ARod

[EastexHawg]

I know no one likes him and the replies will probably focus on him being a 'roid using scum, but I think the season he is having so far is pretty remarkable.  I wouldn't have expected a guy who is almost 40 years old and had played 44 games since the end of the 2012 season to come out of the box hitting the way he is.

He is 5th in the American League with 10 home runs so far and 7th in slugging percentage.  And...he's not just barely getting the ball over the left field wall.  He's hitting tape measure blasts well over 400 feet, including one 475 footer that was his longer dinger in 10 years.  He's also hitting the ball out of the park to the opposite field.

I know I'm in the minority, but I would actually like to see him break Barry Bonds' record...mainly because I can't stand Bonds.  I think he's 98 homers short now.

[ErieHog]

Part of maturation is that rest is a huge factor in bounce-back.   Like it or not,  more than a decade of the day to day grind helps wear an older athlete down faster-- and A-Roid had a nice break, during which he could focus himself on physically retooling and recovering from every nagging little injury he ever had, plus his major injury. 

The man was made to hit a baseball, to be certain--  but I'll be more interested in how his body is reacting in game 150, than at game 50. 

[clutch]

I've always liked watching ARod play baseball. Steroids or not, the man can flat hit like few others have ever been able to do. One of the most amazing things now to me is that he is doing this on a rebuilt hip, at 40.

Secondly, it really surprises me that you are pulling for ARod Eastex.

Lastly, ARod has been an absolute steal for me in fantasy. I think I got him in the final round of the draft.

[EastexHawg]

A few nights ago I saw him turn on a 95 mph fastball, so he still has bat speed.  As we get older brute strength is the last thing to go so I'm not surprised he is still strong, but the quickness is a little unexpected.

As for me rooting for him being surprising, I'm assuming this has to do with Tiger.  I'll just say that not everyone and everything in the world has to be viewed through the prism of Tiger Woods. 

[bulldog04]

I love it.  The yanks didn't want anything to do with him or pay his bonus.  It's great when someone sticks it to the yanks

[clutch]

A few nights ago I saw him turn on a 95 mph fastball, so he still has bat speed.  As we get older brute strength is the last thing to go so I'm not surprised he is still strong, but the quickness is a little unexpected.

As for me rooting for him being surprising, I'm assuming this has to do with Tiger.  I'll just say that not everyone and everything in the world has to be viewed through the prism of Tiger Woods. 

Not necessarily just with Tiger, but he does seem to be very similar to Tiger. Kinda like the baseball version. Young phenom, talked about as potential greatest ever, steroid connections, not well liked by a lot of people.

[EastexHawg]

Not necessarily just with Tiger, but he does seem to be very similar to Tiger. Kinda like the baseball version. Young phenom, talked about as potential greatest ever, steroid connections, not well liked by a lot of people.

Did you ever just meet or see someone and within an hour you already knew you didn't like him?  That's the way it was for me with Tiger, and as the years have passed he has proven over and over again that my first impression was right on the money.

ARod has never come across to me as sour and bitchy as Tiger, I've never seen him throw fits on the field when things didn't go his way, I've never seen ARod act like he was hurt and walk off the course because he was getting his butt kicked, I've never heard ARod complain that he needed to be paid (more) to play (for his country)...and I have never heard anyone refer to ARod as "The Chosen One" who would move nations and have a greater impact on mankind than anyone in history...

Among other things.

[ChicoHog]

I know no one likes him and the replies will probably focus on him being a 'roid using scum, but I think the season he is having so far is pretty remarkable.  I wouldn't have expected a guy who is almost 40 years old and had played 44 games since the end of the 2012 season to come out of the box hitting the way he is.

He is 5th in the American League with 10 home runs so far and 7th in slugging percentage.  And...he's not just barely getting the ball over the left field wall.  He's hitting tape measure blasts well over 400 feet, including one 475 footer that was his longer dinger in 10 years.  He's also hitting the ball out of the park to the opposite field.

I know I'm in the minority, but I would actually like to see him break Barry Bonds' record...mainly because I can't stand Bonds.  I think he's 98 homers short now.

I'm with you EastTex.  I always liked him 20 years ago and it was so disappointing to find out he was basically a fraud.  I am definitely rooting for him to beat Bonds, probably my least favorite player of all time.  I remember everyone talking about the AL premier shortstops trio of Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra and who was the best.  They were all fantastic for a while. 

[clutch]

I'm with you EastTex.  I always liked him 20 years ago and it was so disappointing to find out he was basically a fraud.  I am definitely rooting for him to beat Bonds, probably my least favorite player of all time.  I remember everyone talking about the AL premier shortstops trio of Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra and who was the best.  They were all fantastic for a while. 

I don't think ARod was ever a fraud at all. He has always been an extreme elf great baseball player, he just assisted his performance a little like so many others in the game were doing. The reason I say I don't think he was ever a fraud is because I feel he had the talent all along. He didn't need the steroids to be great. He took them and tarnished his legacy, but he was no doubt a great without them in my opinion.

One of my favorite memories now from when I was a kid was  seeing the Mariners play. They had the young ARod and who I consider to be the best player of all time Griffey Jr. Griffey Jr was amazing. He really had it all. Speed, glove, arm, great bat, he could do anything. His numbers won't allow him to be considered the greatest ever, but if it weren't for injuries I think it would be a no doubter.

[ChicoHog]

I agree with you on the fraud issue.  That was not a good choice of words on my part. He was very talented as were many of the steroid users.  They just couldn't be satisfied being good without the extra help I guess.  Too many guys doing it and too easy to join them. 

[clutch]

I agree with you on the fraud issue.  That was not a good choice of words on my part. He was very talented as were many of the steroid users.  They just couldn't be satisfied being good without the extra help I guess.  Too many guys doing it and too easy to join them. 

Not to mention that hitting 50 Hrs instead of 40 was 10s of millions more in contract money. I understand why they all did it. Money talks, and at that time the homerun ball was getting people paid big time.

[ucahogfan]

Not to mention that hitting 50 Hrs instead of 40 was 10s of millions more in contract money. I understand why they all did it. Money talks, and at that time the homerun ball was getting people paid big time.

The sad thing is the most notable roiders like Bonds, A-Rod, and Clemens would have all been 1st ballot HOFs anyway because they were that good.  Now, they might join Pete Rose as the best players of all-time to never make the HOF.

[clutch]

The sad thing is the most notable roiders like Bonds, A-Rod, and Clemens would have all been 1st ballot HOFs anyway because they were that good.  Now, they might join Pete Rose as the best players of all-time to never make the HOF.

Yep. The whole reason they are the most notable roiders though is because of their rare natural talent to begin with. Roids didn't make any of those guys great. They were great, then took roids. Doubt any of them see the HOF.

[EastexHawg]

McGwire is another example.  He hit 49 dingers as a beanpole rookie.  He had the power to hit it out of any park in America, including Yosemite, before he started juicing.

I think eventually all the players we have mentioned with be in the Hall of Fame. 

[yraciv]

He came to Razorback Stadium last year and talked to me in the offseason.  Cured all his problems!

[ChicoHog]

McGwire is another example.  He hit 49 dingers as a beanpole rookie.  He had the power to hit it out of any park in America, including Yosemite, before he started juicing.

I think eventually all the players we have mentioned with be in the Hall of Fame. 

I was at the All-star festivities in Oakland the Monday before the all-star game in 1987, his rookie year.  I sat in the outfield bleachers during the HR contest and almost got one of his dingers.  This was before the HR contest was a big ESPN national TV gig.  This actually took place during the daytime and was not televised at all.  They had a running contest, fielding competitions,etc.,  You are right about his stature.  he was very skinny.  I think he had around 37 homers by the all-star break and then only 12 the rest of the year.  That was the beginning of the Bash Brothers.  then the next year my beloved Dodgers with Gibson and Hershiser and not much else took them out in the World Series.   And we still haven't gone back to the series since then!

[EastexHawg]

Has anyone ever reached as many huge milestones...passing Willie Mays on the home run list, 2,000 RBI, 3,000 hits...in the same season?

The year ARod is having is remarkable.  If he were almost any other player in history he would be a lock to be chosen for the All-Star team on career accomplishments alone, not to mention the fact that he is in the top 10-15 in the league in numerous statistical categories.

[clutch]

And there's not much being said about any of it really. It's sad. I know he used PEDS, but it's still hard as hell to hit dang near 700 homeruns, drive in 2000 runs, and have 3000 hits.

I've said it all along, steroids don't help you hit a baseball. They give you a few extra feet which turns some warning track shots into homeruns, but not much else. They don't turn you into an ARod caliber hitter. That's natural ability. If anything, the thing they do is allow for quicker recovery. You think that owners would be all for that. After all, if I was paying a guy $300 million I'd want him on the field as much as possible.

They turned a few borderline guys into big league players, but the majority of those guys had the talent to make it with or without and extended the careers of some of the older guys by a couple of years. A lot of people act like steroids could turn your average joe blow into a big league player though. That's just not the case.

The funny thing to me is how they turned a blind eye to steroids when they were running the most rampant in the game, because that offensive explosion was saving baseball from the damage the strike caused. After they got their fans back they decided to crack down, which lead to a decrease in offense. Now they are trying to find ways to boost offense in baseball for the excitement of the game again lol.

[hoglady]

Not an A-Rod fan and not because I'm a Sox fan.
Was thrilled when the deal to go to Boston years ago fell thru which led to him eventually signing with the Yankees.
He is a great individual player - but a bad clubhouse guy, not liked by most of his teammates or managers.
I would take a Jeter any day over an A-Rod.

[bob slydell]

I would be interested to understand just how long that competitive advantage lasts from PEDs.

Conceivably, the numbers he is putting up now could still be from his juicing days which were only a couple of years ago.

How long removed from use of PEDs do you say that a guy is now clean and not gaining any advantages?

I guess my ultimate point would be that he probably will never live this down and probably never see the HOF.

[EastexHawg]

Another home run and two more RBI last night.  He's in the top ten in the AL in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.  He's 12th in RBI and in the top 25 in batting average.

I don't know how you leave him off the All-Star team, especially given all the career milestones he has surpassed this year.  Willie Mays was still being named to All-Star teams when he was hitting 6 home runs and driving in 25 runs.  In fact, over his last three seasons Mays hit a total of 32 homers and drove in 108 runs.  He played in the All-Star game all three seasons.

ARod, love him or hate him, has already hit more homers this season than Willie hit in his last two full seasons combined.

[clutch]

I would be interested to understand just how long that competitive advantage lasts from PEDs.

Conceivably, the numbers he is putting up now could still be from his juicing days which were only a couple of years ago.

How long removed from use of PEDs do you say that a guy is now clean and not gaining any advantages?

I guess my ultimate point would be that he probably will never live this down and probably never see the HOF.

You lose a lot of what you gained once you quit taking PEDS. Plus he's got a rebuilt hip or hips. He doesn't have much of an advantage anymore. You are right though, he will never see the HoF.

[GolfNut57]

Another home run and two more RBI last night.  He's in the top ten in the AL in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.  He's 12th in RBI and in the top 25 in batting average.

I don't know how you leave him off the All-Star team, especially given all the career milestones he has surpassed this year.  Willie Mays was still being named to All-Star teams when he was hitting 6 home runs and driving in 25 runs.  In fact, over his last three seasons Mays hit a total of 32 homers and drove in 108 runs.  He played in the All-Star game all three seasons.

ARod, love him or hate him, has already hit more homers this season than Willie hit in his last two full seasons combined.

And apparently your love for him is almost equal to your hate of Woods. 

[onebadrubi]

1-4 last night against Keuchel with 3 SO's and the 1 hit was in the 9th with 2 outs nobody on and down like 4 or 5 to nothing. 

[Jeff "hogfanintx" Anderson]

As a lifelong Yankee fan I didn't really want AROD.  I'm not one of those that hates him.  Just didn't think it would work.

That said what he is doing this season is remarkable to me.

[EastexHawg]

As a lifelong Yankee fan I didn't really want AROD.  I'm not one of those that hates him.  Just didn't think it would work.

That said what he is doing this season is remarkable to me.

He's top 12 in the American League in most offensive categories, and top ten in HR, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and OPS.  He already has 20 homers and is on pace for 35 HR and about 95 RBI.  I don't think anyone would have believed he would put up numbers anywhere close to that.

At least Alex served a penalty for his PED use.  Other guys, like Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa finished their careers without ever paying the price.

[clutch]

He's top 12 in the American League in most offensive categories, and top ten in HR, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and OPS.  He already has 20 homers and is on pace for 35 HR and about 95 RBI.  I don't think anyone would have believed he would put up numbers anywhere close to that.

At least Alex served a penalty for his PED use.  Other guys, like Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa finished their careers without ever paying the price.

I see what you're saying but somewhat have to disagree with bonds. He didn't have an official penalty, but pretty much everyone said they didn't want him which forced hi to retire when he was still wanting to play a few more years.

[Jeff "hogfanintx" Anderson]

He's top 12 in the American League in most offensive categories, and top ten in HR, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and OPS.  He already has 20 homers and is on pace for 35 HR and about 95 RBI.  I don't think anyone would have believed he would put up numbers anywhere close to that.

At least Alex served a penalty for his PED use.  Other guys, like Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa finished their careers without ever paying the price.

Agree 100%

[EastexHawg]

I see what you're saying but somewhat have to disagree with bonds. He didn't have an official penalty, but pretty much everyone said they didn't want him which forced hi to retire when he was still wanting to play a few more years.

While I agree somewhat, he was also almost 43 years old at the end of the 2007 season.  He had slipped from a .362 average with 45 HR and 101 RBI in 2004 to .276 with 28 HR and 66 RBI in 2007.  He made almost $16 million in 2007, so he was priced out of the market for guys with his numbers.

[EastexHawg]

Rodriguez hit his 30th homer yesterday.  Someone could have made a lot of money before the season started betting that he would reach the 30 dinger plateau.  And...he's doing it at crunch time in September.  He's hit four homers in the last week.

[onebadrubi]

Rodriguez hit his 30th homer yesterday.  Someone could have made a lot of money before the season started betting that he would reach the 30 dinger plateau.  And...he's doing it at crunch time in September.  He's hit four homers in the last week.

So you like Arod but don't like tiger woods?

[EastexHawg]

So you like Arod but don't like tiger woods?

What does Tiger Woods have to do with a guy who has barely played since the 2012 season coming back and hitting 30 home runs this year? 

[GolfNut57]

What does Tiger Woods have to do with a guy who has barely played since the 2012 season coming back and hitting 30 home runs this year?

steroids? 

[onebadrubi]

What does Tiger Woods have to do with a guy who has barely played since the 2012 season coming back and hitting 30 home runs this year?

I think the Irony is huge that you like Arod and have such hatred for Tiger. 

[BrooklynRoss]