Super-agent Scott Boras likes to pull out all of these fancy charts and numbers concerning all of his clients, especially A-Rod. However when it comes to his numbers, he seems to be using the same so called "math" Karl Rove said he had concerning the 2006 mid-term elections.
Myth # 1: Before A-Rod came to the Yankees they only drew over three million fans, with A-Rod they've suddenly drawn over four million. True the Yankees have drawn over four million with A-Rod, but attendance is up everywhere in Major League Baseball. For 2007 MLB set an overall attendance record of 79,502,524, a 4.5 % increase over the 2006 season which was at the time also a record breaking 76,042,787. Average attendance for MLB during the 2007 season was 32,785 also the largest in MLB history. In fact the overall MLB attendance record has been shattered every year for the past four years. A-Rod has been a Yankee for the past four years, but the rise in attendance has to do more with the increased popularity of baseball over A-Rod's impact.
To further my point, eight teams set new attendance records in 2007. Ten teams pulled in more than three million, 16 more garnered 2.5 million and 24 others brought in over two million people. In addition six clubs averaged over 40,000 per game, while 12 teams averaged 35,000 per game. Even the minor leagues saw a huge spike once again. To give you an example the team from my area, the Tri-City ValleyCats, a short-season Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros based in Troy, N.Y. just outside of Albany, who finished dead last with the league's worst overall record, drew a franchise record 136,809 fans in 2007.
Myth # 2: Team performance has improved as a result of A-Rod. Yes A-Rod has been a part of some great ball clubs, was even the driving force of why the Yankees got to the playoffs this season. In A-Rod's last season with the Seattle Mariners in 2000 they won 91 games and reached the ALCS. However in 2001 the M's won an AL regular season record 116 games, reaching the ALCS. And while they didn't make the playoffs, they still won 93 games each of the next two seasons while A-Rod was still languishing in Texas.
Speaking of Texas, they won only two more games with A-Rod there in 2001 and lost 89 or more games in every season he played there. In 2004 the year after A-Rod left, the Rangers won 89 games.
In 2003 the Yankees won 101 games, won the A.L. Pennant reaching the World Series. In 2004 with A-Rod they won 101 games and lost in the ALCS. In 2005 the Yankees won 95 games and a season series tie-breaker with Boston which game them the division and they lost in the ALDS. In 2006 they won 97 games and again lost in the ALDS. In the 2007 season they won 94 games, finished as a Wild Card and once again lost in the ALDS.
No one is denying A-Rod has a marketable quality to attract even the most casual of fans. And more of his team's failures have had to do with the fact that he can't pitch and neither can anyone else on his team. A-Rod is a big part of the attendance and winning, just not in the way Scott Boras would make one believe.
Fans and owners are leery of Boras. "Fun with statistics" is used too often.
On MLB draft day, plenty of teams avoid Boras signees, preferring to deal with other agents. I read about this phenomenon every year near draft day. Overpaying bonus monies for unproven talent is what Boras is after.
Clearly, the increased attendance throughout MLB can be attributed to A-Rod.
In addition to this, his single-handed improvemant of the Yankees has also produced a carry-over effect on the rest of baseball, creating a better (but eerily similar) status quo in which the Yankees continue to exit the playoffs after the first round.
A Rod will NEVER be a true Yankee! Jeter is a Yankee!! A Rod was bought to try to win a WS ring. He can't do it. He is not and never will be a Yankee legend. Jeter will be and is with the true legends... Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle....and many of the rest of the real legacy of Yankee lore!
And this is coming from a Red Sox Fan, but a true baseball fan first......
If Boris cares about A-rod's furture he will cut a deal withteh Yankees now... A-Rod can be a legand of a player on his own - but as a Yankee he will be almost Ruthian (well almost)
As for the Yankees - make him a great offer now and then walk away if he refuses - use that money to secure Mo, Pasada, a quality 3rd base man (can you say Mike Lowell) and of course Joe Torre... Then go out and get one more quality pitcher and get ready for next season...
Welcome to Scott Lucifer Boras' fantasy land. To attribute 4mm in attendence to Arod is ludicrous. Period. Yankees are a team. t-e-a-m, a word that Scott has no comprehension over. He doesn't promote the sport, he promotes a player.
Yankees will continue to pack the stands with or without Arod. That's just a fact.
Next thing you know he'll ask to you to believe that his new over paid prodigy Barry Zito, draws record numbers of fans too.
Scott, draw yourself a picture, give yourself horns and a tail and move on. You are killing the sport every bit as much as steroids.
A-ROD NEEDS TO PROVE HE IS A TEAM PLAYER. iF HE OPTS OUT, HE CARES ONLY ABOUT HIMSELF AND I WOULDN'T WANT HIM ON MY TEAM. I AM A DIE HARD YANKKEE FAN.LETS REMEMBER HE COULD HINDER THE SIGNING OF MO,POSADA,PETTITE,ABREAU BEING GREEDY. THE YANKEES SHOULD GIVE HIM 5MIL MORE A YEAR ON A 8 YEAR DEAL BUT STILL RECEIVING TEXAS MONEY FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS. IF HE OPTS OUT LET HIM GO
A-Rod needs shrink on hand full time in order for him to be great in October. His decline in performance is due to hi OWN demons. I think the Yankees should let him go and the Red Sox should not bid on him. These G.M.'s and MLB owners need to get together and put a stop to Boras. If they all decided to STOP dealing with Boras, then he would be out of business. This would be VERY easy to accomplish, it would just require teams to work together for a short time. Think about this, if your an athlete and NOBODY is signing any of Boras's clients, are you going to sign with him??
This is a stupid article, the justifications for A-Rod not having an impact are horrible. Seriously use some supporting facts that are actually relevant. In 2004 baseball's overall attendance was 73,022,969, in 2007 it was 79,502,524. That means over that period baseball as a whole saw an 8.87% increase in attendance. The Yankees saw a 33% increase in attendance. So please do explain how the 25% greater increase the Yankees saw than baseball as a whole is just due to an increase in popularity of the sport. Even worse if you remove the Yankees from the total baseball numbers, the rest of baseball excluding the Yankees saw attendance climb only 7.5%.
Also please don't even attempt to justify the failures of his team as reasons for A-rod not living up to expectations or hype. In 2004 the Yankees would have won the world series if mariano rivera could have done his job and closed out the sox. This guy carried your team for the entire season and is arguably the greatest to ever play the game. he could retire with the all time HR and Hits record, thats absurd. I'm not really a yankees fan or an a-rod fan but this article makes no sense.
Just look at the Bonds HR chase, and everyone hates him. Imagine the media attention, advertising contracts, and corporate sponsorship a legitmate threat to Aaron and Bonds HR records will bring? This guy will make boatloads of money for whatever team signs him. Boras normally is an #### yes, but with A-rod he's really probably worth the investment.
But if A-Rod goes, what do the Yankees really have? Before A-Rod got there in 2003, the Yankees still were relying on old guys and bandage solutions for their starting pitching. All the money goes into offense, never into defense. How many .300 hitters do you need? A lineup is about chemistry, not numbers-especially come October. The Yankees easily can blame A-Rod for their failures because he makes the most money. But in reality NY has failed as a team. The team is not able to deliver in the playoffs. That includes the beloved Derek Jeter. They are impatient at the plate because they're always playing from behind.
I'm a Braves fan, and I know a little bit about postseason failures. The Yankees are the exact opposite of the late 1990's Braves. The pitching isn't good enough. The offense is good, but they're always playing from behind and are consitently impatient at the plate as a result.
I don't know what the Yankees should do with A-Rod, but they need to start freeing up money for the rotation. It will take a while to build things. But I guess what takes a while in Atlanta is unacceptable in NY. The Yankees need a better rotation. Ultimately, Petite and Mussina ought to be relegated to the bullpen. If they don't want to go then tell them 'goodbye', it's enough.
Last edited by macchinaSE1000 on October 15th at 8:21 AM.
I agree they need to free up money for the starting rotation, but I don't think A-rod's paycheck is the cause of that. It's the salaries that are being paid to the aging vets who aren't producing anymore. Giambi is over 20 mil, Damon is at 13 mil, Mussina at 11 mil, Matsui at 12 mil, and Pavano at 10 mil would all be good places to start.
The only guys who produce for their money are really Jeter, A-rod, and Pettite.
i think the yankees need to stop playing station to station baseballthey need speed at the top to compliment those big bats so they can manfacture runs in other words play national league ball if they had done that this year they wouldn't have been one and done
mickeyo1350- Great Post. He makes us better but he alone cannot bring us a title. I think the Yankees should cut their losses and move forward without A-Rod. Boras is not worried about A-Rod's future he just wants to get paid. If A-Rod wants to retire a yankee he had better make sure Scott gets that memo, or he might find himself on another time no closer to a ring than the yankees...
zdeane343- We won without him and we can win without him again. The yankees need pitching A-Rod alone is not bringing home any WS titles when he can barely get on base...
Machina you had a point until you kept saying "impatient at the plate". In case you missed the numbers, the Yankees actually led the league in on base percentage. Lead the league.
Their patience is actually their down fall against stellar pitching like Carmona. You can't keep coming up to the plate and let that fat fast ball slide right by. Down 0-2 and swinging at your ankles. It's a catch 22 because patience at the plate pays off all year. Playoffs? Sometimes you gotta swing the #### bat.
Seriously every article I've ever read since the Yankee loss talks about our lousy pitching. If this is really the case, then who cares about Arod except that his overbloated salary frees us up to make some choices. If it's pitching we lack as every single hater across the board keeps saying, than it's pitching we should focus on.
LOTS of teams have won without a 157 RBI guy. Like I said before, we still have Abreu's 102 RBIs and Cano's 97 RBIs and every one else that contributes.
Arod is no savior or hero. He's simply a great baseball player than cannot get the job done in the post season. For that reason alone?
Buh bye
Simply put, A-Rod can eclipse Jeter by saying he will only play for the Yankees if Joe Torre is kept on as coach. If the Yankees do not sign Torre A-Rod is free to leave town without being called a coward, or being called greedy. It is the perfect out for him. Also, A-Ron needs to say wants to play for the Yankees, break the All-Time HR record as a Yankee, and enter the Hall of Fame as Yankee, so they better find a way to sign Torre or else. Any few millions Scott Bore-Arse could swipe for him would be dwarfed by the Madison avenue dollars A-Rod would reap as being baseball’s nice guy with a heart.
If A-Rod opts out and just wants money the Yankees should help him pack and run him out of town. Then I would get Santana and Mauer from Minnesota, and Willis and Miguel Cabrera from Florida. Wang, Pettitte, Santana, Willis, and Hughes and/or Kennedy, would be the rotation. Joba would replace Mo as the closer, Mauer would replace Posada, and the Yankees would have a Miguel Cabrera at 3B to truly balance out the defense and offense.
A-Rod's contract is Boras biggest pay day and this time probably his last big pay day thats why Boras is throwing around statements about half a billion dollars.
Boras is working for Boras. All he wants to be known as is the person who got the biggest contract in the history of sports.
I think A-Rod should get a pretty big contract as probably the best player in the game today - he deserves it. But he should also consider his own hopes and desires, he should not become an object of marketing for Boras. Boras works for him and A-Rod should make sure he doesnt forget that.
BTW Mission - Nice Idea sure - but why would Minnesota give up Santana and Mauer and the Marlins Cabrera - We need something to offer them, and with Kennedy Hughes and Chamberlain still in the rotation, I cant see anyone that Minnesota would want - you really think they want Igawa or Pavano - seriously - Matsui still puts up great numbers too - and you need to add some speed to your line up - tough to get but a Carl Crawford or Curtis Granderson type to liven things up would be great - I would keep A-Rod also as most younger players idolise him and because hes such a hard worker hes a good example to set. Clemens is unlikely to be signed again by anyone but the Astros, unless as a pitching coach and I think he might be alright at that - hes certainly got the experience. Oh and as for Bruney he costs next to nothing I keep him around as a middle reliever even if its just for blow out games.
Thanks. Minnesota has a payroll issue. They could reasonably spend around $100M maximum on talent, but after that they would be running in the red without any hopes of recouping even it they win the World Series. Santana wants to make $20-$25 million and I cant see Minnesota paying one payer almost a quarter of they payroll budget. I am almost 100% certain that Santana will be playing for another team by 2008.
I was referring to the final game of the series and generalizing from what I saw. It seemed like the guys were not making good decisions early in the inning and kept getting ground-outs or fly-outs. Then, the rally would start with 2 outs, leaving no room for a sacrifice hit of any kind. They ended up with only 3 runs largely because of these situations. But I did not watch game 1 or game 3, so I am generalizing.
Mike
A-Rod is the spoon that'll stir the pot when the Yankees move into their new stadium.
And signing him to a long term contract is what Boras is working on. The two can't really do without each other. And therein lies the rub as it'll be about how much the Yankees will be willing to pony up. Knowing that in the long run they'll be able to recoup that outlay and a whole lot more through their ad and cable revenues. And not only that but they'll be able to build arounnd and market the fact A-Rod will be closing on the home run and quite possibly the hit's record over the course of his remaining career. That's the foresight that Boras and the Yankees ought to and should will be building around. And not squabbling over money that they know neither can afford to lose.
AWESOME POSTS... I CANNOT CONTRIBUTE ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
I JUST WISH A'ROD HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY, I LOVE NEW YORK AND IT IS A THRILL TO PUT THIS UNIFORM ON AND THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO PLAY BECAUSE DEEP IN IN HEART I FEEL THAT IS WHAT HE FEELS, BUT BORAS JUST LEADS HIM BY THE HAD BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW EVERYTHING IS A FREAKIN BUSINESS!!
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD A'ROD IN HIS INTERVIEWS SAYS HOW MUCH HE LOVES THE PRIDE OF BEING A YANKEE AN WEARING THAT LOGO, HE LOVES THE FANS, THE GUYS, THE UNIFORM, WE SHALL SOON SEE...MY GUT SAYS....HE WILL STAY A YANKEE.
1.Boras is not selling to the public - he is selling to owners (hardline businessmen) - the spreadsheet and measurements rule.
2.Boras tells the owners that a super thus expensive player will generate revenue - it does.
3.Boras does NOT tell them the revenue is a minor percentage gain - it is
4.Boras does not tell the owners that a 30M/yr player means you cannot afford to sign 3-6 good/decent players WHO will add 10/15 wins a year.
- bloody obvious really
5.Boras is the major sponsor for the NFL so he wants to kill off baseball (OK this isn't a fact but it feels like one).
6.Boras does not need the money (not now anyway) - its just a way to keep score and he wants to win.
Boras is the exact opposite of the fans - he doesnt care about baseball just the finances of baseball.
It has been suggested that collusion between the teams will shut him out - I think that's probably illegal and not worth it.
Some tar and feathers to wear and a railroad tie to run him out of town onw ould be the solution - very illegal but WORTH the jail time.
Last edited by LimeyRedneck on October 15th at 7:16 PM.
We all know of the curse of the Bambino. Boston never won again. Then the curse of the A-Rod removed the curse of the Bambino! Yes, in 2004, A-Rod's first year with the Yankees he helped them get to a 3-0 lead in the ALCS versus Boston. Then the curse took effect and the curse of the Bambino was forever removed. The Yankees became the first team ever to be up 3-0 and then lose the series. Ever! Then in 2005, 2006, and, 2007, they lost in the first round. A-Rod never won a ring with Seattle, Texas, or NY. He never will and the Yankess will never win it again until they get rid of A-Rod. As a Yankee fan for 54 years can you remember Scott B. at 3rd base. He was a winner with the team and a part of a World Series team(s). The Yankees don't need A-Rod. I'd rather see them take that $30m and pay for three other players. If they get rid of A-Rod they get rid of his curse and the Bambino will return!!!!!
I wonder how many games the M's would have won in 2001 if they had been able to keep at least two, if not all of the future hall of famers lost in the previous three seasons. Imagine the 2001 Mariners with Griffey in center, Rodriguez at short, and Johnson on the mound every 5th night.
The Yankees trying to claim poverty with Boras and A-Rod and trying to shame him into a cheap deal is kind of hypocritical. George Steinbrenner basically muged every cable subscriber in the tri-state area with his Yes channel. When he started Yes and went to the cable companies they told him "sure, we'll take your channel, but it will have to be a premium channel" so that people that don't like the Yankees aren't stuck paying 6 bucks a month to George Steinbrenner. He came back and said that any cable company that didn't make the Yes network a part of their basic package (and raise the monthly rates of every single basic cable subscriber) then he wouldn't let them have access to Yes. Some companies buckled and a couple fought him and took him to court. The result was that a number of Yankee fans were unable to watch Yankee games in their own homes for a couple seasons and a larger number of people that completely hate the Yankees are now stuck paying 6 bucks a month to George Steinbrenner.
I say stick it to the Yankees just like they stuck it to Texas and lets all stop pretending that integrity has anything at all to do with playing for the New York Yankees.
My name is Mike Gwizdala and I live in Albany, N.Y. The Capitol of the Empire State. I'm probably the biggest most knowledgeable , opinionated sports fan I know. First and foremost I'm an avid, die-hard New York Yankees fan. For those of you who don't know Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte amongst others all played their Double-A ball in Albany.
