A-Rods negotiation half way there.
Nov 19, 2007 | 1:45AM - Edit | Delete

It was reported today that Rodriguez's negotiations on a 10 year 275 million dollar contract had reached "the bottom of the fifth inning". Translation, we're half way there. Well I guess it's a good thing for ownership and fans he didn't say that talks were into the post season. Allow me to take a few minutes of your time to express my views on A-rod.

First of all, I will not believe that this is a done deal until ink hits the paper and I am watching a press conference welcoming Alex back to New York. Both he and Boras have given me zero reasons to believe anything that comes out of their mouths any more. I think this is merely the first step to start the bidding wars. New York says they don't want to negotiate with Boras, but they might have fallen into his trap. He tried like hell at the GM meetings to get his number one clients name out there, and the perception that the bidding had begun. He met with both Theo Epstein of the rival Red Sox, and Omar Minaya (the cross town media rivals) but neither GM would publicly admit their interest.

We had heard the names of franchise's such as the Tigers, Angels, and Joe Toree's new home the Dodgers all having interest in bringing the power hitting third baseman aboard. But again, no admitted interest other than simple statement's like "well who wouldn't want A-rod in their lineup?". Well, now we have a starting point thanks to the public of the Yankees brass. The bidding starts at 275 million for 10 years. We know Boras wanted 350 for 10 years, but all though it was ridiculous. Maybe he can get 300-325 million instead.

These are numbers that simply outrage the general public. Nobody in their right mind believes an athlete deserves that kind of money, and they're probably right. But there is a different market for an athlete or movie star that simply doesn't exist for you and me. It's not fair, but it is what it is. If you are the best at what you do, be it a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or police officer, you would expect to be paid whatever the highest paid person in your profession makes. There is no doubt that Alex is the best at what he does in his profession, and deserves to be paid like it. He might be the best pure talent the game has ever seen. And because he is the highest paid player to ever play a sport, is most likely the very reason he is disliked by so many.

But not for me, and it's not because I'm a Sox fan either. I simply (like many fans in New York) find him unrouteable. It's not just because he took a 252 million dollar pay check to play baseball for the Rangers. Let's be honest, if we were offered that kind of money we would take it too. For me it started when he said he wanted to play for the Mets, and they had made him a substantial offer. I feel like if he really wanted to be with the Mets, he would have taken the deal.

Though this is truly no fault of his, I was outraged when the baseball writers of America voted him MVP while with Texas. I will not even try to deny the fact that he had a monster season, but I believe no one should ever win an MVP on a last place team. Take him out of the lineup that year and they still would have finished in last place, end of story. If it were me, I simply would have felt foolish accepting the award.

Finally there is this, and it comes on the heals of a historic record, and an indicted player. How am I supposed to route for a guy with less personality then a rock? Love him or hate him as most do, at least Bonds has a personality. If it weren't for the raw numbers the guy (Rodriguez) puts up I believe he would go completely unnoticed like most utility players. Furthermore, If his hometown fans make a habit of booing him, what reason does that give me to cheer for him? I am a fan of the game first and a fan of my team second. I can say with all honesty that if he was on my team, I could not see myself routing for him. Not because of the paycheck, but simply because he gives me no reason to. He's image obsessed and the captain of generic interviews. I don't think I've ever seen someone who possesses so much raw talent, who plays so effortlessly, and shows so little passion.