Wow. This is quite the debate going on here about A-Rod and Madonna. I did a post on my blog today about Cashman, but it’s the photo of Madonna that got more comments. Slow news day, I guess.

Yank Crank
I understand what you’re saying, but other than some poor stretches in recent postseasons (and who CAN’T you say that about on Yankee teams of late) when has A-Rod not performed? I don’t want to get into the unclutch argument, because you can take either side and argue it until you’re blue in the face and still not have a conclusive answer. A-Rod has put up MVP caliber numbers for his entire tenure in New York and all of them have come during some pretty distracting times: being booed by hometown fans, being stalked by the paparazzi, a highly publicized break-up and divorce, etc. People have said it’s all been a distraction for A-Rod, but the stats don’t really support that claim. If he was able to do all of that while “distracted” maybe being happy in his personal life will allow him to play even better. Regardless, it’s the offseason and he can spend it doing whatever he wants. I wouldn’t worry about him being out of shape at all. From all appearances Madonna is probably more of a gym rat than he is. I hope to god I’m in that type of shape when I’m 50.

Yank Crank

I think you are holding him to a higher level of scrutiny. All players have off field lives and some are as or more complicated than Alex’s. You just don’t hear about them.

Who is going to toe the rubber every 5 days is a bigger concern to me than A-rod’s “mental fragility”.

Throwstrikes, i’m not slamming A-Rod here. You’re defending him like I hate the guy and think he’s terrible. I stated above he’s our most talented and most important Yankee. I refer to his mental fragility because of what we all see. He presses a lot under pressure and tries too hard. We’ve seen it, Torre said it for years to the media…it’s what he does.

Throwstrikes:

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying. Baseball players take time off after the season to attend to their personal agendas; that’s cool. Nobody worries if Jeter is off with some girl in Texas, or if Damon is in Thailand or if Giambi is in Vegas partying it up every night chugging Jack at the clubs. That’s cool. My only point is, and this is where we seem to disagree, is just with A-Rod. He generally worries me. You say you only care about what he does between the lines and not between the sheets, but my worry is what he does between the sheets, or his personal life in general, will cause a problem with what he does between the lines. Like I said before, can I be wrong and eat my own words? Yes, and I hope i’m wrong, but I don’t trust Alex’s judgement and I worry that he is so mentally fragile that any added distractions, plus his divorce, will screw with his agenda. You can disagree, and that’s cool, but i’m not the only Yankee fan who looks at A-Rod/Madonna headlines and thinks “Great, just what he needs.”

Yank Crank

Fragile Mentality? Name me the human being who has handled the pressure and scrutiny better than A-Rod has. If his mentality was so fragile, he wouldn’t still be wearing pinstripes and performing at the levels he has.

I’m a big believer in what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

bfriley

Maybe Mr. Coffee will be looking for a new spokesperson.

YankCrank

“but he continues to show up and be the DJ that delivers what we expect.”

Have your expectations of Jeter really fallen that low that you were happy with what he contributed the last few years? In the last 2 years, A-Rod has contributed more to the Yankees than Jeter has and that includes the post-season.

Johnny Damon spent weeks in Thailand last off season. Did people have a problem with it? No, because most never knew because the paparazzi didn’t care. Those who did know didn’t begrudge him a little “me” time after a long season.

One thing no one can ever say about A-Rod is that he doesn’t work hard and isn’t prepared. If dating a 90 year old great grandmother of 12 made A-Rod happy, I say go for it. All I care about is what he does between the lines and not between the sheets.

Shame on you Arod. Spending time with your girlfriend during the offseason. And seriously, why would you get involved with her in the first place? There’s no way a Yankee could ever have any success while being romantically involved with one of the most famous women in the world.

Was this the DJ from last year that grounded into just as many double plays or grounded out with runners in scoring position?
Two yrs ago, Arod had more controversy during the season ( remember HA & the girl in toronto?) than last season, yet he had a season to remember. Last year he still had a decent season, yet he continues to be held under a bigger microscope.
I am a fan and have been one my entire life and YankCrank, I am sure you wish that right now, you would like to have his life.