Feb 15
The Mighty Quinn Media Machine looks back to February 14, 2004 – aka A-Rod Day.
It was a big deal back then, huh? I even remember Billy Crystal working a ‘Yankees got A-Rod!’ reference into his movie-clip bit that he did at the opening of the Oscars that year.
I guess I could nitpick and say that it was not until February 16, 2004 that Bud Selig approved the deal. So, that’s the official date of the trade. But, that’s small change.
I have to be honest. I was thrilled at the time the trade was made – walking on air. And, I never would have guessed, in a million years, that the last three years (in total) would have played out the way that they did for Alex and the Yankees.
7 Responses to “Three Years Ago, Some Time This Week”
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February 15th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Everyone was thrilled that day and no one ever thought we’d be where we are right now. Absolutely nobody. However, I am still holding out hope that ARod does get his sh|t together.
I still feel the Yankees were better off with ARod than Soriano, I just never imagined how much attention he would be generating.
Maybe Yankee fans are just spoiled because he hasn’t been a “bum” in the true sense of the word. And he hasn’t done anything controversial, but he is still paying for that slap of Arroyo and he’ll continue to pay for that slap – from both Sux and Yankee fans. If that never would have happened then I’d like to think things would have been different.
With the Yanks losing the way they did in 2004, he became the poster child of all the vitriol from Saux fans who wanted someone to make fun of, and Yankee fans who wanted someone to blame. When the Yankees needed the big hit, he committed a big hand slap. When the Yankees needed him to drive in Cairo from 3rd, he struck-out. That’s when it all manifested itself and ARod has not been able to put a stop to the avalanche that’s about to crash in on him. He’ll never feel more loved if he’s able to be the hero, but he’ll never feel more heat if he’s not able to get himself out of the rut he’s put himself into.
Time isn’t on his side and if I were a betting man, I’d probably bet he won’t survive any longer in NY after this year. I’d like to be proved wrong, but ARod is better off somewhere else and thinking back to that day then that makes this situation all the more sad.
ARod, keep it simple…..just prove us all wrong and handle your business already.
February 15th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I never would have guessed, in a million years, that the last three years (in total) would have played out the way that they did for Alex and the Yankees.
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An understatement, if I ever heard one…
Regular season, statistically? Yes. But the postseason, from “the slap” in 2004, to the DP in 2005, to batting 8th in 2006, along with the “all ARod, all the time” media coverage this past season… I mean he can’t release a children’s book without getting negative coverage.
February 15th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I think that what I never anticipated was the lingering effect of this passage from the Esquire article below (Note Mike Lupica’s involvement). What happened was, I think, that Yankee fans ended up having to choose between ARod and Jeter. That should never have happened.
Me: “‘The clarity and beauty of the game’–like you said before. That says it all.”
“Hah. Tell Mike Lupica that,” Boras says.
“He’s killin’ me, man,” says A-Rod.
“Eleven times he left his job to go for higher compensation,” Boras says.
“He kills me on national TV,” says Alex, his voice rising. “On The Sports Reporters. I would like to ask that guy, What would you do if you had this guarantee? He’s barkin’, ‘You wanna win? Seattle gave you a winner.’ So what? I made a business decision. An economic decision. It was simple.”
“The thing that bothers me the most,” Boras says, “is that this guy doesn’t understand baseball. He doesn’t understand why Seattle won last year. This year he’s gonna find out why they won.”
Alex is unsmiling, hard-faced. “The thing about Mike Lupica that pisses me off,” he says, “is that he makes me look like the biggest dickhead in the world, and then he takes a guy like Jeter and just puts him way up there.”
So much for the brotherhood of shortstops united under the fatherhood of Honus Wagner.
“There’s a big difference,” says Boras. “Jeter had seventy-one RBIs and fifteen home runs. Jeter and Nomar last year had fifteen and twenty-one home runs. You can have a golden bulldozer, but if there’s no dirt to push…”
“Jeter’s been blessed with great talent around him,” Alex says. “He’s never had to lead. He can just go and play and have fun. And he hits second–that’s totally different than third and fourth in a lineup. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie and O’Neill. You never say, Don’t let Derek beat you. He’s never your concern.”
“Remember,” Boras says, “when the troops are marching, who’s the first to die?”
“The leader of the pack,” Alex answers.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Another thing that’s ironic about the Esquire quote is that more than one writer, in their Bernie valedictories written over the last few days, have essentially said the same thing that Rodriguez said.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I remember being out at dinner and seeing the story on a TV near the bar.
I was stunned, but I don’t remember overwhelming feelings of joy. I think I was just happy that we had stolen him from Boston.
Ah, hindsight.
February 15th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
What happened was, I think, that Yankee fans ended up having to choose between ARod and Jeter.
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It seems that way. But why does it have to be that way? Why can’t people like both? Why does it have to be one or the other?
Besides, it’s always been Jeter’s team. Hell, it can be argued that Rodriguez gave up a HoF SS career to play second banana to Jeter.
February 15th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
~~But why does it have to be that way? Why can’t people like both? Why does it have to be one or the other?~~
I agree. I like them both.
ARod shouldn’t have said those things about a friend. But, reading the article, seeing that the context of the arguably true remarks was part of a rant against Mike Lupica and, given that ARod profusely apologized to Jeter immediately, I think that Jeter should just let his grudge go. That is what a team leader would do.