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| Clutch God?
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Alex Rodriguez is set to make his post-steroids debut in New York City tonight. We really have no idea how the crowd will react, and given all that has happened since last fall, Rodriguez probably has more than a few butterflies in his stomach.
But this isn't the first time Rodriguez has had to face the fans following some bad or, at the very least, dubious press. Not by a longshot! So, because we have nothing better to do, why don't we take a look Alex Rodriguez's historical post-P.R. performances to see how clutch he really is:
Date: July 8, 1994
Event: A year after some contentious contract negotiations, Rodriguez makes his Major League debut.
Result: 0-3, batting ninth against Chuck Nabholz and the Red Sox.
Date: July 8, 1996
Event: A-Rod's first Sports Illustrated cover, in which he's labeled baseball's "Hot Player."
Result: the next day is his first All-Star game. He goes 0-1.
Date: May 11, 1998
Event: People magazine names Rodriguez one of its 50 Most Beautiful People in the World.
Result: next game is May 12th against the Tigers. He goes 1-4 with a solo homer.
Date: April 7, 1999
Event: first ever trip to the disabled list (torn knee cartilage).
Result: first game back is May 14th, and he goes 2-5 with a home run.
Date: June 29, 2000
Event: Rodriguez is named to People magazine's "America's 100 Most Eligible Bachelors" list.
Result: 0-3 with a walk and a stolen base against the Angels later that day.
Date: December 11, 2000
Event: Rodriguez signs a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
Result: 2-4 in an 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays on the following opening day.
Date: February 15, 2004
Event: Traded to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano and other assorted junk.
Result: 1-4 with a double in an 8-3 loss to the Devil Rays on opening day.
Date: October 19, 2004
Event: Rodriguez slaps the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's hands in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the ALCS.
Result: He goes 0-4 with a strikeout in Game 7.
Date: September 25, 2006
Event: A-Rod quoted in Sports Illustrated saying "When people write bad things about me, I don't know if it's because I'm good-looking, I'm biracial, I make the most money, I play on the most popular team . . ." Also mentions that Boston was his first choice.
Result: 2-3 with a double and an RBI against the Devil Rays.
Date: May 29, 2007
Event: The New York Post runs pictures of Rodriguez leaving a Toronto strip club with stripper Joslyn Noel Morse.
Result: 1-4 with a double in a 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays.
Date: May 30, 2007
Event: Rodriguez dekes Jays' third baseman Howie Clark by yelling "I got it" while running behind him, causing him to back off the ball.
Result: 1-3 with a BB and two runs scored the next night against the Red Sox.
Date: October 28, 2007
Event: Rodriguez actually opts-out during Game 4 of the World Series.
Result: 2-3 with a double and an RBI on opening day 2008 against the Blue Jays.
Date: July 7, 2008
Event: Cynthia Rodriguez files for divorce.
Result: 0-4 with 2 Ks against the Devil Rays.
Date: March 5, 2009
Event: It's announced that Rodriguez will miss at least the first month of the season for hip surgery.
Result: 1-4 with a home run and 3 RBI in his return on May 8th against the Orioles.
The Upshot: following bad publicity, Alex Rodriguez is a .265 hitter (13 for 49) with very little power. As such, I predict that tonight he will go 1-4 with a walk against the Twins.
Mark it down.
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Wanna know what else you can mark down: The fans will rise and cheer the heck out of him. Because, dammit, he might be a steroid user, but he's OUR steroid user.
Have you seen this act before?
Just wait until July 3rd to see it again.
Jason is 100% right about his July 3rd prediction, but I don't know if Rodriguez will get cheered by the Yankee fans. At least not in his first at bat. And if he fails to come through in the clutch, he will get loudly booed. However, if he hits a homerun, THEN he will be cheered by the Yankee fans as "our steroid user."
He will get a standing O.
Why July 3? What happens then?
Freaking A right he will be cheered for putting up with all the crap from the press.
Rodriguez is a cheater and a liar - why anybody would stand and cheer him is beyond me. Has there been any good information to surface about this guy - his charity work, his family life - no. His argument - he felt tremendous pressure to deliver is so lame. He claims his work ethic is what separates him - but what separated him was drugs. He always talks about his God-given talent. In the end Karma will catch up to him. I hope he never gets to pour champagne over his team mates heads in celebration. I would be much easier on him if he told the truth like Giambi and Pettit (although I believe there is more to his story too). It's like waterboarding - if you are gonna do it - say so, stand up and say we will do anything to protect our citizens. But Clemens, Bonds and ARod should all be denied the Hall of Fame because they cheated and lied about it. If they come clean - that might make a difference. If you can't tell they are lying you are probably on steroids.
GeeezString,
Why are you such a hater? Sounds like you're a Red Sox fan to me and what does waterbording have to do with doing steroids? If they come clean it might make a difference what difference? They still used steroids !!!!!
Rudy O,
Hate is such a strong word. But I do hate to see guys claim God given talent and hard work - then we find out they are cheaters. I am not a Red Sox fan - that sounds like hate from you. I like a lot about the Yankee's: Jeter, their ball park and tradition. I love seeing that spending all of that money has not done the trick lately and the empty seats in the expensive sections. I like Damon and Matsui and Rivera. You are not paying attention to the details - I have no problem what they used when it was not banned and generally "accepted" by the players. But once they got caught, and after it was banned they still keep using - yes, I have a problem with that versus a guy who admits it and then gives it up. You know what the problem is when they quit - their stats go down and so does their Hall of Fame chances. Bonds and Clemens are both lying cheaters and so it turns out is ARod. I am a Tiger's fan by the way.
GeezString,
I agree with you 100% why keep lying about it when everyone in the univerese knows what they did and all it does makes them look like idiots and for all of this to continue going on. The problem I have I think A-Rod is being singled out when 100 other guys took the test and his name is the only one that came out release all the other names too. We need to put this steroid thing behind us so we can enjoy our national past time without any more stigma. I admit I do hate the Red Sox but not the Tigers my wife is a Tigers Fan.
Wasn't it Chris Nabholz? Craig, good move not researching before posting. This website gets the black X for complete unreliability.
Yes, clearly, Dean, getting one guy's name wrong in the course of a 500+ word piece and many thousands of words written on this blog today is evidence of complete and utter unreliability on the part of the other authors and me. Obviously, calling a guy who pitched years ago "Chuck" instead of "Chris" is deserving of the black X.
Date: December 11, 2000
Event: Rodriguez signs a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
Result: 2-4 in an 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays on the following opening day.
On that opening day, he also made an error that started the downhill tone of the game after TRIPPING ON HIS OWN UNTIED SHOELACE! For the rest of the game, he seemed to be checking his laces much as he tightens his gloved at the plate.....
Also, this was the Opener that was played in Puerto Rico in the less than MLB quality park that was like playing a home game for two of his new team mates, Pudge and Juan, who were named by Jose.......
RudyO,
No worries - I love the game too. I agree - ARod is being singled out. But he claims to be the best player. I do not know how to handle the other 100 positive tests because they were supposed to be confidential too. I am all for putting it behind us and making sure the testing works to keep the cheaters out. I am sick of his arrogance. I would like to know the truth about ARod and know who the other cheaters are. It might mean something if 75 of the players tested are average players or below. You'd have a case to say steroids help but these guys who have had success have separarted themselves from the group because of better skills too. I am just so sick of cheaters and liars.
Let me start by saying (before the Yankee fans start yelling) I am a typical die-hard Met fan which means I love the Mets and HATE the Yankees with that said, I am capable of admiring and respecting great ball players like Jeter, Posada, Matsui and Rivera- these are guys who love the game and seem to be great men. Then there is A-ROID who is anything but, he is selfish, arrogant, conceited a liar and a cheat. So to think that the Yankees fan will give him a standing O- which I am sure they will is sad, it says an awful lot about our society and what we are willing to accept. If he was a Met, trust me I would not like give him a cheer him- I love the Mets, but I respect my values even more.
Anyone remember the great home run derby of 98. These guys had the worlds attention and every last one of you tuned in , steroids or not. Because it was exiting as it got. All you sanctimonious neer do well's are full of s#&*!!!!
Hey Brian From Montreal... I never tune in for home run derby's - they are a waste of time. You sound really bitter about something (could it have been the Canadiens season, or are you still trying to get tickets to an Expo's game?). Is it the "exchange" rate or the snow you still have in your driveway?