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Sunday, September 07, 2008

Newsday: A-Rod knows it’s over

For though my Slappy McBluelips may breathe adieu,
I cannot think the thing farewell

You could tell as soon as he said it that he would regret it. But Alex Rodriguez, when asked about the Yankees being passed by the Blue Jays in the standings, said the following:

“Toronto’s playing really well,” he said. “I’ll tell you what, a lot of people should be happy they’re not in the playoff race, because they’d be the scariest team, with the 1-2 punch they’ve got over there with Halladay and Burnett.”

But, Alex, if the Blue Jays are ahead of your team, and they’re not in the playoff mix, what does that mean about your chances to make the playoffs?

Said A-Rod: “I’m too tired to answer that; you confused me.”

When the question was repeated, pointing out that the .Yankees can’t be in the playoff race if the Blue Jays—ahead of them in the standings—are not, A-Rod tried to backtrack. “What I’m saying is if Toronto was to get in the playoffs, they would be the scariest team to face, by far, with those two,” he said. “I’m not saying anything else.”

Repoz Posted: September 07, 2008 at 11:11 PM | 38 comment(s)
Related News: General, NY Yankees, Toronto

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1. CFiJ Posted: September 07, 2008 at 11:22 PM (#2932625)

But, Alex, if the Blue Jays are ahead of your team, and they’re not in the playoff mix, what does that mean about your chances to make the playoffs?

It means Rodriguez doesn't think the Jays have much chance of staying ahead of the Yankees.

2. alskor Posted: September 07, 2008 at 11:28 PM (#2932630)

God forbid he acknowledge that a fourth place team that is 10 games out is out of the playoff race in the second week of September.

3. The District Attorney Posted: September 07, 2008 at 11:37 PM (#2932634)

I know it's over, but still I swing
I don't know where else I can choke
Over
Overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

4. Shock Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:00 AM (#2932643)

Why on earth did he re-sign in New York.

5. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:04 AM (#2932645)

That kind of Gotcha! journalism is going to get Kat O'Brien moved to the political beat.

6. Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:04 AM (#2932646)

I know it's over, but still I swing
I don't know where else I can choke
Over
Overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If A-Rod is so very good-looking
Then why does he sleep alone tonight?

7. Sam M. Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:05 AM (#2932648)

Why on earth did he re-sign in New York.

Why else???

8. 1k5v3L Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM (#2932651)

Why on earth did he re-sign in New York.

So he can be close to his soulmate Madonna

9. kevin Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:12 AM (#2932654)

Simple case of someone in the public eye of accidentally speaking the truth.

10. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:29 AM (#2932662)

Post #2 summed up my thoughts so precisely I was actually a bit thrown to read them. Anyone who gets on A-Rod's case for this one is an idiot.

11. AJM Misses Brodeur Posted: September 08, 2008 at 12:51 AM (#2932669)

I think a better headline would've been "A-Rod knows what everyone else does".

12. alskor Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:58 AM (#2932683)

I can see the headlines tomorrow:

"Jeter Not Ready to Give Up"
"Jetes: Never Say Die!"
"Captain Not Going to Concede"

13. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:16 AM (#2932688)

Jeter Denounces "Magic Number" as Witchcraft

Yankees Retain Right to Trade For Entire Rays Roster, Win WC By Default, Suggests Hank

Little Stein Reveals "Emergency" Playoff Plan:
45-Game Series With Royals to Close Regular Season

14. The Milton Bradley Effect (Voxter) Posted: September 08, 2008 at 03:59 AM (#2932697)

Once, in a Scoresheet non-keeper league, one of my brothers & I were both eliminated (for all intents and purposes) before the Labor Day trade deadline. We tried to trade our entire rosters to each other.

Some dick blocked it.

15. The Bones McCoy of THT ... of DOOM! Posted: September 08, 2008 at 04:57 AM (#2932701)

Some dick blocked it.

Serves you right--next time insist that a member (cough cough) enroll his entire anatomy in the league.

Best Regards

John

16. OCD SS Posted: September 08, 2008 at 07:43 AM (#2932706)

Little Stein Reveals "Emergency" Playoff Plan:
45-Game Series With Royals to Close Regular Season

They Yankees have played .500 ball against the Royals this year.

17. villageidiom Posted: September 08, 2008 at 08:02 AM (#2932710)

They Yankees have played .500 ball against the Royals this year.

But at least a 45-game series would give them something to do in October.

18. Scott Kazmir's breaking balls Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:06 PM (#2932934)

At least A-Rod has enough sack to state the obvious....they're toast.

19. Paul M is filibustering vigilantly Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:20 PM (#2932943)

BP's playoff odds puts them at about 0.28%--and it's gone UP over the last week. Yeah, done, fork in 'em, all that.

20. Cowboy Popup Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:27 PM (#2932954)

21. OCD SS Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:35 PM (#2932968)

CP, when the Sox were running out an injured Mark Loretta as their 1Bman/ #3 hitter at the end of 2006 (instead of playing Carlos Pena) I became convinced that the Sox were purposely trying to lose games without it looking like they were trying to lose games to get their 1st round pick protected. The Yankees might be trying the same thing. From the looks of the current standings they may actually have a shot at it.

22. aleskel Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:42 PM (#2932981)

Well, the team refuses to acknowledge they're out of it and keeps sending Damon out to center, Ponson to the mound and Giambi to first base, rather then trying to get any of the potential roster filler they have floating around (Miranda, Gardner/Melky, Aceves) or, God forbid, legitimate prospects (Huges just k'ed 11 in the AAA playoffs last night) some playing time to acclimate to the Majors

It still is only the 1st week of September, you won't find many teams above .500 who run up the white flag that early. And I'm sure they don't want to do it right before the last homestand at the current Stadium for PR purposes. But we'll see what they do in the next week and a half - I would be surprised if Aceves doesn't replace Rasner next time out, then Ponson will be bumped for Hughes or Coke.

23. Fancy Pants Handle Posted: September 08, 2008 at 01:55 PM (#2933006)

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke makes me chuckle...

24. aleskel Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:03 PM (#2933022)

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke makes me chuckle...

ha! I didn't even pick up on my own play on words. There's any number of ways to interpret that.

25. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:13 PM (#2933039)

A-Rod went 0-10 in Seattle this weekend, topping off his performance by getting picked off first base.

So, apparently, he's in on the draft caper.

26. aleskel Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:22 PM (#2933056)

So, apparently, he's in on the draft caper.

he also went 6 for 10 with 4 walks and 3 homers the previous 3 games, which were against the 1st-place team. Someone didn't get the memo in time.

27. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:24 PM (#2933060)

A-Rod went 0-10 in Seattle this weekend, topping off his performance by getting picked off first base.

Let's be fair and see who the starting pitchers were for that series. Okay, A-Rod can't be expected to put up big numbers against Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend, and a guy making his first career start.

28. Loren F.'s well-anchored glenoid Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:39 PM (#2933086)

But everyone knows that Rowland-Smith, Feierabend and that new guy OWN the Yankees. Really, I'm almost surprised A-Rod didn't feign an injury to miss the whole series, except that his name isn't 'Manny'.

29. aleskel Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:43 PM (#2933093)

But everyone knows that Rowland-Smith, Feierabend and that new guy OWN the Yankees.

you joke, but it seems every unimpressive lefty and rookie with a fastball OWN the Yankees. There are only like 3 pitchers left that the Yankees can hit, and two of them are Carlos Silva.

30. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:46 PM (#2933100)

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke makes me chuckle...

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke and Chuckles makes me say "Ho ho." Next?

31. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:49 PM (#2933104)

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke and Chuckles makes me say "Ho ho." Next?

For some reason, the thought of Ponson getting bumped for Coke, Chuckles and Ho Hos makes me snicker.

32. The Good Face Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:49 PM (#2933105)

you joke, but it seems every unimpressive lefty and rookie with a fastball OWN the Yankees. There are only like 3 pitchers left that the Yankees can hit, and two of them are Carlos Silva.

It's probably just observer bias, but it seems like A-Rod has an almost supernatural ability to suck against young pitchers he's never seen before. All snarking aside, I wonder if his 2008 is the most despised ~1.000 OPS season ever? If you could just read the print about him with NO statistical information whatsoever, you'd probably think he was hitting .220 with 11 home runs on the season.

33. aleskel Posted: September 08, 2008 at 02:53 PM (#2933112)

It's probably just observer bias, but it seems like A-Rod has an almost supernatural ability to suck against young pitchers he's never seen before

I know, I get that feeling too. ARod is known to be a guess hitter, so I think it follows that he likely guesses wrong more often when he's facing someone whose pattern he hasn't picked up yet.

34. Loren F.'s well-anchored glenoid Posted: September 08, 2008 at 03:05 PM (#2933124)

Well, A-Rod has been awful with RISP this year, and while it's anomalous enough that chance has had a big role, the first year of one's new, record-breaking contract is not a good year to have an 'unclutch' season.

But even before this year, he's been unusually derided (remember all the stuff about how the M's and the Rangers started winning after the got rid of him?) for a guy who is probably one of the 25 greatest baseball players in MLB history. I know his huge contracts have made him a target, but there's also something about his personality that rubs people the wrong way.

35. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past Posted: September 08, 2008 at 06:51 PM (#2933367)

There are only like 3 pitchers left that the Yankees can hit, and two of them are Carlos Silva.

ROFL. Maybe the Mariners can trade him this winter by convincing another team that he can fill a huge hole in their rotation.

I can confirm from this weekend's series that A-Rod still gets a high volume of boos on every siungle at-bat in Seattle.

36. Steve Treder Posted: September 08, 2008 at 07:24 PM (#2933397)

for a guy who is probably one of the 25 greatest baseball players in MLB history

Excuse me? "Probably one of the 25 greatest baseball players in MLB history"?

We're talking about a guy who has:

- Won 2 Gold Gloves as a shortstop
- Stolen 282 bases at an 80% success rate
- Won 3 MVPs, been second twice, and third another time
- Has 550 career HRs and isn't yet finished with his age-32 season

And so on.

Do you really think there have been two dozen players better than this guy?

37. Blackadder Posted: September 08, 2008 at 07:37 PM (#2933406)

38. Steve Treder Posted: September 08, 2008 at 07:46 PM (#2933415)

I totally agree with Steve Treder--ARod has a pretty good shot of being one of the 10 best baseball players ever--but I don't think stealing 282 bases at an 80% rate is one of the first things I would mention...

Well, fine, but the whole issue is that A-Rod is such an astonishingly great player that he can do something like steal 282 bases (and counting, he's only 32 and still running very well) at an 80% success rate and it gets buried deep beneath all the rest of the stuff he's done. Stealing 282 bases at an 80% success rate is a terrific accomplishment, something rarely achieved even by top-of-the-order types famed for their speed.

The issue is that A-Rod not only has no weaknesses, he has nothing but strengths, even before we consider his hitting ability.

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Newsday: A-Rod knows it’s over

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