04/18/24
January 05, 2006
A-Rod to play for US? Does anybody care anymore!: I'm american, I'm dominican, I don't know what I am. Just pick one and go already.
Why doesn't A-Rod just say that he dosen't really want to play. I think that is the thought in alot of other players minds as well. March is Spring Training Time. I spend at least 1 long week end in Tempe, AZ. (Los Angeles Angels) every spring and while several of the Angels have committed to the World Baseball Classic I'd rather be in Tempe watching spring training than be watching players who would rather be somewhere else, or in some cases really need to be at spring training, playing in a meaningless tournament. I don't think that this endeavor will stand the test of time. A 1 year thing, maybe two if they tweak it.
posted by Termite at 03:06 PM on January 05, 2006
I'm not going to watch it. Especially after the Cuban fiasco. Politics and baseball. Who's hurting who? This seems to be another way to put baseball on TV and get revenues from advertising and ticket sales. I hope they put it on pay-per-view. Next year they should play the games in Cuba so our citizen ball players will be ordered not to attend.
posted by Tommy Woods at 03:28 PM on January 05, 2006
A-Rod has turned himself into garbage, literally like the contents of my black container, with this debacle. Besides, Spring Training is better. I want to watch my boys the Dodgers on T.V., with Vin Scully. I also want to watch the Angels and see how they're doing. The Toronto Blue Jays are the most improved team in baseball, and the Mets are third behind my Dodgers, so why would I want to miss out on them to watch the WBC. The Jays will be pitching no-no's like the Rocket getting K's , the Mets will be putting up lacrosse-like numbers, and the Dodgers will be a human highlight reel with the glove. Would you give it all up for the WBC. If you do, go the WBC and listen to Finger Eleven's song be played: "One Thing."
posted by Joe88 at 03:31 PM on January 05, 2006
I agree that the WBC is a public relations nightmare for baseball. The WBC shot itself in the foot when it created such loose qualifications for national affiliation. In an attempt to spread a higher concentration of MLB players across the board (Piazza in Italy?), it ended up putting a lot of players -- like A-Rod -- on the hook. Maybe the WBC should have drawn the line at citizenship, and put only those with dual citizenship -- not dual nationalities -- in a position to choose, but of course that would have put the US at a VERY substantial advantage going in, and it would have left a lot of All-Stars sitting home -- or rather, at their regular training site -- for the tourney. I also agree that the WBC had their other foot shot by the Cuba situation, and at this point, with no games having been played, already appears crippled. I have to say, though, that I disagree with the sentiments expressed here regarding watching spring training games over the WBC. I think pride will spur on some excellent competition, and once the agonizing process of team selection is past, most fans will be way more jacked up to watch a matchup between Venezuela and the Dominican than a spring training game where the regulars go through the motions for three innings. I'm not ready to predict the demise of the WBC until I've seen it in play.
posted by BullpenPro at 04:17 PM on January 05, 2006
hopefully arod wont get anyone in his family in danger, its been known that there people get kidnapeed all the time,(including mom of urbith urbina a few years back) i have no idea if his family is there but if they were i would be worried
posted by Barry-from-H-town at 06:52 PM on January 05, 2006
Spring Training is the only time I get to see the Tigers actually have an above .500 record.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:02 PM on January 05, 2006
Speaking for most of Red Sox Nation, I think A-Rod should start his own WBC team and play for The Smarmy Lip Gloss Nancy-Boys of Baseball.
posted by rockamora at 08:54 PM on January 05, 2006
Where's that eye rolling banana, goddam?
posted by jerseygirl at 09:10 PM on January 05, 2006
Barry: A-Rod's heritage is Dominican, not at all the same as Urbina's homeland, Venezuela. Besides, A-Rod was born in the US, and only spent a few years of his early childhood in DO.
posted by cl at 09:23 PM on January 05, 2006
A-rod the most over valued player in the history of baseball !! So what he is going to play!! And it's time for our gov't to get over the Cuba thing, Castro will be gone soon enough, wouldn't it be better NOW to start extending a bit of an olive branch than alienating whoever will be running that gov't after Castro is gone?
posted by boat4000 at 10:20 PM on January 05, 2006
A-rod the most over valued player in the history of baseball How so? Also, the Cuba discussion's been done in a different thread. Let's not let it ruin this one.
posted by yerfatma at 06:07 AM on January 06, 2006
What amazes me is that a subject such as this merits any discussion at all.
posted by pizzpoor at 07:51 AM on January 06, 2006
A-Rod has turned himself into garbage, literally like the contents of my black container, with this debacle. Some of these comments are so stupid it's beyond ridiculous. Do some of these posters actually read the story? Do they have common sense? I have to believe the answer to both of these questions is, "NO." If you read the story, A-Rod says the right thing, that he doesn't want to risk offending either the U.S. or the country his family hails from. What's wrong with that? Another thing is there isn't a reporter that exists, covering baseball (especially this event) that doesn't want to know where the MVP of major league baseball is going to play, or if he's going to play. Maybe he doesn't want to! So what. That makes him "garbage?" Another brilliant mind writes that A-Rod is "the most over valued player in the history of baseball." Really? What's that based on? Show me the breakdown of production as it relates to salary for every player in baseball history. If some of these individuals can't see through their hatred/jealousy/etc. towards some of these athletes and make some sort of coherent statement, I wish they'd find another forum on which to post their inane comments.
posted by dyams at 09:37 AM on January 06, 2006
Relax, dyams. Your'e overtaxing your blood pressure meds. Not all of the posters are equal but they should be heard. Dallas Cowboy Great, Roger Staubach, wrote a book titled, I think, "First Down - Lifetime to Go" in which he equated all people as starting life with a first down but noted that some started with better field posistion and that was the only difference. An analogy that describes all of our posters. I think much more of some postings than others but I have to admit I read them all.
posted by Termite at 10:39 AM on January 06, 2006
The bigger question is, with the repeatedly feeble numbers that A-Rod has shown when he squeezes sawdust out of his bat come playoff time -- a.k.a. the games that matter -- would either the USA or DR want him in their starting lineup? Hey, he's a fabulous ballplayer, no argument, but when the games really mean something, it's guys like Scott Brosius that have been ten times bigger Mr. Clutch than anything the purse-swinging A-Rod has ever shown.
posted by the red terror at 10:48 AM on January 06, 2006
Thanks for the concern, Termite, but my blood pressure's perfect. Always has been. No meds required. As for red terror's comment about A-Rod's playoff performances, last time I checked a baseball regular season is 162 games. The MVP of the league probably had something to do with the Yankees winning that close division race last year. Is that safe to say? Plus, if I remember correctly, there were several other guys out on the field during the playoffs with A-Rod who probably could have chipped in a little more too. Being a Yankee fan I loved the way Scott Brosius came through in the playoffs while with the team. I doubt, however, that a team made up entirely of Scott Brosius' would make the playoffs after 162 regular games.
posted by dyams at 11:32 AM on January 06, 2006
You might think that what I am saying does not make sense, but the majority of people here agree with me. It is worrisome when you do not know your own nationality.
posted by Joe88 at 12:08 PM on January 06, 2006
I doubt, however, that a team made up entirely of Scott Brosius' I think the correct pluralization of Scott Brosius is Scott Brosi.
posted by HATER 187 at 12:47 PM on January 06, 2006
Dyams don't let them get to you. People only make these negative comments about Arod because they're jealous he's not on their team. They can talk all the trash that they want it doesn't change the fact that he is one of the best to ever play the game.
posted by jtrluva at 12:56 PM on January 06, 2006
the majority of people here agree with me Is there a way you could prove this to us?
posted by yerfatma at 01:05 PM on January 06, 2006
Wake up Joe. Not everyone agrees with you because you don't even make sense. Let's look at the facts here Arod didn't want to insult his country OR his ancestry. Which means he knows his nationality. Wow that makes him such a jerk doesn't it.
posted by jtrluva at 01:17 PM on January 06, 2006
"As for red terror's comment about A-Rod's playoff performances, last time I checked a baseball regular season is 162 games." Gee whiz Wally, d'ya think the WBC will be 162 games too? "The MVP of the league probably had something to do with the Yankees winning that close division race last year." And a lot to do with the playoff flame-out, too. "Is that safe to say?" Sure. He's good during regular season, and a bust during the money season. A-Rod is Steinbrenner's new Mr. May. "Plus, if I remember correctly, there were several other guys out on the field during the playoffs with A-Rod who probably could have chipped in a little more too." That's true. But I'm wondering how many of them were drawing the same salary. My guess: zero. "Being a Yankee fan I loved the way Scott Brosius came through in the playoffs while with the team. I doubt, however, that a team made up entirely of Scott Brosius' would make the playoffs after 162 regular games." Good observation. Teams need pitching as well as third-basemen.
posted by the red terror at 01:47 PM on January 06, 2006
Teams need pitching as well as third-basemen. Wait a minute. For all his "salary" don't you expect A-Rod to pitch too? Maybe that's why I never know what to expect when I watch sports! The guy who makes more money will always perform better, in every situation, than the guy making less money. Now that I know that, I'll have a much better year betting games.
posted by dyams at 03:12 PM on January 06, 2006
Sure. He's good during regular season, and a bust during the money season. A-Rod is Steinbrenner's new Mr. May. I'm sure you meant Mr. April-May-June-July-August-September-October. And in case you were wondering... ARod's playoff stats (as a Yankee): .276/.400/.508 - .908 OPS Approximate Yankees' playoff stats (in same time period): .273/.352/.439 - .791 OPS So, it looks like the rest of the Yankees let down ARod, instead of the other way 'round. (including Mr. Clutch, Derek Jeter (.271/.346/.428))
posted by grum@work at 04:22 PM on January 06, 2006
i cant wait to miss these games...now that a-rod is a part of it...ill hold by breath till opening day boys. you know this is going to be a flopp after this year...dumb idea, almost as bad as all the bullshit they do for the all star games..with the HR derby and all that nonsense. next thing you know theres going to be a ALL STAR vs CELEBRITIES softball tourney in FEBRUARY! maybe they should put in the time and efforts to MLB and all the problems they have instead of this crap.