses analyzed ARod’s contract, including the extra $30m in achievement based BONUSES and found it profitable to the Yankees. If he breaks Bond’s/Ruth’s HR record, they will still be selling ARod T-Shirts in 50 years. Ever hear of a guy named Babe Ruth? He hasn’t played for 70 years. Yet people still talk about him. Why is that?
ARod is not just a 3rd baseman, He is potentially a historically great baseball player. Maybe one of the top 5 in the more then 100 year history of baseball. He is 33 and has ALREADY hit more HRs then Mickey Mantle. Why do you think the Yankees gave him a 10 year contract? Do you think ARod talked them into it?
Let me throw 3 words out there.
Facts
Data
Analysis
Some people need to look these words up in a dictionary, and maybe make some posts that contain some of them.
Let’s not let this blog turn into the National Inquirer.
You know I think too much is being made out of this story. Who cares if Arod plays with the DR team??? Look I’ve served the Country now for 17 years and I’m very Patriotic, but I will not get offended if he plays for them, at all. How about he plays for the US and the next time D.R. Then U.S. etc… How about instead of looking at it like he’s confused and can’t find out who he really is, instead we say he is paying respect to both of his heritages. Unfortunately most people want to vilify Arod instead of saying he’s entitled to do whatever he wants. Nobody is saying Ortiz became an American Citizen why doesn’t he play for the US. Give it all a rest already with Arod. Let him live his life and whether or not anyone agrees with his personal decisions (whom he sleeps with or eats Thanksgiving with etc…) just focus on how he performs on the baseball field. It’s not like he is shooting himself in the leg or doing drugs or making himself out to be some terrible role model. I know though the media OF COURSE will never let this guy just be because it’s too much for anyone to let go of. I’m thinking Arod has another MVP season since he is MVP every other year. We will eventually Win the World Series again hopefully really soon and you know what Arod will be an intricate part of that team.
“Here we go again with A-Rod”
No, here YOU go again with A-rod.
This is a non-story.
I really dislike Alex Rodriguez, I even prefer Pavano to this guy. His off the field issues, and his poor play in the clutch, his lack of loyalty to ANYONE except MAYBE himself (That includes Seattle, Texas, The Yankees, the USA, the Dominican Republic (Remember when he pledged to play for them before), his wife and kids, and even Scott Boras)make me sick. He will NEVER be regarded by the fans in the same breath as Derek Jeter (Let alone Ruth, Gehrig, etc). Even a bum like Burress has a championship unlike Rodriguez, he is a loser.
WHO will be spoken in the same breath as Jeter??? Nobody said that Arod ever will. But just don’t judge him for what you hear in the media. I bet you’d be pretty surprised if everyones laundry was out there. Nobody is perfect. How can you say that you prefer Pavano to him? Pavano is a real piece of $#!@… He is a quitter and a fake and Arod has busted his butt to be on the field as much as possible and HAS provided many bit hits and plays in the field. I wonder if you sit there at home and don’t cheer when Arod hits a HR that ends up being the GW’er. I highly doubt it. You cheer his accolades and jeer anything negative that comes forth. That’s being biased. Look I Love Jeter and he is great, but how do you know who he is behind closed doors? You don’t know what happens. I’m just trying to be the devils advocate here because the media smashes Arod and I think unfairly. Do you here about every time Arod gives money to charity, and don’t say “Yeah because he’s the one who brings it up” Oh and Burress has a Championship it’s all circumstantial. He happened to be on a team that won. Arod if you look at his stats has outperformed most everyone in the MLB. I’m sure though you think that Scott Brosius had more heart and was better which is a joke. Arod is way better than him, of course. We happened to win those years. I’ve been a Yankees fan my whole life 37 years I’m a passionate fan and I Love the team but you are one of those people that just doesn’t like Arod so you’ll try to pick apart anything bad about him and say “he sucks” Which is about the most ignorant comment I ever heard.
I happen to prefer Scott to Arod no doubt about it (Keep in mind SB has a WORLD SERIES MVP, and Rodriguez has not been there yet). As for Jeter, no one calls him a Saint, but he has the SAME WS MVP award as SB, and keeps his personal business out of the limelight (Unlike Rodriguez and Madonna).
I never wanted Rodriguez on this team, and since he arrived, he has succeeded in joining Ed Whitson and Dave Winfield as my least favorite Yankees EVER. The only guy in baseball who I dislike more, is his buddy Manny Ramirez.
There are a lot of jerks in sports: Burress, Pacman Jones, Chad Johnson, TO, Marbury, and of course, Manny to name a few, but Arod is fast approaching that level of arrogance, and being a showoff.
I will conceed it is right to play for whomever he wants in the WBC (An overrated tournament if there ever was one, and one I do NOT watch (Despite being a huge fan)). But just PLAY and shut up about it, I do not need to have details leaked by a RED SOX player David Ortiz. This is just another Arod publicity stunt.
So I guess Arod wanted it leaked. Your right Arod doesn’t have a WS MVP, yet. But it takes a WHOLE team to get there not one man. I understand he is the highest paid player so anything but batting 1.000 with 162HR’s and 344RBI’s and a WS Championship isconsidered a failure. But again he’s one man. I actually don’t put Arod in that class with those other guys. I despise Manny Ramirez because he is one of those gloating J-Off’s who likes to show up the other team. I slapped the you know what out of those guys. But when have you seen Arod sit there and pose at a home run? Look I haven’t seen every HR he has hit as a Yankee as I was in the Military and since Retired and was around the World and when I was in the States I got the MLB extra Innings package so he might have done it once but I don’t consider 2007’s early season explosion and him putting his hands out looking at the bench gloating, he was sharing with his team not against the other which guys like Mram and TO and others do. You can’t put him in that same class. Those other guys have actually done criminal activities. Arod hasn’t. Ok he had a failed marriage, most people do, he’s just famous so it’s put in print. I’m sure many readers of this blog have gone through terrible divorces and if some of their laundry was out there you’d probably say that’s private. If Arod alerts the media and says hey keep it on the down low but I’ll be at this strip joint so takes some pics because I wanna piss off the misses then I’m wrong and he’s a j-off. But something tells me he doesn’t do that.
I’ll tell you this if for some God awful reason happens and we get Mram I will throw up constantly because HE is a POS!
Scott Brosius. Career OPS: 94 – 147 HRs
Alex Rodriguez Career OPS: 147 – 553 HRs
BUT SCOTT HAS A RING!
I guess that also makes Scott better then Barry Bonds, Ernie Banks and Don Mattingly too.
“…. and keeps his personal business out of the limelight (Unlike Rodriguez and Madonna).”
Thats right Dude. You see, everytime ARod goes out, he calls all the media on the phone to make sure they cover his personal life, while Jeter quietly goes about banging half the starletts in hollywood.
“But just PLAY and shut up about it”
Dude… Arod hasn’t said a thing!!! So go hate a little more on ARod because Ortiz is flapping his gums.
I wonder what your opinion of ARod would be if the media NEVER wrote anything about him. You would probably simply judge him for what he does on the field… which is almost as good as Scotty Brosius.
Pete Abe…. PLEASE, require a minimum IQ of 80 to participate in this blog!
Thank You Old Yanks Fan from another Old Yanks Fan!
Someone said it best way up on top of this blog “This is a non story”
OYF said it great: Don Mattingly who was my favorite from ages 11-his retirement was incredible had lots of Heart and was a model citizen. It’s not his fault that the Yankees never Won a ring with him. Of course he wasn’t officially retired in 96 yet when we Won but he wasn’t on the team. I mean do you look at him and say man he can’t control his crazy drunken wife/exwife. Not his doing! I wish Donnie had a ring.
Arod is a GREAT player and We will Win with him. There is no judging him and Jeter at all. Jeter is Yankee born and will always remain a Yankee.
Anyway I hope we can finally get CC and possibly another pitcher along with Pettitte to make 2+Pettitte. Then maybe we can make a trade for an offensive player too. Go Yanks!!!
At least A-Rod doesn’t carry loaded guns around, smoke weed, hassle the cops, cripple people, or mock women like NFL, NHL, and NBA players do. A-Rod is a saint compared to most athletes these days.