How To Offend Your Co-Workers
Last night I turned on the television and was able to watch the Yankees celebrate their ninth consecutive division title and twelfth consecutive playoff berth. It looked in the clubhouse almost as if it were 1995 or 1996 all over again. I think that is because names like Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Chien-Ming Wang and the newest addition -- Bobby Abreu -- are still new to this. It was nice to see the human side to the team so often compared to U.S. Steel.
I watched with extra anticipation, however. I was looking to see if I could find some hint of a chemical imbalance brought on by this week's Sports Illustrated article, written by Tom Verducci.
Here is my take on the New York Yankees:
This is a team that is focused on one thing and that is winning the World Series. Nothing else matters. A pitcher wins twenty games? That's nice. A player wins the batting title? Wonderful. But did it get the team that World Series? That is all that counts. MVP's, Cy Young's, Rookies of the Year -- choose your award -- are mantle-fillers to this team. They want rings. Reggie Jackson is revered in that clubhouse for being Mr. October, for his ability to deliver the rings.
One player, however, doesn't get it. He's too wrapped up in himself to see what is truly important in baseball.
Rings.
The irony of it all is that the player who doesn't get it is the most talented player in that clubhouse. His name is Alex Rodriguez. And it is this more than anything that has irked Yankee fans and the New York media. Sure he makes a lot of money. But so does Derek Jeter. So does Manny Ramirez over in Boston. But they have something that A-Rod does not have -- ring tan. They have come through when their teams needed it most -- in October.
ESPN's Bob Klapisch made some interesting points in his counter article. It is true that Rodriguez could run circles around Derek Jeter. Still, Jeter cares only about winning. And all he does is succeed when it matters. That is why Jeter (who also has a big contract, also is good-looking, also is biracial, also plays on the best team -- who is just like all the excuses A-Rod has made for himself) is beloved and why Rodriguez is reviled.
A-Rod destroyed his relationship with one of his closest friends -- Jeter -- by slamming him in GQ several years ago. He made more or less the same comments that David Ortiz had a week or so ago, only more pointed, more demeaning. He basically said that he was better than Jeter and that he could easily win in New York.
The Mariners and Rangers would have had a better shot with Derek Jeter than Alex Rodriguez.
Other players who have now been thrown into the mix are Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina. Giambi is tricky. He is a cheater. He used steroids. However, Giambi is apparently a value in the clubhouse. Just look how he and Johnny Damon get along. Look what he did with former teammate Miguel Tejada in Baltimore (in the Verducci article). He made a terrible mistake, but he is basically a great teammate. He also hit those two blasts off Pedro Martinez in game seven back in 2003.
Mussina is a little more disconcerting to me. Mike Mussina is quiet. Mike Mussina is, at least to my eyes, a quality person in any clubhouse. He also performed well in the postseason. He pitched successfully when it mattered for the Yankees and cannot be faulted for the Yankee drought.
What have Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina to do with Alex Rodriguez' failures when it matters?
Klapisch says Jeter as captain should say something to him but that he won't because he holds a grudge. Perhaps he should and perhaps Jeter needs to let it go. But unless Jeter hits for A-Rod in those situations, I don't think there is anything he can do either that will help.
And neither can Joe Torre. The fact is, Joe Torre's ability to manage stars has been one of the keys to this team's success. But this is one even the great "Mr. T" cannot handle.
Alex Rodriguez needs to do it himself.
He needs to quit making excuses. He needs to quit blaming others. He needs to be a postseason hero.
The numbers types are not welcome in the Bronx. Winners are.
Alex Rodriguez has only a few weeks to learn how to be a winner.
I watched with extra anticipation, however. I was looking to see if I could find some hint of a chemical imbalance brought on by this week's Sports Illustrated article, written by Tom Verducci.
Here is my take on the New York Yankees:
This is a team that is focused on one thing and that is winning the World Series. Nothing else matters. A pitcher wins twenty games? That's nice. A player wins the batting title? Wonderful. But did it get the team that World Series? That is all that counts. MVP's, Cy Young's, Rookies of the Year -- choose your award -- are mantle-fillers to this team. They want rings. Reggie Jackson is revered in that clubhouse for being Mr. October, for his ability to deliver the rings.
One player, however, doesn't get it. He's too wrapped up in himself to see what is truly important in baseball.
Rings.
The irony of it all is that the player who doesn't get it is the most talented player in that clubhouse. His name is Alex Rodriguez. And it is this more than anything that has irked Yankee fans and the New York media. Sure he makes a lot of money. But so does Derek Jeter. So does Manny Ramirez over in Boston. But they have something that A-Rod does not have -- ring tan. They have come through when their teams needed it most -- in October.
ESPN's Bob Klapisch made some interesting points in his counter article. It is true that Rodriguez could run circles around Derek Jeter. Still, Jeter cares only about winning. And all he does is succeed when it matters. That is why Jeter (who also has a big contract, also is good-looking, also is biracial, also plays on the best team -- who is just like all the excuses A-Rod has made for himself) is beloved and why Rodriguez is reviled.
A-Rod destroyed his relationship with one of his closest friends -- Jeter -- by slamming him in GQ several years ago. He made more or less the same comments that David Ortiz had a week or so ago, only more pointed, more demeaning. He basically said that he was better than Jeter and that he could easily win in New York.
The Mariners and Rangers would have had a better shot with Derek Jeter than Alex Rodriguez.
Other players who have now been thrown into the mix are Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina. Giambi is tricky. He is a cheater. He used steroids. However, Giambi is apparently a value in the clubhouse. Just look how he and Johnny Damon get along. Look what he did with former teammate Miguel Tejada in Baltimore (in the Verducci article). He made a terrible mistake, but he is basically a great teammate. He also hit those two blasts off Pedro Martinez in game seven back in 2003.
Mussina is a little more disconcerting to me. Mike Mussina is quiet. Mike Mussina is, at least to my eyes, a quality person in any clubhouse. He also performed well in the postseason. He pitched successfully when it mattered for the Yankees and cannot be faulted for the Yankee drought.
What have Jason Giambi and Mike Mussina to do with Alex Rodriguez' failures when it matters?
Klapisch says Jeter as captain should say something to him but that he won't because he holds a grudge. Perhaps he should and perhaps Jeter needs to let it go. But unless Jeter hits for A-Rod in those situations, I don't think there is anything he can do either that will help.
And neither can Joe Torre. The fact is, Joe Torre's ability to manage stars has been one of the keys to this team's success. But this is one even the great "Mr. T" cannot handle.
Alex Rodriguez needs to do it himself.
He needs to quit making excuses. He needs to quit blaming others. He needs to be a postseason hero.
The numbers types are not welcome in the Bronx. Winners are.
Alex Rodriguez has only a few weeks to learn how to be a winner.
posted by E-Luv at 8:55 AM
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