Men’s Journal Survey Not Kind To A-Rod, Swisher & Joba
Via WFAN -
Alex Rodriguez isn’t beloved among his peers.
The slugger, who continued his assault on the record books Tuesday night, was voted by 100 big-league baseball players as the sport’s second-most hated star (10 percent) behind White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (34 percent) in a “secret survey” by Men’s Journal.
And look who came in third with 9 percentage points: jovial Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher.
“Everything about (Swisher) is annoying, from his mannerisms to his always wanting to ‘bro’ it down,” an unnamed American League veteran told the magazine. “Being around him is just exhausting.”
The full results will be released in the July 2012 issue of Men’s Journal, scheduled to hit newsstands June 15.
Injured Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain took home the unflattering prize of “most overrated.”
“If Joba didn’t play in New York, no one would know him,” one player said.
Not shocking.
Meh…who cares what other MLB’ers think about their peers?
These “surveys” (I’ve put the word in quotes because I imagine the editors want to ilicit a certain result or group of names from the question) come out once a year and it’s always one part jealousy and one part the benefit of anonymity.
Nothing interesting or original about this iteration of the same tired meme…
Is 10% still one out of ten? If it still is, then that’s not so bad. AJ being the leader here by a 3x as much is way worse, but since there are two Yankees then this story has more legs.
@ MJ Recanati:
If Swisher played for another team, other than the Yankees, you wouldn’t think he was a horse’s ass?
@ Garcia:
It would make more sense if players surveyed could list more than one player.
For example, if surveyed and they could only name one person, most would choose Hitler as a total dick. But, that doesn’t mean that whomever was next, say, Bin Laden, was not that bad of a guy since he only got 10% of the vote. It just means that there’s a bigger dick compared to him being a total dick.
Steve L. wrote:
Nope. I liked Swisher when he was on the A’s and White Sox as well. I find his personality to be amusing and light-hearted and I wish more players were like him.
Now, if some current or ex-teammates don’t like him, that’s a different story. But since I don’t share a clubhouse, charter plain, team bus or dugout with him, I’m perfectly fine with a guy that outwardly displays his love of the game and interacts with fans.
MJ Recanati wrote:
*plane. Jesus, that’s a horrible typo right there.
@ MJ Recanati:
I’d like and did like Swisher too. I can’t really think of any current Yanks that I would dislike if they weren’t in pinstripes. Maybe Arod. There quite a few guys that I could never accept if they came over. Paps, Youk, Beckett, Manny, BJ Upton.
clintfsu813 wrote:
I’m 100% in agreement with that list. I’d also add Delmon Young and Torii Hunter. The latter is a nice guy but his comments about the Yankees a few years ago pissed me off and I haven’t forgiven him.
Given some of the characters that have passed through the Yankees organization over the years (Steve Howe, Billy Martin, Luis Polonia), Swisher and Rodriguez are pretty tame compared to them.
I have grown tired of this type of thing.
You know who’s most overrated in the NFL? Eli Manning, just about every year.
Who don’t other players like? Who…cares?
@ Evan3457:
I enjoy hearing stories about how guys are great teammates – like Mickey Mantle was…
On the flip side, it’s also interesting to hear about who was not like this – like Mel Hall was…
It’s also interesting to hear about who is a great guy…like a Jim Thome or Johnny Damon…
And, who is a jerk, like Swisher.
Steve L. wrote:
I thought Swisher’s teammates like him, whereas this poll is Swisher getting blasted, anonymously, by players on other teams.
Again: most overrated New York Giants for years and years…Eli Manning.
But all that’s being taken down and sunk into the memory hole, now that he’s won it all a 2nd time, and a 2nd Super Bowl MVP.
@ Evan3457:
I’ve heard from someone who has access to those with channels into the Yankees clubhouse that some, including CC, are very tired of Swisher’s act.
But, it’s not the Yankees way to air that stuff out in public, these days.
Steve L. wrote:
Re-read the quote in the article. Never says anything about Swisher being a jerk.
Evan3457 wrote:
Yep.
Steve L. wrote:
I heard it from someone who heard it from someone who heard it from someone that someone else might be tired of someone’s behavior.
Yep, that’s reliable info right there.
Evan3457 wrote:
That’s great! Man I love me some Eli, haters gon’ hate.
Steve L. wrote:
Where have you heard that heard that Swisher is an awful teammate? All you hear from Yankee brass, their manager, and teammates is how awesome Swish is as a teammate. Link please?
Garcia wrote:
And, they said the same things about Burnett until they traded him.
You’re a smart guy. Don’t believe everything that you hear on YES or read in the papers. The Yankees control most of that stuff.
@ Steve L.:
So since Burnett was traded you’ve heard some bad things about him as a teammate? I’m sorry, I sure haven’t. Link?
I don’t really watch much of YES other than the baseball games, and during football season when they have ‘Giants weekly’. I actually enjoy SNY much more as a network overall.
Steve L. wrote:
Agreed, because most stuff in New York’s tabloids are pure fabrications based on anonymous sources that don’t exist. It’s why all the crap about clubhouse politics and who likes whom is baloney, much like the Men’s Journal column that inspired this post.
Steve L. wrote:
And then came “Ball Four”
Steve L. wrote:
The way I’ve seen it applied is that we’re not supposed to believe everything, unless we agree with it.
Raf wrote:
Bingo. http://www.independentliving.com/images/118746.JPG
Steve L. wrote:
OK, so lemme get this straight…
When the newspapers report that the other Yanks’ players like Swisher, I’m NOT supposed to believe that, but I am supposed to believe a report of an anonymous poll of major league players from Men’s Journal, and further, I’m supposed to believe their judgement of Swisher is valid.
Got it.
Since the Men’s Journal story is in synch with what I see with my own eyes and in line with what my source told me, I believe it.
Your milage may vary.
Raf wrote:
(nods)
Steve L. wrote:
As Raf said, “[W]e’re not supposed to believe everything [we read or hear], unless we agree with it.”
You don’t like Swisher so anything that corroborates your opinion is valid. The overall marketplace generally values Brian Cashman as a good GM but you’re the wise contrarian seer that understands what no one else can comprehend.
In other words, your subjectivity is objective but everyone else’s objectivity is subjective. Got it.
And, what happens next season when Swisher signs on to play RF for the Red Sox?
Steve L. wrote:
Same thing that happened when Cone and Wells pitched in Boston. I liked ‘em both when they were here and accepted that they had moved on. I won’t hate the player, only the laundry.
Steve L. wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
Steve L. wrote:
I should also mention that, in light of the Andre Ethier contract extension, I don’t think the Red Sox will have much space in their budget for what Swisher will demand.
@ MJ Recanati:
He may not get what he demands and will have to settle.
Steve L. wrote:
Given MLB ownership successfully clamping down on the cost of signing amateurs via IFA and the draft, I highly doubt that there will be much bargain hunting via MLB free agency.
In theory, yes, he may not get what he demands and may have to settle. But the same could be said of every single free agent. Realistically, I think he’ll get more than Boston can afford to pay. Boston is pretty well leveraged at this point.
BTW, just for the record, I don’t want anyone to think I am against high energy players. In fact, it’s the opposite, I think that every team should have at least one among their starters.
In his prime, I loved the way that Orlando Hudson carried himself on the field. The greatest player? No. But, it was clear that he had a passion for being out there and was making an effort to create some contagious energy.
And, it seemed sincere with Hudson. Swisher? It just seems like an act. As the players call it, eyewash. Like he’s working on launching his second career with ESPN or the MLB Network already.
Somewhat like he wants to be the next Kevin Millar.
@ MJ Recanati:
If Swishers BA and OBA stay at the levels they’re out now, he’s not helping himself on the market.
Steve L. wrote:
Bad contract years haven’t stopped owners and GM’s from doling out big money before. I’ve begun to come around to the idea that good walk years help but bad walk years don’t hurt. Especially now that the only way MLB clubs in the bottom half of the draft pool can help themselves is via MLB free agency, I don’t see prices being depressed this winter.
Steve L. wrote:
It might seem like an act to you but that’s also because you’re already predisposed to thinking so.
MJ Recanati wrote:
Nah. It’s just my BS detector flying off the charts with Swish.
Brett Gardner does charity work. Brett Gardner hustles in the field. Brett Gardner is a high engery player. And, I don’t think he’s an act.
Steve L. wrote:
Again, it’s your BS detector, not a patented, approved, commonly-accepted BS detector. Once again you’re trying to pass off your subjectivity as objectivity.
As Raf said, confirmation bias.
Well, why would anyone else’s opinion mean more to me than my own?
Steve L. wrote:
It wouldn’t, if you’re simply speaking about your own opinion. For example, “in my opinion, Nick Swisher is a phony.”
But when you’re trying to sell your opinion as fact, making declarative statements based on hearsay and using your opinion as fact to create a logical circle, that’s a different story.
The former is perfectly acceptable. A discussion on the latter is the nature of these comments in this thread.