A-Rod

history in Texas doesnt support your claim that Arod puts butts in seats.

2000 2,588,401
2001 2,831,021 (Arod's first year there)
2002 2,352,397
2003 2,094,394
2004 2,513,685 (Arod's first year in NY)

So, while they saw a decent spike in 2001, by his last season, they were down almost 25% in attendance total in his time.

and your example is flawed. he wont sell anymore tickets in Chicago. they sell out whether they are in first place or last place. Other places, winning spurns attendance, not individual players.

Sure, Arod is probably the most talented player in the game. but there arent many people going to the ballpark just to see him.

I am not a huge Gammons fan, but i think he put the situation in the proper perspective. If you want to opt out of your contract, fine. but don't let your agent try to upstage the world series.

 

Don't try to read anything into this other the 2 facts that ARod is motivated by earning more money and breaking Bonds HR Record. He will go where he thinks he has the best shot of doing that. With that said he would not go to San Francisco because it's not a hitters park. Dodgers, Angels are the two most logical options. Don't look for him wearing a Cubs uniform IMO.

 

That is absurd. Jon Lester beating cancer is neat, but lots of people do that. What person wouldn't take $180+ million over being a bit player on a World Series winning team? Come on.


The Warden:
You're missing the point because of your jealousy. A lot more people can do your job than can do theirs. They are paid because they possess a rare skill that many other people value. And yes, whether you like it or not, gate receipts and advertising dollars are what drive these ridiculous salaries. If you don't like it, stop buying the products that advertise with them.

To paraphrase Babe Ruth, Bush didn't have as good a year as A-Rod did.\\

Scott Boras does what Scott Boras wants, which is generally to make the biggest ass of himself possible. You can fault Rodriguez for associating with Boras, I guess, but he's not to blame for the timing of the announcement. I hate Boras' guts, but I don't know that I wouldn't hire him if I were a baseball player.



In any case, the persistent A-Rod hate is perplexing. History is littered with big hitters who struggled in the playoffs, and it's not like his teammates were lighting things up either. Even Jeter laid a stinker this time around, although he's done well in the past (so did Rodriguez with Seattle). You never hear about A-Rod loafing, unlike a lot of major leaguers. Instead he's known for working as hard as anyone, as well as for helping young players. Michael Young, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera all look up to him and have made comments about how much he's helped them. Has anyone said that about Derek Jeter?

He produces on the field, he's a good teammate, and he doesn't say outrageous things to the media. I just don't get it. Jealousy is not a good enough reason to trash someone the way that A-Rod has been trashed.

 

With Torre? Could be.

 

The fact that he's gone out of his way to help younger teammates (and didn't even crow about it) is what gets me. The guy plays the game the right way and tries to help others. He doesn't say racist things like Sheffield. He doesn't take an F-you attitude to the media or fans like Bonds. He wasn't caught using steroids like Giambi. He hasn't whined when he didn't win awards like Pujols or Papi. He hasn't loafed like Manny. Some level of resentment is guaranteed for having such a ridiculous contract, but what did this guy do to be hated?

 

I think it's all about the contract.

 

Look, I appreciate all you do for the people. You make $30,000 a year, and yes, I think that you are underpaid and overworked. But, when is the last time that you made a company milliions of dollars for doing a 30 second ad? when's the last time you sold millions, probably billions of dollars worth of shoes because you wore that particular brand to work? Alex Rodriguez is the best player in the game, and when it's all over with, quite possibly the best player in the history of the game. A-Rod makes people money, as well as makes money himself. For every million you pay him, you will get back 5 million. He is a hell of an investment, thats all i'm saying. He deserves the money he makes because we allow it, as consumers. We buy the tickets, we watch ESPN, we buy gloves, shoes, bats, hats, etc. because we see him wearing them. A-Rod is a gold mine.

 

I don't believe that for a second. The giants were selling out games not because of their astounding record, but because Bonds was breaking the record. Other stadiums that the giants went to were sold out, because he was there. People do buy tickets to see a single player.

 

Collin & LR.....Im not jealous. I dont want his lifestyle and the attitude that he think the game revolves around him. If I had his attitude in my job, Id be hated, ostracized, and later blackballed.

Its people like him that makes me embrace high school and college athletics even more. Those kids put their heart into what they do and they play for the love of the game (most of them). I wished the pros would take a walk down memory lane and review the paths they took. If A-Rod did, maybe his tune would change and his play would be more about the love of the game instead of the love of the money.