October 30, 2007

This Just In: 'Alex Rodriguez is a Weasel' : "Since forever, baseball has had one mandate for every team: No significant news announcements during the World Series," Scott Miller writes for CBS Sports. "Opting out in the middle of a World Series game is the height of arrogance. It is the Towering Inferno of arrogance. Arrogance doesn't reach higher peaks."

read story | posted by rcade to Baseball at 1:05 PM CDT (49 comments total)

Isn't there already a thread about this, rcade?

posted by lil_brown_bat at 1:34 PM CDT on October 30

Alex Rodriguez is the best player in the game right now and likely the future Homerun king (if he stays healthy and continues the pace that he's in). Who really cares when he opted out? The World Series was pretty much already over and for people to make such a big deal over this to me is actually hilarious. Is it because he opted out from the Yankees or because he'll be getting paid around or above the $30 million dollar mark? The guy deserves to view all of his options just as any other pro athlete with an opt out clause in their contract and if anyone decides to exercise that right, then so be it.

posted by BornIcon at 1:43 PM CDT on October 30

I love the phrase 'Towering Inferno of arrogance.'

posted by tieguy at 1:53 PM CDT on October 30

Is it because he opted out from the Yankees or because he'll be getting paid around or above the $30 million dollar mark?

No, it's because he did it during the last game of the showcase event for his sport. Any other questions?

posted by yerfatma at 1:54 PM CDT on October 30

Well, let's also consider that A-Rod didn't make this announcement; it was Scott Boras. Perhaps the headline should be "Scott Boras is a weasel"... but then, that's not exactly newsworthy.

I think we can all predict the future: Alex Rodriguez will break Bonds' homerun mark, possibly in as little as 6 years, and along with that may be toppling Aaron's RBI mark and a host of other records. And when he does... he'll receive the same amount of love that Bonds did, whether unjustified or not.

posted by Hal Incandenza at 1:57 PM CDT on October 30

Isn't there already a thread about this, rcade?

I broke this off into a new post because it continues to get so much attention. Boras has apologized, but a lot of people are still fired up about it.

posted by rcade at 1:57 PM CDT on October 30

If he remains healthy, Alex Rodriguez is going to be the Home Run King. Statistics have shown that. He is the best player in the game, so long as he doesn't have to play in October. From April through Septemeber he hits for average and power on an unprecidented scale. Get him in the playoffs and he coulnd't hit a ball off a tee. I say good riddence to bad garbage in the Bronx. My only hope is that Boston will choke on him next year when Lowell is in pinstripes!

posted by dchrist669 at 1:58 PM CDT on October 30

CBS isn't done roughing up these guys. Greg Doyel: "Boras is slime. If his empire should crash and he should become homeless and blind, I'd drop a razor blade into his giving cup and tell him it was 25 cents."

Thinking about this more, I think the timing of the announcement means the Red Sox aren't in the running at all. Boras wouldn't steal their thunder if he had them nibbling at the hook.

posted by rcade at 2:02 PM CDT on October 30

Thinking about this more, I think the timing of the announcement means the Red Sox aren't in the running at all. Boras wouldn't steal their thunder if he had them nibbling at the hook.

My thoughts also. I will be shocked, shocked I tell you, if either arod signs with boston or lowell doesn't sign with boston.

I have been shocked before.

posted by justgary at 2:11 PM CDT on October 30

All this elicited from me during the eighth inning was a "meh." If anything, FOX could have chosen to wait to cover it until later.

If the series had been more exciting, I imagine FOX would have held off on the announcement.

That said, it was a minor annoyance at most - like a gnat - and certainly not something that made me think "Gee, A-Rod is even more arrogant than I thought he was."

posted by Joey Michaels at 2:22 PM CDT on October 30

Get him in the playoffs and he couldn't hit a ball off a tee.

Bonds never hit well in the playoffs either until 2002. ARod was awesome in the playoffs for Seattle.

posted by drumdance at 2:33 PM CDT on October 30

All this elicited from me during the eighth inning was a "meh." If anything, FOX could have chosen to wait to cover it until later.

If the series had been more exciting, I imagine FOX would have held off on the announcement.

Somebody hit the nail on the head right here! Arod nor Boras, no matter how arrogant, chose when to air this on TV. Hal, I sure hope that unless Arod gets caught under the PED bus, or with some 12 year old midget school boy in a hotel during a road trip, that his reception will be much better than BB's was when he set homerun history.

posted by jojomfd1 at 2:41 PM CDT on October 30

If the series had been more exciting, I imagine FOX would have held off on the announcement.

Can't imagine that at all. I'm just surprised that FOX managed to fit the A-Rod announcement in between its exhaustive coverage of a fast food promotion and reminding us about a car company's love affair with the game.

posted by cl at 2:46 PM CDT on October 30

I can't see a network getting a story as big as A Rod leaving the Yankees and sitting on it. People still remember Howard Cosell reporting the death of John Lennon during a Monday Night Football game.

posted by rcade at 3:02 PM CDT on October 30

I"m sure everyone complaining on here would just pass up on a 5 million a year raise without batting an eye. So what if 'HIS AGENT' announced it during the last game. Was there ever any question who was going to win. Who in their right mind would really want to play for hank in New York anyway. He's already making the Yankees a laughing stock

posted by van at 3:13 PM CDT on October 30

Well, let's also consider that A-Rod didn't make this announcement; it was Scott Boras.

I don't believe Boras did it without ARod's okay. In fact, ARod has never done anything to make me believe that Boras or anyone else was controlling him. Boras made the announcement, ARod knew about it, but ARod is the one who is supposed to love the game such that he wouldn't think of interrupting the game's biggest event. He obviously doesn't.

posted by bperk at 3:17 PM CDT on October 30

Call me crazy, but I think that the murder of an iconoclastic musician and activist who actually made a contribution to world culture might be a tad more meaningful to the audience than learning that yet another self-indulgent athlete is taking his ball and going home.

posted by irunfromclones at 3:20 PM CDT on October 30

Maybe the series was boring,but the last 2- 3 innings of game 4 had me on the edge of my seat,especially after that 2 run homer made the score 4-3. They could of waited to make the A-Rod announcement,but I don't really think it took any thing away from the Red Sox glory of winning their second World Series in the last 4 years.A-Rod is probably the best player in the game right now,but I personally wouldn't mind seeing the Red Sox signing Mike Lowell.If the Red Sox don't,I'm sure the Yankees are willing to offer him a decent contract.Just glad to see our Red Sox win another World Series here in Boston.A team that will be a strong contender for quite awhile. Couldn't agree with you more who wrote the above post

posted by Ghastly1 at 3:27 PM CDT on October 30

I'm just surprised that FOX managed to fit the A-Rod announcement in between its exhaustive coverage of a fast food promotion and reminding us about a car company's love affair with the game.

Here, here. Considering the shamelessly crass broadcasting job Fox did during the series, Arod's announcement was one of the less offensive moments.

posted by MKUltra at 3:38 PM CDT on October 30

I broke this off into a new post because it continues to get so much attention.

I'll remind you of that the next time another subject "continues to get so much attention". FPPs that duplicate the topic of an existing FPP have almost always been deleted in the past, no matter how much attention they continued to receive.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 3:56 PM CDT on October 30

Isn't there already a thread about this, rcade?

I broke this off into a new post because it continues to get so much attention. Boras has apologized, but a lot of people are still fired up about it.

So, let's keep stirring the pot.

posted by tommytrump at 3:56 PM CDT on October 30

C'mon let's not get on the Fox broadcasters to much. Only thing I hate about Joe Buck is reminding me of a truly great announcer (Jack Buck). And I have to turn down the volumn because talent of his sort comes along once in lifetime and pales in comparision to most of the personalities of today. Oh ya, "A-rod is a weasel". Just not to get off the subject and not an orginal quote.

posted by brickman at 4:29 PM CDT on October 30

The Towering Inferno fo Arrogance will eventually, most likely, leave people scratching their heads with his new team. If he joins the Angels, they are Yankees enemy #2, if he joind Boston, well it is Bambino other way around. If he joins the Giants, as most believe he will, he will join a former NY team, and former home of another albatross. If he joins the Mets, it is a disaster for the Yanks and Girardi to open the new stadium with MVP in the other new stadium. If he joins the Dodgers, he will join Torre and God knows how many ex Yankees there (Mattingly, Long, Thomson, and Olney is now reporting Pettitte is looking West, not to mention Tony Pena is in limbo right now). With the Cubs, he joins the man who was traded to get him into the hell he got himself into, plus his ex skipper/mentor/father Sweet Lou. If he joins the Phils, it is the team that nearly got him in 06. If he joins the M's again, the world is a time machine. The Marlins, and they are looking at title #3.

posted by SFValley_Dude at 4:30 PM CDT on October 30

If the Red Sox don't,I'm sure the Yankees are willing to offer him a decent contract.

It kind of looks as if he doesn't really want to play there, Ghastly1. Not sure though, but why else would he have opted out of his contract with the Yankee's?

posted by jojomfd1 at 4:33 PM CDT on October 30

FPPs that duplicate the topic of an existing FPP have almost always been deleted in the past ...

Complaints like this belong in the Locker Room.

posted by rcade at 4:41 PM CDT on October 30

At first I thought it was kind of inappropriate to announce A-rod's opting out of his contract. But Papelbon's reaction at the last strike out kind of wiped it from my mind.

Congrats to the Boston Red Sox, World Series Champions.

posted by steelergirl at 5:56 PM CDT on October 30

First of all. Congratulations to the BoSox. Second, did anyone bother to check if A-Rod had anything to do with the announcement, or, more likely was it the work of his bottom feeding agent Boras(S)?

"First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers/(agents) - William Shakespeare

posted by Tinman at 6:05 PM CDT on October 30

I can't see a network getting a story as big as A Rod leaving the Yankees and sitting on it. People still remember Howard Cosell reporting the death of John Lennon during a Monday Night Football game.

Great. John Lennon and ARod in the same thought. Now I need to throw up.

Call me crazy, but I think that the murder of an iconoclastic musician and activist who actually made a contribution to world culture might be a tad more meaningful to the audience than learning that yet another self-indulgent athlete is taking his ball and going home.

No, no, no - these is the internets and around here John Q. Public is an ignorant jackass. Plus, he needs to know these important tidbits for his keeper league.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 6:08 PM CDT on October 30

"My only hope is that Boston will choke on him next year when Lowell is in pinstripes!

posted by dchrist669 at 1:58 PM CST on October 30"

So you hope.

The Yankees getting Lowell will give them the quiet REAL leader the team lost when Paul O'Neil hung up his cleats. I do not see the Boston management team being clueless enough to allow that to happen.

posted by Cave_Man at 6:13 PM CDT on October 30

I'm sure the Red Sox are going to make sure,or at least I hope they make sure the Yankees don't get Lowell.Like Cave said above,I don't see Boston management letting that happen.

posted by Ghastly1 at 6:30 PM CDT on October 30

If he joins the Giants, as most believe he will,

I don't know who you think "most" people are, but it's the Angels (and the latino connection with Moreno) who are the front runners. Then maybe the Dodgers (with Torre).

The Giants are an old and crappy team. Why would he join them?

I'm sure the Red Sox are going to make sure,or at least I hope they make sure the Yankees don't get Lowell.

Just like they did with Damon?

The Yankees getting Lowell will give them the quiet REAL leader the team lost when Paul O'Neil hung up his cleats.

If you thought Paul O'Neill was "quiet", then you obviously have the TV on mute.

"O'Neill famously was his own worst critic, seemingly never satisfied with his own performance and known for his emotion on the field; when disappointed with his performance or angry with an umpire's decision he would attack water coolers or toss bats on the field. His tirades were both praised and criticized by the media and fans. Most fans outside of New York generally regarded him as immature and whiny for his tantrums, and that perception surely had its merits." (from here)

posted by grum@work at 7:41 PM CDT on October 30

"O'Neill famously was his own worst critic, seemingly never satisfied with his own performance and known for his emotion on the field; when disappointed with his performance or angry with an umpire's decision he would attack water coolers or toss bats on the field. His tirades were both praised and criticized by the media and fans. Most fans outside of New York generally regarded him as immature and whiny for his tantrums, and that perception surely had its merits." (from here)

posted by grum@work at 7:41 PM CST on October 30

Yes, he was a winner. Winners are never satisfied, if they were, they would cease to be winners. The Yankees no longer have such a person among their players. I do not see them getting Lowell or Shilling, the Yankees getting either would be bad news for the Boston team.

posted by Cave_Man at 8:34 PM CDT on October 30

Winners are never satisfied, if they were, they would cease to be winners. The Yankees no longer have such a person among their players.

You just made all the Derek Jeter fans very, very angry.

posted by grum@work at 8:44 PM CDT on October 30

Well ,the yanks got rid of a guy who earned $10,400 for every pitch that came over the plate.The giants give Zito $5,700 for every pitch he throws ,strike or ball.Bonds received only $6,600 a pitch,the piker.The Rod will probably be asking at least $15,000 a pitch.That one pitch value is a family entertainment budget for 10 years. What great Guys.

posted by papajohn at 9:24 PM CDT on October 30

Why is this an issue?

Really, I don't understand what the big deal is.

posted by sic at 5:11 AM CDT on October 31

Harry Carey forever!!

Mmmm, this is good irony. Really, you guys should try some. You know who loved irony? Harry Caray.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 5:39 AM CDT on October 31

Winners are never satisfied, if they were, they would cease to be winners. The Yankees no longer have such a person among their players.

This could possibly the worst comment's of this entire thread, and it still has a long way to go!

posted by jojomfd1 at 7:07 AM CDT on October 31

I don't believe Boras did it without ARod's okay.

Well, yeah, but I suspect it was Boras' idea. If someone who had previously gotten you the biggest contract in the history of the game came to you and said "here's my idea, let's announce it during the WS", would you say no? Remember, A-Rod is a player, not a fan who obsesses over this stuff every day like people here do.

A-Rod does not strike me as particularly media savvy - he just does what his advisors tell him, and when he doesn't it backfires. I'm sure his publicist gave him a course in gotcha media, and he goes and gets photographed with a stripper?

posted by drumdance at 9:04 AM CDT on October 31

IMO, his snubbing of Hank Aaron and the award ceremony is a bigger display of poor character than the timing of the contract announcement.

Regarding Lowell, everyone knows he's going to the Nationals ;)

posted by exogenous at 9:06 AM CDT on October 31

If someone who had previously gotten you the biggest contract in the history of the game came to you and said "here's my idea, let's announce it during the WS", would you say no?

If you respect the Series and the accomplishment of the players who got there, you order your agent not to do it. If A Rod is still a babe in the woods who "does what his advisors tell him," he shouldn't get a free pass for being such a putz.

posted by rcade at 11:17 AM CDT on October 31

I think it's kind of interesting that the big name being tossed around this offseason (ok, maybe not THE big name) is Lowell. How quickly he became an integral cog in the Red Sox lineup, now being regarded as somewhat indispenseable, when he was basically a throw in with Beckett in the trade with the Marlins.

Makes one think that Epstein might actually have some idea what he's doing, doesn't it? Do you think Yankeedom cringes any time thay hear Theo has been in touch with the Marlins?

posted by tahoemoj at 11:59 AM CDT on October 31

Makes one think that Epstein might actually have some idea what he's doing, doesn't it?

Not really. He was just that, a throw in. It came out during the world series that theo and crew were very close to getting rid of lowell, manny, and other veterans and rebuilding after last years third place finish. So no, I don't think Theo had any idea lowell would have such a good year.

Really, I don't understand what the big deal is.

If on your sister's wedding day you get all romantic and propose to your girlfriend and she says yes it's probably best not to announce it until after the wedding day. There is a percentage of people that would say screw it, I don't care, I'm not waiting. There is also percentage of people that have no problem with arod announcing it during the world series. I would bet, however, that most people do think it was classless. Boras knew that which is why the apology rings hollow.

Just like they did with Damon?

Damon wanted to play in NY. Damon never came back with the yankees offer to see if the Sox would match or better it. So it was out of their hands. You can't bring back someone that wants to play somewhere else. So unless lowell is lying and he really wants to move on, the two situations have little in common.

posted by justgary at 12:21 PM CDT on October 31

Not really. He was just that, a throw in.

On top of that, Theo wasn't around when the deal was made. That was Larry Lucchino's baby.

posted by yerfatma at 1:29 PM CDT on October 31

Toledo Mud Hens offer A-Rod a contract.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 8:37 PM CDT on November 1

Theo wasn't around when the deal was made

Kinda caught me talkin out of my you-know-what. I was just trying to point out what an important player he became, though he was really a salary dump on the Marlins part. I am, however, shamelessly proud of my lack of knowledge of the Sox front office (if it wasn't all over the news last week, I couldn't have told you who will manage the Reds next year! After all, it's hockey season.) Let me be more general.

Makes me think someone knew something in the Sox front office.

posted by tahoemoj at 11:56 AM CDT on November 2

Is this guy's nickname A-Rod or A-Hole?

posted by SportsNarrative at 7:28 AM CDT on November 3

I see what you did there.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 8:47 AM CDT on November 3

Is this guy's nickname A-Rod or A-Hole?

Goodness gracious, I'm having a Risky Business moment here...

posted by lil_brown_bat at 6:36 AM CDT on November 4

Timing of Boras’s Bluff May Prove Costly

posted by justgary at 11:40 AM CDT on November 6

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