There has been a great deal of anger over the announcement by Scott Boras last night that his client, Alex Rodriguez, would be opting out of his contract with the Yankees and exercising his right to become a free agent. Peter Gammons ripped into the pair on the air last night, his frustration with the distraction caused by the announcement verbalized in an attack on Rodriguez himself. My guess is many Sox fans (and baseball fans in general) felt it was an affront to the game, and they might be right, to an extent. But personally I just kind of laughed at the announcement. The great thing is that, in truth, A-Rod ISN’T bigger than the World Series. He never will be. Nobody will be. That’s been proven by both the focus on the Sox today and the sheer minutes of coverage they received on the sports networks, in national newspapers, across the internet, etc. A-Rod was a footnote last night. ESPN.com had the A-Rod story as a simple sidebar, almost like a NASCAR Busch series event. And it is, truly, a pretty big story. So in the end, even as a Sox fan, I wasn’t really offended. It was a revelatory move, in a lot of ways (just look at how many Yankee fans have shifted their views, justifiably), and for that maybe we should thank Boras and Rodriguez. Nobody has to feel obliged to defend him, other than as a ballplayer. Maybe that will liberate him, in some ways.
We should be heartened by today’s news, it shows that the World Series always wins out as the story. Last night and today tradition held, no matter how hard Boras and A-Rod tried to subvert that tradition. Just another October failure for A-Rod, I suppose.
123 comments… add one
I don’t care so much about him making an annoucement, I care about Fux Sports spending so much time on it when THERE’S A GAME GOING ON!
That was a huge (yoodge) amount of douchery on Boras/Arod’s part. I hope Arod never gets a ring and plays out the rest of his career putting up worthless numbers.
// The great thing is that, in truth, A-Rod ISN’T bigger than the World Series. //
This is a noble sentiment, but have you listened to any sports radio today?
It’s all Pay-Rod, all the time.
I was in the car for four hours this morning, flipping around looking for sports news, and did not hear anything about our Sox except that they swept the series and that Mike Lowell was the MVP. No analysis, no discussion.
But there was non-stop talk about A-Rod, and, secondarily, Belichick showing no mercy to the ‘Skins.
The funny part about the media crying foul about the timing is that they were, and still are, Boras’ willing accomplices. They report the news breathlessly, then spend the next week excoriating Boras for his lack of taste, laughing all the way to the bank as they sell papers and airtime.
Hudson’s right. On Mike and Mike this morning with Olney they even stopped and acknowledged how sad it was that they had to talk about A-Rod when it was truly a day for the Sox. If he comes to Boston I’m gonna have to do something irrational and insane like becoming a Royals fan. Please don’t make me do that.
Red Sox aren’t stupid enough to want Arod, are they?
(someone lock up Lucchino until they sign Lowell!)
Question… Was Epstein actually GM when the Beckett/Lowell deal went down, or did that take place during his weird, brief hiatus?
Or are those two understudies (yeah, I may be a hard-core fan, but no way can I remember their names) the ones who should get the credit for that?
forget sports radio – that will always have a lowest common denominator factor. Print media and major online media focus was where it should have been: on the Sox.
Not buying that, SF. Sports radio is — like it or not — a huge, huge part of the media landscape now, for the simple reason that you can’t watch TV or read a newspaper in your car…
Or at least, you shouldn’t.
SF –
It’s all Yankees on ESPN right now. And I suspect tonight too. The print media operates on what happened yesterday. Everyone else has moved on. And that’s sad.
Hudson –
Theo wasn’t the GM. And for some reason I remember thinking that Larry worked with the understudies to get it done. I’m not sure Theo would have made the move. I’m sure Mnookin knows something about this. Anyone read about in Feeding?
On MLB.com, the ARod thing isn’t one of the top 6 featured stories. Maybe they’re pissed that he announced last night too.
One other thing — A-Rod may be a superstar, but this story registers harder in New York and Boston, for obvious reasons. It simply isn’t as big a deal in other places, the World Series is the event; this is noise. Loud noise, but noise.
I do acknowledge that this was a terribly cynical move by Boras and Rodriguez, and deserves the scorn of the everyday fan. But I don’t believe something like this can or will supplant the World Series as the top story, and in the immediate aftermath of last night’s victory I think that was proven true. What happens now happens now.
And of course, there’s this:
Have the Sox become the Yanks?
http://tinyurl.com/235c8b (Time.com)
By the way, I’d love to see Joe Torre replace Grady Little, toward whom I still feel unmitigated disgust, in spite of all the joy since he left…
Pete, I’ve got Feeding The Monster but don’t remember anything about Larry and the understudies. When I get home from work I can look it up.
I just don’t agree, SF. A-Rod today is the story of the sport, right up there with the Sox win. Every site I quickly checked (Chicago, LA, Seattle) it’s Sox AND A-Rod.
Atheose –
It was featured this morning. I know cause I popped over there for coverage and found myself looking at his mug.
Mnookin might not have written any thing about the Beckett deal. But he was hanging around then. He’s constantly harping on the Damon deal and that came almost a month afterwards.
That said, I’m always skeptical of what he writes because he seems to have a lot of affinity to the Sox front office. Still it would be interesting what his version is. No doubt Theo was away from the team but still had contact. I’m not really sure what the question is, though. Brad brought it up. Is it whether Theo: a) put together the Beckett deal; b) approved of it; or c) had nothing to do with it?
So is this how Sox fans felt when Damon signed with the Yankees?
Nice to see how the other side lives, I suppose…
The thing is, 20 years from now, the record books will show the Sox ebating the Rockies for the sweep. They’ll show at least some of the different records the Sox set during the sweep (maybe largest game 1 MOV), and they’ll show Josh Beckett as having one of the most dominant postseasons in the history of the sport.
They will not be discussing the specifics of Alex Rodriguez’s contract negotiations.
> They will not be discussing the specifics of Alex Rodriguez’s contract negotiations.
No, but they may be talking about the specifics of Prince Fielder’s challenging ARod’s home run record.
You’re right, Paul. That will always be with us. But I feel very cheated. The game wasn’t even over yet. That’s how Gammons feels, and I’m with him. It’s a disgrace. And even sadder that the Yankees would certainly have stolen the thunder today, but got scooped by bigger douchebags.
what is ‘MOV’ ?
What I’ll remember most about game 1 was the three consecutive bases-loaded walks.
Oh, I agree. Definitely a disgrace. Anything nice I ever said about A-Rod (which was surprisingly a lot, considering how unlikable I find him) I now regret. He clearly deserves every bad work ever said about him and every seemingly unjustified boo he got from his own home crowd. He certainly has set himself up as the pariah of MLB, the ego-driven jerk in a sport full of ego-driven jerks.
Margin of Victory, Ron.
Look, I know this is a big story, I admit that. And I understand that talk radio is a big player. But sh*t flows downstream, as they say.
ESPN’s site is still showing an enormous picture of Papelbon, the Series is the big story (Girardi now occupies second slot). The New York Times had the Sox above the fold in print (yeah, they partly own the Sox, but that’s not really relevant) and that’s a big deal. The NY tabs have the A-Rod story front and center, but that’s the tabs for you.
Nationally, I imagine the Sox were on the front page of most every paper, not A-Rod. That’s the way it should be.
Go to the link below and scan, for an idea of what I mean. WFAN and Mike and Mike are not the indicators. The Arizona Daily Star is.
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp
A-Rod is legitimately a big story in NYC, anyway.
espn is showing an all Yankees Sportscenter right now. All Girardi and Arod.
Hilarious clips of Arod saying he was sincerely glad to be a Texas Ranger are pretty funny.
SF –
You’re still arguing based on newspapers. And the physical format operates on yesterday’s news. On their websites they’re making the stories equivalent. And they’re most certainly not. Indeed, I checked a few sites, and A-Rod is just as big of a story. I read the NY Times every morning, and the Sox and A-Rod were both featured this morning at equivalent font sizes.
As for ESPN, the coverage on the station (much more valuable than the site), right now, is being dominated by A-Rod.
It’s disgusting, especially since it’s going to be months of this shit.
Let’s also not conflate newspapers with electronic media. Newspapers do not prioritize the same way as the more immediate news media, so the news that is actually the most important (a sport’s championship) will receive the biggest play in newspapers, whereas the news that’s the most immediate/controversial will receive more air time. This is partly because news advances past 6 a.m. when the papers come out, and the TV/radio/online media are better adept at keeping up, and partly because — with most newspapers no longer in direct competition with another print news source — they have a ratings/profit-related reason to keep the news more, how shall we say? Entertaining.
they have a ratings/profit-related reason to keep the news more, how shall we say? Entertaining.
“they” being TV and radio of course.
You know what I can’t seem to get out of my mind…
Johnny Damon saying that “the Yankees want some of that magic that they saw last year from me in Boston” and his father comparing him in NY to Ruth going to NY.
On another note..who cares about A-Rod, or where he goes..the SOX ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS…
Lets be happy!!!
^me.
*sigh* Do we really need a Sportscenter devoted to the NYYankees the day after the Sox sweep the Rockies? Does this cement the idea that no one besides RedSoxNation and Colorado cared about this series? The WS has been getting less and less ratings/share points in last year, but I wonder if this one was watched less. Not that it matters; the search to draw in “casual fans” has always seemed to be a lost cause to me. It always makes me feel like sports reporting, be it print, radio or online is telling me something I already know. Is that why we all run to sports blogs, were non-casual fan topics are disseminated and actual “new” things are learned?
On a side note:
A dark day in Yankeeland. The Red Sox win their second championship in four years, the Yankees lose in the first road, Joe Torre essentially gets fired, Petitte, Posada and Rivera are preparing to leave/retire rather than play for another manager, and last night, A-Rod decides to opt-out of his contract in a fairly tasteless manner. The Yankees have stated that if he opts out, they will not chase him. They offered him a $30 million a year extension, which is about as much as he’ll garner elsewhere, but he obviously did not want to play in NYC. He preferred to not fail on the biggest stage and go be a star somewhere else.
I do hope that it sticks with him forever, that he couldn’t handle what NY was providing and so he cut and ran for some place more comfortable for his kind of regular season excellence. I hope that a few years ago, when he’s closing in on the HR record, the only question he gets would be “wouldn’t it have better for you to have done this as a Yankee?” or “Do you feel you have to prove to people you aren’t a quitter?”
Boras is making noise that he’s still willing to the talk to the Yankees, but that part is definitely a bluff in order to keep the market competitive. At this point, it’d be wise for the Yanks to follow their stated course of not negotiating, being fiscally responsible, and moving on without a year 40+HR, 130+RBI third baseman.
All and all, the end of two eras. The Joe Torre Yankees, and the Free-Spending Yankees (and maybe the Steinbrenner Yankees of Old; its now going to be Steinbrenner Inc.) Next year’s team will have a new manager and a team less filled with Hall of Famers. 5+ months remaining until pitchers and catchers report. Thats all I have to say.
Paul, you must not realize that newspapers decide what to put on the front page based on what will sell. The whole, above the fold treatment is exactly the same thing.
The problem is that today’s newspapers report yesterday’s news. Glad we got less than 1 day of coverage.
Paul, you must not realize that newspapers decide what to put on the front page based on what will sell.
I can assure you, Pete, that is not the case in the vast majority of non-tabloid newspapers. What goes on the front page is there because it deserves to be, at least in the minds of the editors making the decisions.
Paul,
How do you know? How do you know what goes on the front page? It’s not like you’re a journalist or anything!
Look at it this way:
At least NY, and A-Rod for that matter, has managed to do something newsworthy in the postseason…:)
“5+ months remaining until pitchers and catchers report. ”
don’t you mean 3+ months — mid-February?
Sorry when I start writing at 3 am, i tend to get dates screwy. You are obviously right.
So with ARod heading towards his next big payoff…who are Sox fans going to rip on next season on the Yankees??? Clemens and ARod will be gone???
That’s easy, Krueg: Derek “perfume” Jeter, of course.
But don’t worry, I’ll still find time to make fun of ARod no matter where he goes (except Boston). Slappy McPurple-lips will never die to me.
Paul, you misunderstood my point. What’s newsworthy is often conflated with what sells. Editors make the former decision, but it’s only because they understand their audience (i.e., who buys). You could say that the big difference between the Times and the Post is editorial standards. I’d say it’s their audiences. And I’m not sure there’s much of a difference.
SF pointing all the newspapers doesn’t mean much to me. Tomorrow’s papers will have moved on. The sad fact is today should belong to the Sox – on sports radio and on ESPN. And it’s a disgrace it doesn’t.
Pete, I understand the rise of new media, the importance of ESPN.com, etc. Hell, I have a BLOG on baseball.
But you can’t underestimate the power of the print media, still, even as it shrinks in influence. The New York Time placing the Sox above the fold is meaningful, far more meaningful than what ESPN.com puts up on their splash page at 2pm the day after. Eventually this may not be the case, but right now it still is.
The timing was terrible…that’s for certain. But he deserves to go to a team that will cheer for him instead of booing him when he gets into a slump. LOL
Red Sox fans can now start chanting “2000!” when the Yankees come to town. :-)
For fun, here’s some video of my brother burning his A-Rod jersey. Yes, a 32 year old married man is out in his friend’s yard lighting a jersey on fire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VVGz61AXGs
Good riddance.
“What goes on the front page is there because it deserves to be, at least in the minds of the editors making the decisions.”
I guess that’s where the ‘if it bleads it leads’ cliche comes from – editors valuing real stores over circulation? Don’t think so. Nice try though.
And Carlos, I’m not so sure that the Arod ship has sailed in NYC. There aren’t many clear high bidders and all parties are posturing at this point. Why is this story such a shocker? He had a friggin career season. You would have to be a complete idiot not to exercise that option. That’s why it was negotiated for in the first place.
Interesting how few Yankee fans are commenting.
Is A-Rod going to be stupid enough to repeat his Texas experience? What perrenial contender will pay for him? Sox fans say “No!” The Cubs are the Cubs. Will the Angels really pay $30 mil?
With A-rod out the door, the Yanks are going to take a hard run at our boy Lowell. I hope he doesn’t pull a Damon on us.
I’m not sure who that was, and no I don’t underestimate the Sox on the front page above the fold. But that’s already irrelevant. That’s my point. When I arrived at nytimes.com at 7am this morning, A-Rod and the Sox were given equal weight.
The one place where the Sox would have traditionally had legs (at least until Tues or Wed) is sports radio and ESPN. But the story has already passed them by. That’s disgusting. Shoot, even here there were four posts today and two of which were devoted to A-Rod. The guy is a disgrace to the sport, no different than Bonds.
I think YF’s a bit shell-shocked today :).
I’m going to go on the record RIGHT NOW:
I’d rather have A-Rod at third than Lowell. He’s younger and better.
I love Mike Lowell, but if he demands a huge contract, at his age, the Red Sox should pass.
I say this with the belief that Manny gets traded for pitching this offseason. If not, I try really hard for Lowell instead.
“I’m not so sure that the Arod ship has sailed in NYC”
Is anyone seriously thinking A-Rod may still end up in NY???
1) this decision by him makes it clear he doesn’t want to be there and was looking for a way to achieve that without saying it (this point of view is based on the undeniable fact that no team will offer him more than a Yankee team with an almost $30 million subsidy). This is not about the money – he wants out of NY. That’s fine – many NY’ers are happy to wave goodbye to him – others are not. Either way, he doesn’t want to be in NY no matter what they offer him to stay;
2) by not even listening to the Yankee offer he has so pissed off management in NY that they have said good-bye and are not going to pull an about-face.
Under what strange alignment of stars does anyone think he comes back and NY offer him the same deal (minus the $30million)?
This is the same kind of thinking that could lead anyone to think that Joe Torre would return as Joe Girardi’s bench coach. It is not happening. It is over and thank God for that clarity. Good luck getting your paycheck A-Rod and even better luck in landing a ring – let alone a single appearance in the WS. And anyone can wax on about how being with any other team can be just as much a guarantee of post-season play, but it just isn’t true. Boston is great right now, but last year finished third behind Toronto. No team offers as much promise of a post-season TOGEHER with as much promise of the highest paycheck as NY.
Ah, thank god a change of topic. The Sox can prevent the Damon scenario of Lowell by making him a great offer before he declares FA. Just go and get it done and don’t be cheap. Three good money years (3 years at 36 million) could get it done. Even if he wants four years, you do it. Lowell’s bat may not age well (though with the Green Monster…) but his glove is still solid. Even if he’s a part-timer by year three, he’s still a great guy to have around. And the Sox certainly have the money too.
The should sign Schilling too. The fact is he performed this year and in the post-season. What more can you ask? He wants a one-year deal and with the young arms, he’d be great insurance on their innings limits.
I don’t think it was A-Rod’s intentions to upstage the Red Sox, Pete. That may have been a secondary reaction to what he did, but I highly doubt that he was thinking of the Red Sox when he did it.
What has A-Rod EVER done to be labeled as a disgrace to the sport? That’s a bit harsh, man. He didn’t want to play in NY, isn’t going to play in NY, and probably didn’t give any thought whatsoever to the Red Sox when he made his announcement.
Comparisons to Bonds are pretty harsh, dude.
Pete – yeah, but that’s the New York Times, where A-Rod and the Yankees are legitimately big local news.
Brad – sorry, no way would I want to give up Lowell after what he did for us this year.
On my blog I listed several teams where A-Rod might wind up. The most likely place will be San Francisco. The fans will love him (he has to figure if they can love Bonds who’s a juicing fool and didn’t squat in the playoffs until 2002 can be loved, why not him?) and they’ll pay the $30 million a year it will cost to fill that stadium. Notice how attendance nosedived after Barry broke the record? One thing A-Rod will do is put asses in the seats.
As a Yankees fan, I feel somewhat like an idiot sitting there believing that a nice extension in the $30 per year range would entice him to stay. NY is the holy grail of endorsement deals and what better legacy would have than to break the all time home run record wearing a Yankees uniform? I’ve been defending the guy all season from people who said he was going to tell the Yankees to kiss his rear.
The problem is, Alex needs to be King. And as long as has to look to his left and see Derek Jeter, that would never happen. He won’t go to Boston because he’d have to get in line behind guys like Big Papi and Josh Beckett.
Here’s hoping he enjoys his ringless existence in San Francisco.
Why would the Sox want to prevent a Damon scenario? Do we really want a “damon” class player?
No thanks..I’ll take the younger, better guy at the same position. It has nothing to do with Lowell, who is absolutely awesome, but the Red Sox may shoot themselves in the foot by caving to the pressure of signing a multi-year deal to an older player.
I doubt they offer him a four year deal. If he says three, he’ll probably be back, but no way for four.
Jay, he also wants the record and maybe even a run at 1,000 HR. Chicago is a much better bet for this than SF and he can still be King there. Same with LAA where Vlad is aging and ailing. He needn’t go to SF to be King and the other two most likely locations offer him just as much sole-royalty status with larger individual stats and records.
Brad –
300 million versus 40 million.
You’re insane.
They should re-sign Manny (who actually hits in the clutch) and Lowell (who was just the Series MVP). They could get both for half of what A-Rod wants (100 million to Manny and 40 million to Lowell). And they’ll be out from under those contracts in four years versus eight.
It’s a no-brainer. Indeed, they’d get better production overall from Lowell and Manny, better October performance, and a better clubhouse without the drama.
I can’t believe you, Brad. You must still be drunk.
Brad – sorry, no way would I want to give up Lowell after what he did for us this year.
Did you say the same things about Pedro, Mueller, and Lowe? All contributed heavily to a WS ring.
There is a age-based philosophy in place in Boston, and rarely do they sway from it for position players.
And, until A-Rod starts pitching for the teams he’s on, or hitting behind himself inthe lineup, I’ll hold off on what he’s capable of for any team.
BS, Brad. He upstaged the pinnacle of the sport to hype his own cause. The news was announced during the game. The man is a complete and utter disgrace. Gammons had it right. It’s all about him. That’s not a guy I want on my team.
I never understood why the Sox gave up Derek Lowe. The newspapers said vague stuff about “lifestyle issues” but what does that really mean?
Pete, that just may be the case; I’ve heard it takes an hour for each drink to leave your system, and if that’s true, I’ll be sober again on Thursday.
I love A-Rod as a player, and I’ve never hidden that at all.
I think either way, they’re going to be pretty damn good. My A-Rod decisions are biased, and I can understand how you’re feeling right now, but really, I have zero desire to have an aging player on the field right now.
I will say this, I’m happy eithe way. If they keep Lowell, I’m happy because I think he’s awesom, and if they sign A-Rod (which I don’t think will happen), I’m happy too.
And, we know where I stand on Manny.
Brad –
Who’s going to be the bigger albatross:
Lowell making 12 million at age 37 (last year of his next deal)?
or
A-Rod making 28 million at age 37 (with three more years, at least, to go)?
Nah. No way the Sox sign A-Rod. No way in hell. They’re just getting out from under Manny, and he’s still worth the money. Further, the Sox just won the Series without A-Rod – they don’t need him, especially since they have Carter and Lowrie in the the minors.
BS, Brad. He upstaged the pinnacle of the sport to hype his own cause
HE didn’t do anything..
If you said his agent was a disgrace, I’d agree, but I don’t think A-Rod called anyone in the press and told them to run the story.
“I think YF’s a bit shell-shocked today :).”
No shock here. I told you guys months ago Alex wasn’t coming back. As for the Sox winning, after 2004 it’s just another team that isn’t the Yankees and to me that’s all that matters.
Ironhorse, the Cubbies spent $300 million last year. I can’t even imagine MLB allowing the Cubs to spend another $300 million on one player. As for the Halos, Arte Moreno said he would not want to spend too much of the team’s salary on one player. With what A-Rod wants that would amount to a whole lot, but I do agree that I could see him playing with the Angels.
Here’s an interesting note however to Yankees fans. They can actually get a draft pick from this. According to mlbtraderumors.com:
Lost in the shuffle of Alex Rodriguez’s opt-out media frenzy – the Yankees should be able to snag some nice draft picks for him. They’ll undoubtedly offer him arbitration, and he’ll decline that offer. If that does happen and he’s signed by the Cubs, Tigers, Mets, Angels, or Red Sox, the Yankees will get that team’s first-round pick. The Giants and Dodgers’ first round picks are protected however.
I agree both ways, Pete.
I’m happy with either ending, buddy.
I just heard that the Twins picked up Nathan’s deal for next year. All the more reason that NY better get on the ball there.
“I can’t even imagine MLB allowing the Cubs to spend another $300 million on one player”
Jay, other than the luxury tax, which is well-understood and established, what else could/would mlb do? They can’t stop a team from spending “too much”? Have they ever done that – particularly in the post-luxury-tax-era?
On the draft-pick issue, that is pretty interesting and not something I expected or was aware of.
I’m with you Ron. I thought they should have signed Lowe too. At least then they wouldn’t have punted 2005.
And further BS, Brad, on the A-Rod versus Boras distinction. How long has he been his agent? He knew exactly what would happen, and by Boras’ account, A-Rod called him yesterday afternoon. The man is an utter disgrace to the sport. At least Bonds hid his shit. A-Rod flaunts his greed. Consistently so. And no doubt his next contract will have an opt-out too.
He upstaged the pinnacle of the sport to hype his own cause.
Pete, I understand why you think this, even if I don’t entirely agree. But instead of being angry, think of it as a service: A-Rod will not fool anyone ever again about his sincerity or magnanimity. He has none.
// What has A-Rod EVER done to be labeled as a disgrace to the sport? //
Oh, man, let’s see…
1. Childishly, petulantly trying to slap ball out of pitcher’s glove in front of national audience in ALCS
2. Yelling “MINE!” to throw off opposing 3rd baseman who was chasing a pop-up
3. Advancing a blatant lie by saying “I’m opting out because I’m not sure the Yankees are going to sign Mo and Posada,” as if the Yanks were going to become a low payroll non-contender, instead of owning up to his own greed.
Just for starters.
The Cubs are an excellent fit there…
Fifty thousand people who show up to sing a song, and could really care less about the team or baseball in general.. I would imagine he would do awesome there.
I’m with you Ron. I thought they should have signed Lowe too. At least then they wouldn’t have punted 2005.
Still unhappy about 2005, eh?
Everything that happened last night was a result of the continuum of baseball, and 2007 was because of 2006 was because of 2005 was because of 2004 was because of 2003…
Turns out 2005 worked out just fine despite what it looked like.
Under what strange alignment of stars does anyone think he comes back and NY offer him the same deal (minus the $30million)?
IH, this is what, 10/29/07? There is so much that has to happen in the Yankee universe over the next 2-3 months that ANYTHING can happen.
What I don’t get is that there are all these Yankee ‘experts’ that are shocked that he would opt out. You have to be kidding me! THAT’S WHY THE CLAUSE WAS NEGOTIATED IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! It was meant to provide statistical flexibility so that A-Rod could hit the free market coming off of the best possible season statistically. Arod opting out has always been a foregone conclusion given his career season. It just probably hurts more in the wake of the Torre situation.
And no one gives a crap at how pissed off someone in the Yankee front office might be. If you can’t handle being kicked to the curb when the wind isn’t blowing in your favor, you don’t belong in this business or any entertainment related business for that matter. It’s the nature of the game. And we always hear this type of speculation about Boras negotiations. If the Yanks have a chance to sign him in a bidding situation at close to what they’ve offered (or less), they will. If you recall there has been conflicting statements coming from the Yankees on this.
So please IH, don’t arrogantly pretend you know what’s going on behind closed doors when you are just as clueless as the next person.
Ironhorse, all free agent deals have to be approved by the Commissioner. According to Buster Olney, several executives said they didn’t believe Selig would approve such a deal with the Cubs still not settled with ownership.
Plus I just don’t see them opening their wallets again like that after the crazy money they spent last year. But who knows?
And no doubt his next contract will have an opt-out too.
So would mine, if I was in his position, which sadly, I’m not.
Come to think of it, I bet every one of us would do the SAME exact thing. And really, A-Rod is a disgrace because he yelled something at an easily distractable third baseman in Toronto? Really? Because he exercised an option, which all teams were aware of when they took him on as an employee, to make more money? Because he’s uncertain about the future of NY, as we all are?
It doesn’t take much for someone to be labeled as a “disgrace to the game” nowadays.
SF –
He’ll fool the next team. That’s what happens to fans.
And funny, Hudson, I didn’t have a problem with any of that other stuff. But this takes it to a whole new level. It wasn’t just one game or one statement or one transvestite. It was the most important moment in the sport soiled for greed and ego. Worse, the man was going to get paid any ways, and richly, with dollars and press. This is a steaming pile of shit on top of the best event in the sport – the one he’s never played in. Even a few hours earlier wouldn’t have been as bad. This was timed purposely to coincide with the game itself and the aftermath.
Exactly, SF.
2005 had to happen to advance the club for further years without hampering the roster for years to come as well.
I’ll take 2005 every few years to avoid long term mistakes like Damon and Pedro. How are their contracts looking?
So, Fox gets no blame for actually running it or giving it legs to run on? The heaping pile of shit you speak of, in my own opinion, is the Fox game coverage.
Yeah, it was bad timing, but A-Rod isn’t the goat here all by himself.
One world championship every three years is fine with me, I’m not greedy ;-)
I’m not greedy ;-)
ha. If that’s the case, the Red Sox games will be like Laker games, and I’ll never be able to get in. I’ll have to employ people to sit in the virtual waiting rooms to get me tickets…which I’m thinking about anyhow. ha.
I can’t agree, SF. The Sox could have won in 2005 and 2007. Call me crazy, but I want them to win every year. And I’ll only concede 2006.
2005 they had Clement starting a deciding game. Plug Lowe and Pedro into that series and I think they win.
And signing Lowe and Pedro I don’t think makes a difference for any other decision since. Maybe Dice-K. Maybe.
To me, 2005 was like Belichick thinking he didn’t need wide receivers in 2006. I hope the Sox never go cheap again. But they certainly could this off-season with Lowell and Schilling and it’d be as much of a mistake.
Hudson – I’ll say they’re disgrace to himself, not for the sport. The hand slapping thing I’ll still defend only because he’s taken enough heat for that, and in the heat of moment, he was indeed trying to do what he felt he needed to do to win. Just didn’t choose the right course of action.
Jay: I think your point re: Cubs ownership being less liberal with their money after last year’s spending spree is much mroe convincing and likely than mlb stepping in, in what I THINK would be an unprecedented move and blocking it, but we’ll see.
lp, regarding your comment “So please IH, don’t arrogantly pretend you know what’s going on behind closed doors when you are just as clueless as the next person”, did someone kick your dog or something? Relax with the venom. I have no problem saying I am as clueless as the next person (assuming the next person is you). I just think that ship (the good ship A-Rod-pop) has sailed and I don’t think the Yankees make the same offer absent the subsidy. And yes, I actually think that pissing off the owner of a team matters in any future negotiations with that team but who knows – maybe that is just arrogant omniscienc eon my part.
If you read the New Yorker article about Boras it seems that in order to be his client you MUST allow him 100% control during negotiations. I’m not saying that Rodriguez can’t say his piece but I think this move is specifically Boras…
On the flip side:
ARod not showing up to reeceive his Hank Aaron award is super-weak.
Boras said A-Rod made the decision yesterday. That tells me all I need to know, especially after Ken Rosenthal announced it in the 8th inning. Even waiting until today would have been better. Or dropping the bomb on Saturday. He chose the moment for maximum exposure. The dude is a complete and total disgrace.
Sequence of events as I understand them:
1. A-Rod calls Boras – leaves v-mail saying he wants to opt out.
2. Boras calls Cashman – leaves v-mail saying same.
3. Boras leaks news during WS game.
How involved was A-Rod in step 3? I don’t know. I don’t agree Pete that because A-Rod took step 1 yesterday that it means he wanted a Boras leaked announcement during the game. But I do agree in a sense – in other words, even if he wasn’t very involved – or at all involved – in steps 2 or 3, the guy certainly finds a way to be close to a lot of smarmy moves doesn’t he?
Either you still have lingering feelings for A-Rod, IH, or you’re just not being rational.
How long has Boras been A-Rod’s agent? Gotta be over ten years right?
A-Rod knew exactly what Boras would do. Indeed, they probably discussed it and exactly the scenario that played out. There was absolutely no reason for A-Rod to make any decision yesterday. None.
Unless he wanted to upstage the Fall Classic.
Bum.
And this has nothing to do with me being a Sox fan and everything to do with loving the game. A-Rod is a complete and utter disgrace, and I know that now beyond any doubt.
OK, so I tuned into Mike and the Mad Dog for about six seconds, just to see what was on their minds, out of perverse curiosity.
Within three of those six seconds I wanted to throw my PC out the window. According to M&M, Ellsbury had four cheap hits on Saturday, none hit hard. IIRC, Ells had a liner over the third baseman and a liner to the left-center gap (not deep, but solid), along with the bleeder and the pop down the line. They were so sure of themselves, it was FACT that he had four cheap hits.
Turn this sh*t off, guys, don’t bother.
Walein –
Since I personally would show up if Hank Aaron were going to hand me so much as a parking ticket, I agree. Very disrespectful….
Pete, re: “Either you still have lingering feelings for A-Rod, IH, or you’re just not being rational”, I choose irrationality.
Pete, on a related note (rationality vs. emotion), are you still arguing that the Beckett deal was a disaster for Boston? Just curious.
Gah, I listened for another five minutes and my eardrums are bleeding. Now M&MD are 100% sure that Schilling isn’t coming back, and Dog said that the ONLY WAY Schill comes back is if it is for one year and $3M.
On the other hand, they aren’t talking about A-Rod.
Ellsbury also probably saved us from extra innings with his catch in the bottom of the 9th. I actually thought he might be the MVP.
This isn’t the right thread, IH. But I responded to Brad’s implied shoutout at me in the Thank You thread.
And for the record, I simply stood by the value demarcation – the value of a starting pitcher versus a shortstop. As promised, that topic, with the particular players involved, is now dead to me. But I still believe in the principle if not the example I used to argue it.
Pete – was just poking fun…you got me to say I am irrational…you win.
“If it bleeds it leads” comes from a different era of print journalism, LP. You simply don’t know what you’re talking about — again — so leave it be.
I’m not going to blame Fox for reporting a legitimate news story when its competitors were running with that story. You can’t choose when to report news when it breaks.
Does A-Rod want to play short again?
Just askin’
Sorry, Paul, but how many publications have you worked for? And even if the answer is “I have twenty years experience” I’m not sure I’d take your view as objective. The point of disagreement is that newspapers ARE a business, just like talk radio and ESPN and many websites. To believe they don’t similarly cater to their audience is naive, at best, and disingenuous, at worst. You drew a false distinction based on personal opinion, and now try to pass that off as some professional expertise. The problem of course is we can all plainly see how coverage is manipulated – left and right – rather than a marker of some objectivity. That doesn’t mean all editorial decisions are influenced by sales, just that editors know who they work for and what pays the bills. They can believe they’re objective, but I’m afraid that too is a long ago era.
“If it bleeds it leads” comes from a different era of print journalism, LP.
but that era is still alive at the Boston Herald, New York Post, and (to a lesser extent) New York Daily News.
I’m not going to blame Fox for reporting a legitimate news story when its competitors were running with that story.
Well, I do blame them — for interrupting the World Series game with it! Should have saved it for the post-game show.
The problem of course is we can all plainly see how coverage is manipulated – left and right – rather than a marker of some objectivity.
The problem of course is that readers of newspapers view stories through their own biases, and newspapers receive accusations of bias from both sides regarding their coverage of the same story. This happens frequently. So sorry if I do not take seriously most accusations of bias among the legitimate newspapers.
Newspapers do take their audience into account, but the audience is what determines what news IS. Does Austin, Texas, care about the Red Sox winning the World Series? Probably not, so Austin does not cover this as heavily. So, yes, audience plays a role — but not in the mercenary sense you’d like to believe, Pete.
Newspapers ARE a business, you’re right. But at any reputable newspaper there is a bright dividing line between the business and news sides of the operation, and considering the newspaper industry continues to tank, it appears that their continued existence must serve a purpose other than making money…
Ron, the Herald, Post, Daily News, et al. are not a part of this conversation. They obviously still hold fast to that bygone era.
I didn’t mind so much Fox’s talking about it during the game. They didn’t talk about it that much, and as a Red Sox fan, I was interested in the news. I did raise my eyebrows at the timing, to be sure, but it didn’t bother me at the time.
The people I was watching it with were saying things to the TV like “shut up about A-Rod already, isn’t there still a game going on?”
Personally, I think A-Rod/Boras annoucement was timed to occur before the Yankees’ announcement of a manager. A-Rod had 10 days after the WS ends to announce, but decided this weekend to do so? I don’t think he was waiting for the WS to end, cause how would he know on Sat that it would definitely end on Sunday with a RedSox win. But the Yankees anounced late in the week that they would make a decision on a manager on Monday.
So, why would A-Rod/Boras announce his opt-out right before the manager decision is made? Maybe for a cover so that he could claim that the uncertainty of Petitte & CO influence his decision. Cause if Mattingly had been chosen as manager, I’m thinking the bigboys would be more inclined to stay. They may even do so with Girardi calling the shots. But by opting out before that choice gets made, he could fall into “Joe’s gone, I’m gone” cover.
A little flimsy, a little weak-willed to think that you have to somehow excuse your own choices. But I think its as likely as an explanation as “i want to upstage the Red Sox’s second championship.
Just in from the AP:
“We were very disappointed that Scott Boras would try to upstage our premier baseball event of the season with his announcement,” Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
“There was no reason to make an announcement last night other than to try to put his selfish interests and that of one individual player above the overall good of the game,” DuPuy said. “Last night and today belong to the Boston Red Sox, who should be celebrated for their achievement, and to the Colorado Rockies, who made such an unbelievable run to the World Series.”
Sorry, my view of the “outstanding” news media was irrevocably damaged by the run up to the Iraq war. Then, all media kowtowed to the administration. And Colbert nailed it in his Press Correspondents Diner address. Except then that got buried by the Mainstream Media.
And while the business and news sides are separate, you can’t say the editors don’t know who they work for and what the audience wants. That’s the influence on the decisions. The editorial decisions as to what goes on the front page and above the fold is very much tied to what’s newsworthy. But that decision is tied to WHO’S likely to find that article newsworthy. That’s the audience. Editors make their decisions with their audience in mind. And there you can’t separate the news from the business.
Newspapers continue to tank, but more because they make bad business decisions. The Times is doing very well, but because they’re a very well run business.
Newspapers continue to tank, but more because they make bad business decisions.
Not gonna argue that one. The industry has been poisoned by corporate fat cats who don’t realize newspapers make money when they put a good quality product into people’s hands — not when you slash and burn the newsrooms into oblivion. But that’s neither here nor there.
I agree with what you said about audience considerations, Pete, so I just don’t see how you make the leap from considering your audience to determine newsworthiness to the manipulation of coverage. I guarantee you reporters are not thinking of their audience when they go out and find/report/write a story. They’re thinking about how best to communicate the story, sure, but they couldn’t care less what the audience reaction to it will be (well, except for the usual ego-feeding breaking a big story provides).
On another note, I’m surprised MLB was so open about criticizing A-Rod.
Bravo to baseball. And I suspect a higher-up influenced the coverage at mlb.com. When I arrived there this morning, A-Rod’s stupid face was in the daily reel. Now Rentaria is featured there but A-Rod is nowhere to be found, not even a link in the sidebar.
By the way, I will say I have a problem with FOX’s decision too. A sideline reporter should only be used to report news relevant to the game at-hand. And last night, in the middle of a very good game, they interrupted with non-critical “news”. If they miss that “scoop” so what? They’re broadcasting the most important event in the sport and they needed to interrupt for THAT?
Oh, just that if an editor knows their audience then they choose stories to feature that their audience will enjoy. But that’s a business decision. You want to keep your audience happy to keep them buying the product.
And my problem with the news business is that not everyone can be the NY Times or WSJ. So run wire reports where necessary and go hyper-local. Compete by offering content you can’t find elsewhere. For instance, I’ve never read an Austin paper, but I would really hope that they go crazy on the music and tech scene there.
ARod drinks wine coolers!
I will add the MLB article criticized Boras, not A-Rod. They talk about Boras putting the deal and one particular player above the World Series. Later on, other mention that “Boras’ timing is off.” I wonder if this timing story continues if we learn that A-Rod tells Boras “I want to opt-out”, but expects Boras to communicate that to MLB at some point before the 10 day deadline, not the next day.
What? A-Rod’s going to throw his agent under the bus? I highly doubt that.
Gotta run.
One real important thing about that AP article is that it has this on Hank Steinbrenner: “‘No chance,’ Hank Steinbrenner, a son of owner George Steinbrenner, said Monday at Legends Field. ‘Not if it’s made official.'”
Uh…anyone else notice a big, glaring loophole in that statement? It hasn’t been made official?!? For the first time in the past 20 hours, I think I’ve come back around to thinking that ARod *is* going back to the Yankees.
Cashman made similar comments today, SW. Something like, “If he’s filed the papers…”
Pete, I am with you on a lot of issues (war run-up, journalistic hacks enabling run-up, etc.), but your cynicism sometimes overtakes your rationality. I think you make salient points, but you push them to such extremes that you render the debate zero-sum.
Paul is a journalist, and I think his experience lends some expertise. Your opinion isn’t invalidated by the fact that you aren’t a journalist, but at the very least it brings a facet of knowledge to the debate that you might not have, and which Paul does.
SF “Dog said that the ONLY WAY Schill comes back is if it is for one year and $3M.”
1 yr, $3M?, quick Theo where is the pen, sign the man up!
Let’s see, $3M cheaper that “BatShit” Tavarez!!! I hope that Dog meant $13M!
CarlosYF – I agree that the article talked about Boras but you’d have to think that not many people will read that and only see A-Rod.
I actually think that Jay’s assumption that SF is the place for A-Rod is the best, actually not a bad replacement for the fans for Bonds.
Is Cuban still looking to buy the Cubs? If so, that may be an interesting combo, A-Rod being A-Rod, Cuban battling with SPud and the upms, boy that’s high comedy!
“SF – Go to the link below and scan, for an idea of what I mean. WFAN and Mike and Mike are not the indicators. The Arizona Daily Star is.”
OK, though how cool is it that many American’s woke up this AM to Paps going nuts on the front page of their newspaper. His crazy acts should be shared by all of America!
BillsburgSF, you are right. ESPN headline is “MLB: Shame on A-Rod for timing” but the quote does not mention A-Rod at all. So its on A-Rod no matter, but I still think that between the lines it shows Boras’ flair for ego.
Cuban wants to buy the cubs, but its been fairly obvious that he can’t get a majority of owners approval of that sale.
Carlos – I too read that the MLB owners will steer MLB away from a Cuban owned team, but that is too bad. He has done wonderful things for the Mav’s and the NBA in general (boy now I sound like Simmons:-P). He may actually do some good and shake up some things. The only thing that worries me is how he treats the NBA officials, will he do the same with home plate umps in MLB regarding to balls and strikes?
Just read an article that said Boras apologized (who gives a f*ck) and that A-Rod officially filed… so those vaguely hedging statements from the owners should be in full effect.
Why does it have to be Lowell or A-Rod for the Sox? Why can’t they sign both? A-Rod is a natural shortstop and loves playing that position – it was part of the first friction with him and Jeter. Lowell at third and A-Rod at short, keep Lugo and trade Cora…Now we’re talking!
I still think there is a chance to re-sign A-Rod as a Yankee, and I do think Boras did get A-Rod to opt out, to test the market and see if it will up the price with the Yankees.
There is no other team that can give A-Rod the money he is asking for or the 10 year contract he and Boras are demanding besides the Yankees. I can see the Chicago Cubs do some sort of monster back end deal, or the Giants do something, but if A-Rod will go with any NL team, to me it will be the Mets. I think he would prefer to stay in the AL. The LAA Angels need a DH, not A-Rod, besides Scioscia rules the roost there, I don’t see him exactly complying to a strong and hands on manager like Scioscia.
A-Rod is not going to sign with the Sox, mainly because the clubhouse won’t accept him, and if he couldn’t handle Jeter as the captain, I doubt he can handle Varitek as leader, nor the tempermental Boston Media.
I can only see the Mets and Cubs willing to get near what the Yankees can offer.