Sorry, but “Mr. May” is already taken.

Anyhoo, I wouldn’t want the average fan running the ballclub.

ARod’s been facing better pitching than Papi, anyway…

As for ARod vs. Bonds, are we talking about the Bonds that played with the Pirates, or the Giants?

I wouldn’t sweat the issue. Arod is a lot better than Soriano, and a hell of a lot better than Aaron Boone.

I’ll get you next time, Lombardi!…NEXT TIME!

http://www.progressiveboink.com/mike/img/drclaw/madcatpet.gif

Sorry James! I have a guy in the scoreboard with spy glasses stealing your signs! [wink]

Damnit Steve, here I was all ready to write the same type of post and not only do you beat me to it, you do it in far clearer terms than I could.

He is definitely a great player and unbelieveably well-rounded but you’re right, he’s not the best player in baseball (and I’m not sure he ever was – Pujols beats him out right now and a couple of years ago, it was all Bonds). He’s the next best thing…but (I believe it is because of the contract) people hold him to the Bonds standard, which is impossible for pretty much everyone, and when he falls short of these levels, you get criticism directed towards the parts of his game that aren’t great (plate discipline, streakiness, Ks, etc.) while disregarding what he does well. However, this doesn’t stop him from trying to out play/out train/out work everyone esle…which is what makes me like him even more (and perhaps make me an A-Rod apologist).

It amazes (and annoys) me that when people act like A-Rod isn’t supposed to slump. When Jeter (or any other major star – Matsui, Sheff, etc.) slumps, he loses none or little of the sentiment that he has built up. When A-Rod slumps, any and all good times seem to be forgotten by the general fan and you start hearing the negatives that the Yanks are paying sooo much for crappy, “unclutch” production. I don’t/haven’t/will never understand it and I’m hoping to see the forthcoming reckoning where A-Rod goes boom for an entire Red Sox Series/playoff run and people start to appreciate what he is and how good he is versus what he isn’t.

The ship sailed on that one a long time ago, Steve. You know it, I know it, we all know it. Whether its true or not, ARod signed a contract befitting the “greatest player” and that’s what everyone will always look to. The expectations are so outsized that we all end up feeling disappointed when ARod doesn’t go 5-5 with 5 homers every game. It’s certainly unfair to him and it’s counterproductive but it’s just a label that’s here to stay.

I’ve gone on streaks where I hate ARod for breaking my heart as often as he does and then I remember the joy I get when he does come through and that’s all I need to get me through it. Other than Pavano and Sturtze, there isn’t a single Yankee I truly hate. The latter two, however…good fu*king riddance (if that day will ever come).