Regardless, Cabrera didn’t play the 2009 season on a bum knee like Giambi did in 2003.

Detroit Tigers fans would disagree on that night game thing, after the Miguel Cabrera .26 BAC debacle.

lisaswan wrote:

Giambi: The player who stunned his teammates by begging out of starting Game 5 of the 2003 World Series, after reportedly spending the night before partying with RIcky Williams.

Begging out of starting game 5, or was pulled because of his knee? I can’t see how staying out late would have any effect, especially considering that the game was a night game.

@MJ: Exactly. It’s going to be interesting to what happens to A-Rod’s legacy, now that he’s the No. 1 reason that Yankees are about to win No. 27. My guess is that a lot of the haters will still hate him, as the no rings/choking/true Yankee nonsense was just a smokescreen to cover up the fact that they *just don’t like the guy.*

I’ve heard good things about Jason Giambi being a likeable guy/fan-friendly, but he still quit on the Yankees in their last chance until now of winning a World Series. Yet he never got the grief A-Rod did. Why? Because of all his other glittering World Series rings? Because he “only” made $22 M a year? Because he once hit a walkoff in the rain? Good grief.

MJ wrote:

Evan3457 wrote:

I seem to recall one Darryl Strawberry looking to take on just about the entire Orioles’ team in the ALCS of 1996…or is my memory failing me?

I recall Darryl destroying Armando Benitez in 1998 after Benitez had plunked Tino. Maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?

To be honest, I don’t even remember Darryl being on the 1996 ballclub.

No, I’m sure he was on the team in 1996, and he had a great ALCS vs. the O’s.

Maybe the fight was about Tino getting plunked in 1998 regular season. I might be confusing the two.

Well, my original point stands; the Dynasty teams fought when they had to. They just didn’t want to.

lisaswan wrote:

You know what? A-Rod could prance around in a dress and heels as far as I’m concerned, but he’s still shown more guts than Giambi’s faux-tough guy act ever did.

Agree completely, Lisa. Giambi seemed like a nice enough guy and, eventually, I even grew to like him and appreciate him (I hated him at first). But he was definitely no leader and he was definitely no gamer.

A-Rod plays hard and plays hurt every game, every day. Everyone forgets this.

As for the signature of Giambi vs. A-Rod, here’s how I see it:

* Giambi: The player who stunned his teammates by begging out of starting Game 5 of the 2003 World Series, after reportedly spending the night before partying with RIcky Williams.

* Rodriguez: This player who busted his butt coming back from torn labrum surgery for the good of the team, and who had 15 RBI – and three critical late-inning playoff homers (and one World Series game winning-hit) – to get his team within one game of winning the World Series. Yet some fans still think he’s a wimp.

You know what? A-Rod could prance around in a dress and heels as far as I’m concerned, but he’s still shown more guts than Giambi’s faux-tough guy act ever did.

Corey wrote:

@ lisaswan:
Jeter’s swing causes him to dive out over the plate, that explains him.

Agreed, 1,000%

lisaswan wrote:

Not your best argument, Steve. Jason Giambi is one of the best-liked guys in baseball, yet he’s been plunked more often. How do you explain that?

Think about the “signature” HBP for Giambi and A-Rod. For Giambi, it’s Don-Baylor-ish, crowding the plate, not budging, and taking one off the upper-arm-tricep, and then taking the base. For A-Rod, it’s turning in, pointing his rump towards the field, taking one in the small of the back, between the numbers, and dropping the bat like a member of the Village People just being told that he’s holding a power tool.

Pitches hit Giambi often because he wants to get hit. Pitches hit A-Rod often because they want to hit him.

MJ wrote:

To be honest, I don’t even remember Darryl being on the 1996 ballclub.

Really? I remember him being there in 95 and 96. Both were partial seasons. I remember he was signed in 96 after destroying the league as a St Paul Saint; I think he batted near .500 with them.

Now that I think about it, I wonder if him not playing over Reuben Sierra in the 95 ALDS cost them?