Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I know it's early...

But Michael, can you admit yet that the Yankees were right to bring back A-Rod?

The guy is phenomenal, and he's going to continue to be so for years and years. And not a hint of controversy this season...

All hail A-Rod. Give him his due!!!

10 comments:

Michael in New York said...

Terrible timing on your part. Just watched A-Rod semi-pose at home plate and then trot to first because he thought he'd hit a home run -- and then stop at second because the ball hit the wall, when in fact, a weak play meant the ball stayed on the ground for a while and he would have easily been at third. A-Rod did the exact same thing last week. They called him on it tonight, which was nice. You COULD argue we were up 7-0 and he was jus trying not to show up a struggling team we were grounding into the dirt. However, it's more respectful to run hard than trot because you believe you've hit a home run. More to follow.

Michael in New York said...

In stark contrast, in a recent game watched matsui bolt out of the box on his birthday home run because that's how you play the game. More to come.

Michael in New York said...

A-Rd made a great play at third tonight and afterwards the camera showed him covering his mouth with his glove to hide a smile. I even said to a friend I was projecting. If Jeter did the same thing, I would have seen a player just glad he made a tricky play, a relieved sort of smile, or maybe even 'that was fun.' A-Rod did it and I saw a smirk. I blamed myself. I also didn't post a word about A-Rod texting and staying in touch w Pete Rose, a great player who trashed his reputation and the game by gambling aggressively and repeatedly on his own team as a manager, which is completely unforgivable. I said not a word about how perfect it was that A-Rod would glom to Rose whereas Jeter would probably not, as far as off-field behavior is concerned and the example Rose set. More to come.

Michael in New York said...

I am so THRILLED at the prospect of FINALLY getting rid of Giambi, a player the Yankees KNEW was cheating with steroids and has been a poisonous influence on the team. despite Pete's affection for him as a great rotisserie league player, I am THRILLED that hired gun Bobby Abreu will be gone -- he's always played professionally, he's been far better in the field than I expected and he's not been a drag but chemistry-wise and character wise (I don't mean morally, I mean baseball character as in Paulie O'Neil vs whomever is your idea of a corporae, check-cashing punk) Abreu has done absolutely nothing for the team. I am THRILLED that Roger Clemens -- who I never wanted and never liked from Day One and said so -- is a memory, with his head-hunting, punk-ass ways. I am THRILLED hired guns like Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson et al are long gone. And I want to be supportive of A-Rod because we're stuck with him and I know we can win with him (but not with a bunch of guys like him, a la Giambi and Abreu) but since you asked, the only thing that bums me out about Giambi and Abreu leaving is that A-Rod won't be going with them and we'd have an extra $65 million to play with instead of $35 million or so. If I could put a copyright symbol by his name, I would. He's pure corporate. He's the greatest regular season player in the history of the game. I'm trying desperately to embrace his quirks and failings as somehow charming. But since you asked, absolutely nothing he's done has made me glad he's on the team. Au contraire. I think every day about what might have been and grit my teeth that I have to deal with moronic Hnk Steinbrenner and A-Rod for the next decade.

Michael in New York said...

By the way, it's no coincidence in my book that Giambi and Sheffield and Clemens are all big fat cheats. I want to assume A-Rod is innocent (frankly, it would REALLY bum me out if he cheated too given his marvelous talent). But that would be the capper.By the way, is there anyone that can look at CC Sabathia and not believe he's a steroid abuser and cheat as well? The guy is a giant. When you're not on my team, you're guilty until proven innocent. I dont' want him.

Michael in New York said...

And no, I haven't forgiven Andy pettitte yet because I CAN'T forgive him until he makes a GENUINE confession and admits he was cheating and was wrong instead of all these self-justifying half-truths. The worst thing for Andy character-wise is the love and adulation he's been showered with for cheating and getting caught and then repeatedly lying about it, finally getting caught red-handed and then half-admitting it and then finally fully admitting he was guilty as sin but still attempting to justify it as noble and selfless instead of low down dirty cheating.

joe said...

1. Bobby Abreu is a wonderful talent and by all accounts a great presence in the clubhouse. He is not a hired gun. If you want to root for a team that ONLY has players that came up from their farm system, go be a Pirates fan. They got Abreu the same way they got O'Neill. Your dislike of him is unbecoming of a bleacher creature.

2. Your A-Rod hating knows no bounds. Clearly you have him under a microscope and assume the worst while constantly comparing him to Jeter, which is just as dumb as if you were to compare Jeter's hitting stats to A-Rods. Give it up. I'm a big fan of A-Rod, and at times like this (the last two weeks) when he is the catalyst for the entire lineup, I like it even more because I know how much it annoys his detractors.

3. I'm glad they won't be paying Giambi a bajillion dollars anymore, and I know his game has severe limitations, but he plays as hard as anyone, he is a GREAT teammate, and I will miss him. Despite the steroid scandal I think he deserves respect, and most Yankee fans give it to him.

4. You really think Sabathia is on steroids? The guy looks like David Wells! I know its sometimes hard to tell these days but come on...he's not exactly high on my list of suspected users...

Michael in New York said...

Sorry, not Sabathia. I meant the first baseman who looks like a giant. Sabathia is just fat. Rushing when I wrote that.

Michael in New York said...

1. Bobby Abreu -- I've been very pleased with hw Abreu's played and repeatedly said I was wrong about him. He's been much better in the field than I expected. I don't know about him being ahuge positive in the clubhouse, but he hasn't been a distraction.

2. A-Rod is the MVP this season so far. Ooh, such unbridled hate I feel. Nothing makes me happier than to see him playing well and keeping his head down and not being a distraction -- just like his role model Derek. Gee, I try to be be honest and admit I instinctively give him a hard time and don't give him the benefit of the doubt -- I hold myself t task for it, criticize myself for it and yet you STILL come down hard on me.

3. jason Giambi deserves no respect. he has dishonored the game completely. he very clearly was NOT a huge talent until he cheated grotesquely and completely. For what possible reason does the poster boy for baseball's biggest scandal since the Black Sox (and a far more pervasive and damning one) deserve respect? For getting caught? Please.

Michael in New York said...

I meant first baseman Mark Teixiera of the Braves as the likely steroid user.