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#1
11-19-2007, 08:50 PM
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AROD is MVP
Why A-Rod is the MVP
by Nate Silver There’s not much room for argument: Alex Rodriguez was the best player in the American League this year. He lead his league in home runs (54), RBIs (156), runs scored (143), total bases (376), slugging percentage (.645) and OPS (1.067). He also lead his league in Value Over Replacement Player (VORP), topping Magglio Ordonez by a score of 96.6 to 87.8. And he accomplished all of this while playing a more difficult defensive position than Magglio Ordonez, and playing it fairly well. What might be more surprising is that A-Rod’s numbers were even more impressive than they appear at first glance, because of one area for which he’s traditionally had a poor reputation: his performance in the clutch. Rodriguez hit .333, with 98 RBIs and a 1.138 OPS with runners in scoring position. He hit .357 in “close and late” situations. He hit .500 with a 1.286 slugging percentage in 14 plate appearances with the bases loaded. At he hit .362 in September, as the Yankees climbed back to reclaim their spot in the post-season. Rodriguez, of course, renewed doubts about his clutch ability with his relatively poor performance against Cleveland in the ALDS, when he hit .267 with just one RBI. In other words, he had a bad series. On the other hand, over 162 games during the regular season, he was the one guy you wanted up there when the game depended on it. Which performance do you trust more: 583 at-bats in the regular season, or 15 in the playoffs? Yes, Rodriguez has disappointed in the playoffs in the past. But the bottom line is this. Firstly, clutch performance is mostly about luck: the same player who is clutch one year can be a choke artist the next. And two, the Yankees ought to have every bit of confidence that Rodriguez can not only get them to October, but win them a title once they’re there. Rodriguez is the MVP - and the highest-paid player in baseball - for a reason: no player provides his team with a bigger head start toward winning a World Championship. 
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#2
11-19-2007, 09:44 PM
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Great article posting, Cannon Shell... only wish that my Astros could afford such a talent as him. Crawford Boxes would become very dangerous place to view game at the Juice Box!
__________________
@wire2wirewin Turf Economist since 1974
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#3
11-20-2007, 04:19 AM
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Yankee Fans enjoy him A-Rod is probably livid that Mike Lowell's announcement for signing with the Red Sox was announced on the same day as the A-Rod MVP celebration. The nerve of the two time world champion to try and crash A-Rod's ode to me......
I'll take the World Series titles, the gold gloves and the adoration of your town's fans. Once your making the money these guys make it's all good dude. I would never trade Lowell for A-Rod unless I wanted a third baseman to hit 50 homers and for my team to have no chance at a series.
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#5
11-20-2007, 01:51 PM
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AROD is the best player in the game. He could possibly hold two tremendous records when his career is over. He could be the all time HR king and the all time hits leader. That would be one heck of an accomplishment.
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#6
11-20-2007, 05:15 PM
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Its funny that the ""lighting rod"" says.... ""I would trade in the 3 MVP awards for a WS ring"".... Does that mean he would GIVE back $$$$ to the team to sign some pitching ?????
__________________
Ole' Timer says to another leaving Keystone Race Track (Philly ) ...""Its a good thing I broke even today, I really needed the money """!!!! Gotta Love Horse Racing !!
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#7
11-20-2007, 07:42 PM
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#8
11-20-2007, 07:44 PM
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#9
11-20-2007, 09:06 PM
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#10
11-20-2007, 11:26 PM
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It's all about Chuck chemistry in team sports not individual talent. The 25 cabs for 25 guys Red Sox of the 70's and 80's had tons of talent but no chemistry. A-Rod destroys chemistry with his "me first" team second playoff phobic stat sheet as one example. The guy will probably own every offensive record in the book someday and still find a way to chuck a two hopper into the stands after interfering with a pitcher tagging him out the inning before to lose a Series. See Bronson Arroyo play for stupidity and classless acts ruining the mojo of a team. Please don't tell me you don't believe the 2004 Yankees lost the AL Playoffs because they found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A-Rod is a chemistry killer and will never win anything other than an individual record in any big market. A-Rod would single handidly Margo Adams the Red Sox if allowed to be there. Wanting A-Rod on the Red Sox instead of Lowell given recent events....now thats absurd!! and shows how little you value the chemistry piece. It's more fragile than you think...
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#11
11-20-2007, 11:37 PM
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This particuar question your asking here has been debated by Boston journalism royalty eg Ryan Gammons etc to the same thing I am saying. To a man (sorry Jackie McM.) they all have cast votes for "If A-Rod were here the curse would now have 90+ years to it....." It does have to make sense to be the truth...sometimes you DO subtract from a team by adding talent to it if it comes with baggage like this!!
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#12
11-21-2007, 08:25 PM
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#13
11-22-2007, 12:20 AM
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#14
11-22-2007, 07:17 PM
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Chemistry is something to blame when teams lose...so writers have stories to write about and controversies to create. If Pete Rose had chopped Arroyos hand he would have been called scrappy. Remember one thing about A Rod and the Yankees of 07...there would not have been a Yankees playoff appearance without him. Then who would everybody been blaming? Hate to say it to the Yankee fans but you are going to be bitching about ARod next year too because management seems oblivious to the real issues that that team has and is going to come up short again.
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#15
11-22-2007, 07:19 PM
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#16
11-23-2007, 03:59 AM
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The A's and Reds and Yanks you speak of were never selfish teams which is actually the killer of the Sox of years gone by. There is something about these personalities that subtrack from teams as a whole because on some level the team plays for stats and averages not to win ball games. Dwight Evans comes to mind for the sox....Jim Rice on some level is another both actually considered for the hall of fame but both about the stats. IMO A-Rod creates an air of "about the stats" which are temendous numbers but somehow they create a negativity with others eg Jeter's comments who I respect as a player but obviously has something going with Alex. As another similiar example living here in DC I see Gilbert Arenas the same way with the wizzards. The guy has surgery and the team goes on a tear winning 6 straight where the announcers are saying aloud "on air" "Somethings different with this team......they turn the ballover everybody sprints back on defense same guys, same year and all of sudden they play two way ball" Whoa I don't think you have to be a hoops junkie to understand that one....guys hustle more when they believe EVERYONE is hustling including the hibachi!! on defense. The same thing is true about ARod he gets his like Arenas will get his 30 but he inspires no one to play hard.....Is that a felony? Of course not but it may be enough to decide championships from good seasons for a team. When all is said and done about talent it is still about how bad do you want it....Teams have to have some above average talent but then it's about team play and effort. Of course pitching is 70 or so percent of baseball but thats a different argument about who has or had superior pitching each year. Yes the Red Sox had better pitching than the yanks this year but I am not sure that was true in 2004...either way it doesn't matter they were one out from elimination until momentum gathered and took over. Try to tell me the Pistons of recent past that won several titles had the best talent.....ARod wold never buy into that kind of system like this. Time will tell lets see how many titles the guy wins in his career....I really would take Lowell when you factor in the two teams and what they have right now and Im not alone here
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#17
11-23-2007, 04:09 AM
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As far as the silliest comment I will only say that is a geat example of how these discussions turn into bloodbaths. You got something to say go get some evidence to counter the argument rather than invite a personal attack. No person in the Red Sox braintrust currently wants ARod over Mike Lowell of they thought he was better for this team and it would ensure another titile Lowell would be an Indian but that is not the case. Go read the boards on SOSH (sons of sam horn) the site for this stuff and tell me the Red Sox beleive that. And when your done there go read 38special Schillngs web site about this with player quotes and see if they back you up. The Sox don't wan't ARod and no one was happier he ended up with the Yankees for the chaos there willbe next year there. If he left they would have rebult in a supportive place now the fans are gonna nail ARod every time he is human and strikes out or makes an error. It is gonna be awful
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#18
11-23-2007, 12:05 PM
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#19
11-23-2007, 07:33 PM
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#20
11-25-2007, 01:42 AM
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[quote=SniperSB23]Calling your comment silly is going to lead to a bloodbath? Easy with the hyperbole. Do you honestly believe that if Boston could have had A-Rod for 3 years/$37.5 million that they wouldn't have sent Lowell packing in a second?
A completely different question than the one debated. The issue was Lowell or ARod for the Sox and the answer was Lowell.
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