Originally Published on October 18, 2006 in the Cardinal Courier Volume 6 - Issue 3
George Steinbrenner can’t be happy.
How could this happen to the Yankees again, did someone promote George Costanza to G.M.?
The ALDS loss to the Tigers was a complete team failure. But, the burden of this loss is going to fall squarely on the person Sports Illustrated recently dubbed “The Lonely Yankee”, Alex Rodriguez.
Dating back to last year’s ALDS against the Angels, A-Rod hasn’t been able to live up to his MVP standards. His numbers this year would be a career year for most Major Leaguers (.290 BA, 35 HR, 121 RBI), but he struggled with 24 errors at third base and has been useless the last two playoff series.
As a result of this, A-Rod has become a $252 million scapegoat. He deserves some criticism, but the media has been bashing him like a piñata, and it’s ready to burst. So, the only remedy for both sides is to trade A-Rod, right?
I may be in the minority here, but I say no.
There’s no doubt that New York has to make some changes but trading A-Rod makes as much sense as firing Joe Torre (which unfortunately might happen).
First of all, there is no way the Yankees can get even close to equal value for A-Rod. I would want any combination of productive pitching arms, an adequate third base replacement and talented prospects. It’s unlikely that a team would give up that much for a player who is considered to be damaged goods.
And there won’t be many suitors that can absorb A-Rod’s massive contract. One of the Los Angeles teams might be a good fit but they wont give up any top players for A-Rod. Trading him to an A.L. team would just help to bolster one of their enemies. Either way, the Yankees would probably end up paying for a large portion of his salary while getting little in return.
Who’s to say that A-Rod’s replacement will be any more clutch? Remember 2B Alfonso Soriano, the man that was dealt to acquire A-Rod in the first place? Soriano was a strikeout machine in the 2003 playoffs and he was bounced around the line-up in a similar way that A-Rod has been.
There are many other Yankees who I would get rid of before A-Rod, including nearly all of their recent free-agent busts. This includes the dynamic duo of Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. I would also part ways with an aging Gary Sheffield before A-Rod.
And if A-Rod can turn it around and play to his potential, the fans in New York will quickly turn those boos back into cheers (just like they did for Jason Giambi in 2005). It will also fix exaggerated claims of bad team chemistry.
This is by no means is an excuse for A-Rod’s prolonged slump. He has frustrated myself along with a legion of Yankees fans. I don’t know how to help him to play like a Yankee legend; maybe he can grow a Don Mattingly mustache or douse himself in Derek Jeter cologne.
Either way, the Yankees made their commitment with A-Rod when they traded for him and they have to stick with that decision. For better, or for worse.
How could this happen to the Yankees again, did someone promote George Costanza to G.M.?
The ALDS loss to the Tigers was a complete team failure. But, the burden of this loss is going to fall squarely on the person Sports Illustrated recently dubbed “The Lonely Yankee”, Alex Rodriguez.
Dating back to last year’s ALDS against the Angels, A-Rod hasn’t been able to live up to his MVP standards. His numbers this year would be a career year for most Major Leaguers (.290 BA, 35 HR, 121 RBI), but he struggled with 24 errors at third base and has been useless the last two playoff series.
As a result of this, A-Rod has become a $252 million scapegoat. He deserves some criticism, but the media has been bashing him like a piñata, and it’s ready to burst. So, the only remedy for both sides is to trade A-Rod, right?
I may be in the minority here, but I say no.
There’s no doubt that New York has to make some changes but trading A-Rod makes as much sense as firing Joe Torre (which unfortunately might happen).
First of all, there is no way the Yankees can get even close to equal value for A-Rod. I would want any combination of productive pitching arms, an adequate third base replacement and talented prospects. It’s unlikely that a team would give up that much for a player who is considered to be damaged goods.
And there won’t be many suitors that can absorb A-Rod’s massive contract. One of the Los Angeles teams might be a good fit but they wont give up any top players for A-Rod. Trading him to an A.L. team would just help to bolster one of their enemies. Either way, the Yankees would probably end up paying for a large portion of his salary while getting little in return.
Who’s to say that A-Rod’s replacement will be any more clutch? Remember 2B Alfonso Soriano, the man that was dealt to acquire A-Rod in the first place? Soriano was a strikeout machine in the 2003 playoffs and he was bounced around the line-up in a similar way that A-Rod has been.
There are many other Yankees who I would get rid of before A-Rod, including nearly all of their recent free-agent busts. This includes the dynamic duo of Carl Pavano and Jaret Wright. I would also part ways with an aging Gary Sheffield before A-Rod.
And if A-Rod can turn it around and play to his potential, the fans in New York will quickly turn those boos back into cheers (just like they did for Jason Giambi in 2005). It will also fix exaggerated claims of bad team chemistry.
This is by no means is an excuse for A-Rod’s prolonged slump. He has frustrated myself along with a legion of Yankees fans. I don’t know how to help him to play like a Yankee legend; maybe he can grow a Don Mattingly mustache or douse himself in Derek Jeter cologne.
Either way, the Yankees made their commitment with A-Rod when they traded for him and they have to stick with that decision. For better, or for worse.
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