05/25: Teammates Talk About A-Rod
Posted by: Patrick
Just some quotes that I felt were worth repeating.
On some level, the continual need to defend A-Rod gets tiring, doesn't it? I've done it, other bloggers here at YB have, several other bloggers at other sites have. To me, it's all kind of funny. A-Rod is a clean cut professional who plays everyday, produces and is terrific at every aspect of the game, on and off the field.
I think that one thing that we, as fans, should not delve into is defending A-Rod at the cost of other Yankees. For instance, I have heard people say "A-Rod did this, but Jeter did this - why didn't Jeter get criticized?" You don't need to slam Jeter to boost A-Rod, that defeats the purpose. Jeter is a New York legend and rightfully so. So, I think we can safely stay away from that. Back on subject, I've always thought that most of the criticism I have heard of A-Rod was kind of fickle. Make no mistake, we're lucky to have him. There is a reason the Rangers offered him that contract, there is a reason the Red Sox wanted him, there is a reason we wanted him. He's great. Rare great. I mean, don't kid yourself, the Red Sox would be loving - loving - him if they had him. He won the MVP last year for pete sake! Personally, I want him to be a Yankee for life. Give me Jeter and A-Rod on that side of the infield for the rest of their careers and I will be a happy man.
Another funny thing, as I was writing this, I went to look up A-Rod's numbers with RISP, etc. He's hitting .273 with a .397 OBA with RISP. He's hitting .280 with a .455 OBA with RISP and 2 outs. This is what all the hullabaloo (I used that word - nice) is about? So, in other words, with RISP and 2 outs, he only makes an out a bit over half the time. OH MY GOSH, HE'S TERRIBLE! lol. Last year, hit .290 with a .410 with RISP and .302 with a .429 with RISP and 2 outs. That's excellent. So, I'm still looking for numbers I'd truly consider bad. I finally found them, in 2004. He hit .248 with a .346 OBA with RISP and .206 with a .308 with RISP and 2 outs. There we go. But that was 2 years ago. So, I don't know, but I just don't see it.
"People who care about the Yankees should be thinking about wins or losses, not just Alex, not one guy," Derek Jeter said. "Alex is a great player; there are lot of great players on this team. For some reason in my 10 years here, we've all gotten booed, myself and Mo and Bernie included." ...
"The thing about Alex is that he believes he should drive in every run, which is unrealistic," Sheffield said. "In a way, he brings it on himself. But the fans who get on him should be thankful they have a player who's that driven. Not many guys care as much as he does."
"The thing about Alex is that he believes he should drive in every run, which is unrealistic," Sheffield said. "In a way, he brings it on himself. But the fans who get on him should be thankful they have a player who's that driven. Not many guys care as much as he does."
On some level, the continual need to defend A-Rod gets tiring, doesn't it? I've done it, other bloggers here at YB have, several other bloggers at other sites have. To me, it's all kind of funny. A-Rod is a clean cut professional who plays everyday, produces and is terrific at every aspect of the game, on and off the field.
I think that one thing that we, as fans, should not delve into is defending A-Rod at the cost of other Yankees. For instance, I have heard people say "A-Rod did this, but Jeter did this - why didn't Jeter get criticized?" You don't need to slam Jeter to boost A-Rod, that defeats the purpose. Jeter is a New York legend and rightfully so. So, I think we can safely stay away from that. Back on subject, I've always thought that most of the criticism I have heard of A-Rod was kind of fickle. Make no mistake, we're lucky to have him. There is a reason the Rangers offered him that contract, there is a reason the Red Sox wanted him, there is a reason we wanted him. He's great. Rare great. I mean, don't kid yourself, the Red Sox would be loving - loving - him if they had him. He won the MVP last year for pete sake! Personally, I want him to be a Yankee for life. Give me Jeter and A-Rod on that side of the infield for the rest of their careers and I will be a happy man.
Another funny thing, as I was writing this, I went to look up A-Rod's numbers with RISP, etc. He's hitting .273 with a .397 OBA with RISP. He's hitting .280 with a .455 OBA with RISP and 2 outs. This is what all the hullabaloo (I used that word - nice) is about? So, in other words, with RISP and 2 outs, he only makes an out a bit over half the time. OH MY GOSH, HE'S TERRIBLE! lol. Last year, hit .290 with a .410 with RISP and .302 with a .429 with RISP and 2 outs. That's excellent. So, I'm still looking for numbers I'd truly consider bad. I finally found them, in 2004. He hit .248 with a .346 OBA with RISP and .206 with a .308 with RISP and 2 outs. There we go. But that was 2 years ago. So, I don't know, but I just don't see it.
Jason wrote:
Would you rather have Alex on the Yankees, or worry about him on another team that faces the Yankees 19 times + playoffs?
As Harvey Keitel once said: "Ain't no choice at all."