Arod needs his own Candy Bar

I am concerned about the negative reporting by New York Times Sports Columnists. With reference to a number of sports figures but in particular, now, about Alex Rodriguez. From Selena Roberts to Harvey Araton the words are vitriolic and nasty. I understand that one must sell papers and get people's attention. But to be akin to street bullies with a pen may not be the ideal for sports reporting. They should acknowldge that Arod brings to the Yankees more than they pay him and that he is worth more than what he is paid.

Arod is hands down the greatest sports figure to dress in Yankee stripes since Reggie and he fits the Mantle, Dimaggio, and Ruth mold. He inspires fans to come to the park and when he bats even the stadium workers pause to watch him. He is an event and has decidely increased the numbers who attend Yankee games since he got here. The fans have come to love him and adopt him as their own. He is the straw that stirs the drink as Reggie claimed for himself. And a candy bar should be named after him.

Added to that is his constant positive and workman-like attitude toward training and playinng the game . He runs out every at bat. He steals bases. He scores over a hundred runs every year in addition to the prodigious numbers that he puts up.

Really tell those poor writers who do not approximate what Arod makes to let up and give the man his due. They should stop the shadenfreude. Very few even among baseball players can match what he does. He is an extraordinary talent in a talented sport.

Letter to Harvey Araton of the New York Times

Really Harvey, all of a sudden you writers at the Times are starting to look like the Daily News. Selena Roberts has been nasty for a long time but the rest of you must think there is talent or money in nastiness.

Please, the man is paid what he is worth. The Dodgers would have made money off of Arod. He is worth double the money for what he already brings to the stadium. He more than anyone is worth the price of admission. Check out the attendance since Arod has been here. Everyone loves the home run. Not since Reggie and the Mick has Yankee Stadium had such a power hitter.

He is Ruth, Mantle and Reggie. He is the man and fans love him. He is the one we want to see. His at bats are the event. Even Yankee players do no want to miss his at bats.
The fans love him.

Sports Writers have no shame.

I guess they can just pop off on anyone without compunction. In tomorrow's Daily News Bill Madden writes that Arod "crawled" back to the Yankees. A player like Arod who can fill the seats and demand universal attention when he bats does not crawl. He gave the Yankees the opportunity to resign the best player of all time who also happens to hustle, run everything out, steals bases while producing staggering numbers. Clearly Bill Madden and the like, need Arod for their columns, not vice versa.

Goerge Vecsey speaks out of his hat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/15/sports/baseball/15vecsey.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

This makes nice controversy but it is nonsense. Arod did all the right things. The Yankees need Arod as well as he fits in with them. He puts fannies in the seats and the people have warmed to him. The new pitchers look great. All Yankee fans look forward to a new and enjoyable season.

Arod At Bat

Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG *OPS+ TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
1994 18 SEA AL 17 54 4 11 0 0 0 2 3 0 3 20 .204 .241 .204 16 11 1 1 0 0 0
1995 19 SEA AL 48 142 15 33 6 2 5 19 4 2 6 42 .232 .264 .408 72 58 1 0 0 0 0
1996 20 SEA AL 146 601 141 215 54 1 36 123 15 4 59 104 .358 .414 .631 160 379 6 7 1 4 15 SS,MVP-2,AS
1997 21 SEA AL 141 587 100 176 40 3 23 84 29 6 41 99 .300 .350 .496 120 291 4 1 1 5 14 AS
1998 22 SEA AL 161 686 123 213 35 5 42 124 46 13 45 121 .310 .360 .560 136 384 3 4 0 10 12 SS,MVP-9,AS
1999 23 SEA AL 129 502 110 143 25 0 42 111 21 7 56 109 .285 .357 .586 134 294 1 8 2 5 12 SS,MVP-15
2000 24 SEA AL 148 554 134 175 34 2 41 132 15 4 100 121 .316 .420 .606 162 336 0 11 5 7 10 SS,MVP-3,AS
2001 25 TEX AL 162 632 133 201 34 1 52 135 18 3 75 131 .318 .399 .622 160 393 0 9 6 16 17 SS,MVP-6,AS
2002 26 TEX AL 162 624 125 187 27 2 57 142 9 4 87 122 .300 .392 .623 158 389 0 4 12 10 14 SS,MVP-2,AS
2003 27 TEX AL 161 607 124 181 30 6 47 118 17 3 87 126 .298 .396 .600 147 364 0 6 10 15 16 SS,MVP-1,AS
2004 28 NYY AL 155 601 112 172 24 2 36 106 28 4 80 131 .286 .375 .512 131 308 0 7 6 10 18 MVP-14,AS
2005 29 NYY AL 162 605 124 194 29 1 48 130 21 6 91 139 .321 .421 .610 173 369 0 3 8 16 8 SS,MVP-1,AS
2006 30 NYY AL 154 572 113 166 26 1 35 121 15 4 90 139 .290 .392 .523 134 299 0 4 8 8 22 MVP-13,AS
2007 31 NYY AL 158 583 143 183 31 0 54 156 24 4 95 120 .314 .422 .645 177 376 0 9 11 21 15 SS,AS
+--------------+---+----+----+----+---+--+---+----+---+--+---+---+-----+-----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+---+---+
14 Seasons 7350 2250 26 1503 64 1524 .306 .389 .578 147 16 74 70 127 173
1904 1501 395 518 265 915 4251

Let the Writers and Commentators Eat Crow

One has to feel sorrow for Sports Commentators who feel they need to nab or tab a villain when there is none. No one ever said that Arod was perfect but an objective person has to give the guy huge credit. The undeniable reality is that before Arod seats were more easily attainable at Yankee Stadium. As soon as Arod was signed seats began to be quite scarce. If you want to place a dollar value on him, 50 million a year may not be too high. An astonishing new excitement came to the Bronx. Not since Reggie has there been anyone like Arod. When he is at bat even the workers at the stadium slow down to watch as if wanting to be a part of history. He is the man. It should be quickly pointed out that we also love Jeter too and don't buy into anyone who looks to divide the two. They may not be bosom buddies. But I am sure they will enjoy getting a World Series Ring together.

When is the last time anyone ever saw a superstar work so hard on winning fans? He sure did win us. He plays hard. He runs out every ground ball or fly ball. He steals bases. He scores over a hundred runs every year and is now an excellent fielding third baseman. No matter how you slice it we all love to see the homerun and Arod does not disappoint. He has learned not to try to hard to please us and he is letting his talent do the talking.

Remember anyone with the numbers of Arod deserves to have an outsized ego. The great Dimaggio would not attend an Old Timers Game at the stadium unless the announcer declared when introducing him that he: "Is the greatest living player." Arod has not come close to this although he will fit that description for a long time to come.