Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

Alex Rodriguez spoke to ESPN’s Peter Gammons today and admitted taking steroids:

When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.

Back then, [baseball] was a different culture. It was very loose. I was young, I was stupid, I was naïve. I wanted to prove to everyone I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time. 

I did take a banned substance. For that, I’m very sorry and deeply regretful.

at the time, I wasn’t being truthful with myself. How could I be truthful with Katie Couric or CBS?

Many of the world’s major religions speak about forgiveness.  Perhaps your does too.  Maybe you’re just an American.  We’re a forgiving people.   He admitted it.   He said he’s sorry.   We can beat him up about not being honest with us in the past, now he has.   It’s over.   Time to move on.

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“The reality is that we’ve pretty much filled all our priorities, I’m set to go with this team.”


“Our team today is better than it was last year.”

Those quotes are from Omar Minaya in an article in Sunday’s Newsday.   Does any Mets fan believe what Omar says?   The team is the same as 2008, just swap Redding for Four Inning Pedro, and K-Rod for Wagner.  Unless you think that J.J. Putz puts this team over the top, its the same team, a case we made recently in this post .

When will Mets fans turn on Delgado this year?  Is he allowed to have a slow April?  Oh, and the God Bless America flap…that only matters when he isn’t playing well, right?

As for the playing of God Bless America in the 7th, I don’t want to be un-American or anti-God, but it was something that should have ended after the 2001 season.   Now it’s the kind of thing that you can’t end without taking heat, but it sticks out like a sore thumb at some games, especially when the stadiums play the pre-recorded versions.

Speaking of pre-recorded versions….any chance we will hear from Bob Sheppard on opening day, or is Jim Hall the voice of The House That A-Rod Built?

Curious how others feel about A-Rod?  Newsday went to the streets (below).

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Bill Madden has the most ridiculous A-Rod analysis yet in today’s News.

Bill wants the Yankees to cut A-Rod and eat the contract.

He wants the Yankees to eat a quarter billion dollars.

Come on dude.

If the Yankees ever did such a thing (probably after moving to Montreal) A-Rod could sit home and make $25 million a year to hang out with Madonna.

In Madden’s scenario I assume that A-Rod would be placed on unconditional release waivers.   A team could claim A-Rod for $1, but then would assume responsibility for the contract.  You see that kind of attempt every August.   In today’s economic environment nobody is taking this one on.   So A-Rod might sit home.

A-Rod could reject the claim, which would void the contract, and become a free agent.   A quarter billion dollars is a lot of money to walk away from, but maybe after a while enough money is enough money, and reputation and a desire to play is more important than money you’ll never use.  I’ve never had $25 million so I can’t tell you what it’s like.

Anyway, let’s say A-Rod was magically a free agent.   Would you want him on your team?

I’d take him in a second.  Actually I’d take him as my shortstop right there in Flushing.   I sold my soul earlier this winter when I decided I wanted Manny, so why not A-Rod?   Let him play shortstop and let Overreyes play second.    You moved Reyes for Kaz Matsui, you can move him for A-Rod.

You wouldn’t want A-Rod in this lineup?  All those who wanted Manny wouldn’t want A-Rod?

Is he clutch?  No.  Is he a choker?  Yes.   He will fit right in with the team when he goes 1 for 64 in October. He also might put up MVP-like stats (the writers will never vote for him now).

The Yankees aren’t eating this contract.   Steroids are part of the legacy of the last 15 years.  As I said yesterday, Selig should declare blanket amnesty and delcare that all the records stand forever.  Time to move on.

www.metspolice.com

I know links to Times articles are lame blogging, but of all the A-Rod pieces I read today, this was one of my favorite.  It’s dead on.

Even after Rodriguez’s agent Scott Boras pulled his shameless 2007 World Series stunt — claiming his man wanted out of New York before the Red Sox could pop a Champagne cork in Denver — the Yankees were ready to retie the knot the minute A-Rod picked up the telephone to say, Just kidding. He had Hank at hello, and soon after, it was till 2018 do they part because somewhere along the way, the Yankees would dress the next great baseball moment in pinstripes, delivering a clean-as-a-whistle home run champ.

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It’s sure interesting that A-Rod knew about this on Thursday, yet didn’t say anything to the Yankees about it.   It appears they found out the same time everyone else did, Saturday morning.

When do we get the Jeter quote?  You know, the really generic one that somehow nails the spot between team and not sticking up for the guy?  Jeter is good at those:

Reporter:  Derek, do you like vanilla ice cream?

Jeter:  Well I think we all recognize that vanilla is one of the top flavors in ice cream.  I think you’d have to put vanilla, chocolate and strawberry all in the same conversation.

I’m not sure that was an actual quote, I may have dreamed that one.

Nine more seasons of A-Rod in the Bronx.   What will his 15 years in pinnies be remembered for?  So far they’re remembered for lifting the Curse of the Bambino.   The Red Sox have become the Yankees (wins and an old ballpark) and the Yankees have become a team that can’t win.  A ball between Buckner’s legs or a swarm of midge flies, what’s the difference.

You may remember that in December 2003, Texas tried to trade A-Rod to those very Red Sox!   How much would Yankee fans be laughing now at the Roid Sox?

Anyone want a chance at being up 3-0 on Boston with Alex and his clutch winning ways in the opposing dugout?  Don’t forget it’s possible to win a championship with Hayes at third.

Wouldn’t you kind of liked to have Soriano on the 2009 (or 08 or 07 or 06 or 05 or 04) Yankees?  I’ll take .280 and 30 homers out of a poor-defensive second baseman any day.  You don’t need to go to the outfield for me Sori.

Well, A-Rod didn’t go to Boston, and they started winning.

9 more years.  Will he ever be a “true Yankee?”  Any Yankee fans want a mulligan on that opt-out?   Would be nice if third base were an option for the captain in 2011 (even Cal went to third).

Mr. Captain, we’re waiting for you.   You know how to reach sportswriters I assume.   Let’s hear it.

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