NEW YORK -- He has found peace to purge his demons, love when all he had was Madonna and madams and, most importantly, truth when his past was so fake and sleazy. No matter what we once thought of Alex Rodriguez, it's difficult to hold a grudge when he has achieved joy and reward the right way. In fact, allow me to propose the ultimate happy ending, something unimaginable only a few months ago but perhaps attainable if he continues to be a model citizen, a fine teammate, a grounded human being and the greatest ballplayer alive.That would be a place in Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mariotti: Not the American Dream, but Give Yankees Props
Fletcher: Phillies Abdicate Throne | Moore: Yanks Quit Playing Games
Price: Uncertain Future for N.Y. Trio | Olson: Phillies Fade Into Night
Box Score | Matsui MVP | A-Rod Finally a Champ | Fans Rejoice in Victory
Fletcher: Phillies Abdicate Throne | Moore: Yanks Quit Playing Games
Price: Uncertain Future for N.Y. Trio | Olson: Phillies Fade Into Night
Box Score | Matsui MVP | A-Rod Finally a Champ | Fans Rejoice in Victory
It will take more, of course, than one spectacular postseason and World Series championship ride. If the writers were voting today, Rodriguez would fall far short of the necessary 75 percent for induction. The stench of his steroids admission is too recent and wretched to simply dismiss, despite delivering the monster autumn hits we've long demanded. Yet unlike other marquee-name juicers whose careers have been disgraced by performance-enhancing drugs -- Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro among them -- A-Rod isn't vanishing into oblivion. Remarkably, at 34, he still has eight seasons left on a $275-million contract that expires in 2017. It gives him plenty of time to amass a continuing body of extraordinary work that, in the end, could leave him with the all-time home-run record and more championships and MVP trophies.
The numbers and hardware certainly will be there -- first-ballot worthy. Now, to turn enough voters his way, he must use the next eight years to be a high-profile role model in the fight against steroids. So far, Rodriguez has had one press conference in which he told the truth, part of the truth but not the whole truth. We need to hear much more, the full story. Then, he must meet with President Obama and volunteer to lead a federal anti-steroids campaign, complete with appearances, public-service announcements and exhaustive work that showcases his transparency and commitment to youth. Rather than bury the mistake and hope everyone forgets about it -- when we won't -- A-Rod should turn the biggest negative of his career into a positive and set an example of post-steroids reform.
If he does so, he'd have my Hall vote."That's up to you guys, I'm not the judge or the jury," Rodriguez said when asked if his legacy has been rescued. "I'm just happy to be part of a team and contribute."
Cliche as it sounds, his response fits the new requirements. This year, he finally dropped the narcissism, stopped staring into mirrors for magazine profiles and decided not to take himself so seriously, some concession for a guy who reportedly used to hang a portrait of a centaur over his bed -- half-Alex, half horse. Know why I think his renaissance is real and not a temporary departure from A-Fraud hell? Because he stood in the Yankess clubhouse long after midnight Thursday, his body drenched in Moet & Chandon, and spoke at length about the dramatic changes in his life. Kate Hudson might be a nice girl and calming influence, but her involvement is only part of this personal turnaround. Seems Rodriguez had lunch with friends a few weeks after his painful public acknowledgment that he used steroids. And this time, his pals weren't with him just to sample the salmon salad.
"They told me a lot of things I needed to hear," he told reporters. "I listened and I humbled myself. I looked in the mirror and I was honest with myself -- I didn't like what I saw."
The end result? "I'm a team guy now," he said. "I don't worry about anything individual. There's nothing you do individually that compares to team accomplishments."
Not to suggest any endorsement of steroids use, of course, but in a way, the best thing to happen to Rodriguez was getting busted. When a nation was treating him like a pariah last spring, he realized for the first time that he had teammates who cared about him. The Yankees were smart. Starting at the top with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi, they stressed the need for players to support A-Rod and not snipe at him in the media. Other than Derek Jeter's necessary reminder that not every player uses steroids, the Yankees stood staunchly behind their embattled slugger, knowing they were going nowhere without him. As it was, he had a hip problem that seemingly threatened his future. Why exacerbate his troubles by piling on? The surge of unity worked wonders. Feeling love in the clubhouse, Rodriguez homered in Baltimore in his first plate appearance after returning from the disabled list. His thunder bat was back. His hip was better than anyone expected. And the Yankees dominated the majors from May until November.
"Look, a lot of people were running the other way and my teammates and coaches and organization stood right next to me," he said. "Now we stand together as world champs, and I couldn't be prouder or happier. I just think that's the way things happen sometimes. I knew when I had 25 guys standing next to me, and the organization and my general manager, it meant the world to me. I said that day that this is going to turn out to be, maybe, one of the most special years of our lives. And it sure has. This is even better than you can imagine."
"He's exorcised a lot of demons. He's done it all now."
-- Yankees GM
Brian Cashman So good that his resurgence has me thinking. With the Yankees expected to use him more as a designated hitter in coming seasons -- one reason why they're still expected to cut loose Hideki Matsui after his spectacular show in the Game 6 clincher -- he should be able to prolong his career even if the hip and other injuries bother him. In eight seasons, he conceivably could put up statistics beyond belief. And if he does so without steroids, which we may never know until Major League Baseball tests for Human Growth Hormone (and other designer 'roids we don't even know about yet), he'll have a chance in that period to distance himself from his 2009 admission and steroids use earlier in the decade. If he retires in 2017, and the Hall vote comes five years later, induction is possible.
"He's exorcised a lot of demons. He's done it all now," Cashman said. "I think the rest of his career, now he can just write history. He doesn't have anything that he has to answer for anymore. He obviously has to produce, there's no doubt about that. But he doesn't have to be told he can't do anything. So now, he can sit back, and his work ethic and his play will take him just wherever it'll take him. He's one of the greatest players of all time."
"He's an amazing player," Girardi said, "and I'm extremely happy for him."
"I'm happy for him. He's a big reason why we won," said Jeter, who years ago was feuding with A-Rod but was beside him on the post-game party train, along with Hudson and Jeter's significant other, actress Minka Kelly. "It's nice to see everything come together for us."
"Perhaps the greatest player of our generation," teammate Johnny Damon said. "He deserves to have a ring."
Yes, he deserves the championship, as New York will show him during Friday's parade. Whether he deserves the Hall of Fame or not, the next eight years will tell. Girardi is the good Samaritan around here, adding to his good-man rep by rushing across a busy Cross County Parkway three hours after the clincher to help a female motorist who had crashed into a wall. We're not asking Alex Rodriguez to be Superman or Spiderman.
But as the reigning king of New York, he needs to do more than swing a huge bat and romance an actress. We'll be watching and waiting, Hall of Fame votes in our hands.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cograts to Yankees and their fans. You basically purchased a championship. How can a team have the class of the league in Derek Jeter and still have an asshole in A-roid?
Hey Gonzalez,
As a Yankee fan, I was never a devout fan of Arod, however, to his credit, this year he became more humble. He changed his mentality, became a lot more gracious, and team oriented.
Even Jeter embraced him after he came forth with his admission of PED usage.
He faced the music even in a limited capacity.
But, he didn't hide or make excuses about his involvement like Big Poopie did.
Throughout the year, he was villainized, scrutinized, and under a constant microscope by the media and the fans.
He was constantly thrown at by opposing teams!!
All you heard during his at bats from most opposing fans was vulgarities thrown at him.
They were brutal!!!
But, he took it all.
I still don't think that he can be the role model that Jeter has been; but, he should be given a lot of praise for this year and hopefully in future years.
Hey gonzalez, if by purchase you mean invest in the players who return on the investment, while at the same time paying a luxury tax to the franchises that line their pockets instead of paying its players, then yes, the Yankees did buy the championship. Good bless them. Why have money and not spend it? Steinbrenner is famous for his philanthropy too.
Second, why is a-rod an asshole. He admitted he made a grave mistake YEARS ago. Better than others that have yet to own up to it and still shooting it up for all we know (ahem ortiz). A-rod outperformed everyone's expectations this year. You have to give the Yankee players credit for being humble and carrying themselves with class, always playing hard and never denigrating the opponent in this great postseason
You're the big douche here Gonzalez.
Banned substance abuse, is banned substance abuse. A-roid and the others do not deserve the hall.
you gotta love the Phillies fans...desperate for any excuse any dig they can possibly come up with in order to salve their wounded egos by having their team just flat out outplayed
Excuse Dig #1. "the Yankees purchased a championship"....Hmmm oh yes...and ALL the Phillies players work for free...right...oh, and if the Yankees payroll is what got them the ring, then by that line of reasoning they should have it every year since they're historically paying more money than most anyone...but money doesn't buy championships...players win them on the field...no matter how much someone is paid, they still have to perform...too bad...that excuse is lame and doesn't hold water...next
2. "Phillies are homegrown"...a variation on the money one that seems to deride the notion of trading for players or getting free agents...well let's look at this...first, homegrown could mean born in PA. and as I look at the roster of starters for Phillies NONE are born in PA...so maybe homegrown means they've ONLY played for Phillies but let's see about that one...what about Pitchers: Lee, came from the Indians; Durbin, came from Detroit after KC and Cleveland; LIdge, came from Houston, okay...so what about others...Ibanez, came from Seattle, Bruntlett, came from Houston; Werth, came from Toronto...so I'm wondering what they're saying when they say "homegrown" seems like neither definition applies..excuse strike two
3. bad calls - EVERY team thinks they don't get the calls the other team gets and EVERY pitcher thinks the strike zone is smaller for them...except Howard's score in game 5 would normally require that he step on home plate wouldn't it? Uhm...apparently not...bad calls excuse strike 3
Lastly, the Phillies pitching...well, other than Lee who was spectacular...let's see, either:
A. they suck and can't seem to NOT hit ARod and other Yankees, who by the way, didn't fall for the bait and rush the mound OR retaliate HBP Yankees 5 HBP Phillies 1...seems the Phillies pitchers were doing more of the plunking.
or
B. it was just accidents, in which, they really sucked because clearly, they could neither NOT him them nor pitch well enough to dominate them...especially Martinez whose ego is the size of Qualcom
so bottom line, if they were trying to intimidate, it didn't work and if they weren't then they weren't effective...either way the results were the same...Yankees take the series, 4-2 bye bye phillies, maybe we'll see you next year...
Well it isn't whinning. When 90% of the rest of baseball fans agree that the Yankees buy their championships. Pluss Lee was a trade and the others were free agents. Our Payroll is 1/2 of A-riods pay; less than Mark Texerias pay and 30 mill more than AJ Burnett. Explain that????? So with that being said Yes we will see you next year some time in interleague play. The Phillies will be back i the series and Charlkie Manuel would like nothing else to take that trophy off you hands for 1/4 of the price.
Michial gifford Since you don't know what home grown means in baseball,just cheer for the Yanks,and stick to what you know,it's sure not baseball,another weak comment from a Yankee know nothing.Maybe you and A-rod can split a pill,and pump it up,such a joke,and they think Pete Rose is bad.A-Rod goes,then Rose goes,the real hit king,but Pete's problems is he's not a minority
A-Rod, a team player? We have yet to see it. How long can the 'good' behavior last? I would be pleasantly surprised if it continued. All behavior has consequences, being in the Hall of Fame is not one of them.
Now, Jeter is a good guy and always has been, now that's a Yankee, we need more like him.
The NY Yankees win the juice series. Rock on Alex!
I dont know if a Rod is as bad as everyone says he is . I am a huge fan of Henry Aaron . If a rod breaks the record I am ok with this . For sure not bonds .
The Yanks have been buying penants since I was in high school in the early sixties . Many people dont remember this . It is nothing new . They could not have done this without the huge payroll . I am sure the Yanks Own Bud Selig
Wait a minute... so when a known juicer in San Francisco breaks Hank Aaron's record, it's vilified and basically taken away from him, but if a known juicer in New York were to do it, it would be all right? I'm not understanding this.
A-Roid does not deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame, not because he took steroids but because he lied to the media about not taking them before the truth came out. Why would anyone want to elect somebody as dishonest as A-Roid?
Fact...The Yankees spend more than other teams, but also generate soooooooo much more revenue than other teams.
Fact...A-Rod did admitt to using steroids back in 2001-2003, but according to many in the know, at least (at least) 50% of all players were using (including Ortiz, Manny, and many more). I for one want to hear the rest of that infamous list.
Fact...There is no current salary cap. On top of that, the Steinbrenner's are not the most wealthy owners in the league. So why knock the yankees ownership for spending on a quality product? The rest of you fans of most other teams should question why your teams consistently spend so little and give you an average product while those same owners line their pockets with corporate dollars.
Fact...the 90's Yankees teams won three championships and did not spend soooo much money, and in fact, lost more than they won over the last 8 years despite the money.
Fact...2009 World Series Champions (New York Yankees). # 27 and growing.
You Yankee haters crack me up. Don't get me wrong I am not here to change you to like the Yankees as far as I am concerned you can still hate them. Most fans think of MLB baseball as a sport but I must tell you those that play the game it is their job. So the players are the employees. The front office or brass can be known as the employer. The fans are the customers. So the employers go out and put the best company(team) together as possible to raise the most dividends or income for them. The employer and customers demand to have the best company at the top. It is the companies job to make the customers (fans) happy by putting the best company out on the field. Oh wait, the Yankees did not make you happy because they beat the team you route for? Me personally, nah I am not sorry for that. People wake up, did the Yankees buy a championship? Heck yeah, it is a business. So when you are at a game involving the Yankees remember in a certain way you ARE supporting them, I mean how else did you get through the gates. Who do you work for?
Here is a thought for you: Would it be acceptable for the Steinbrenners to sell the Yankees to some person who has no knowledge of baseball let alone how to run a business and then the Steinbrenners go out and purchase the Texas Rangers and spend the money there and continuously "buy" championship teams for the Rangers? Is there a difference? Other than most people would call the Rangers the Yankees of the South, no there is no difference!
I, personally, would abhor any team that chooses to operate in that manner. By outspending everybody else, you're not giving everybody a fair chance at the title, which cheapens every championship you win.
Derek Jeter is a class act.
ok... first thing, I am not a yankee's fan. can't stand em, but congrats. so what if they bought a championship. they pay, but the players still have to play. as far as a-rod, when he was doing steroids, it was not against baseball's rules. to punish anyone who used during that time when baseball new it was going on and condoned it is stupid. bonds, mcgwire, a-rod, sosa, ortiz, etc. should not have their spot in the hall taken away because what they were doing was not against baseball rules. back in the sixties, players took steroids prescribed by the team doctors so they could play through injuries. koufax admitted as much to reporters during the 64 series with the dodgers and orioles. babe ruth was a drunk, ty cobb was a murderer, mantle popped more pills and drank more than anyone around. where are they?? the hall of fame. we have become a society that is so self righteous it is ridiculous. if we lived under the same microscope these guys live under, we would be all ashamed of the things we have done or continue to do that nobody knows about. congrats yanks, and maybe my cubbies will learn how to "buy" a championship now that we have new owners!!!!
this junky does not deserve the attention
Yeah sure,A-riod does not belong in any Hall of fame,maybe the Hall of shame. I so that the Phillies are better role models for all kids. Being a Yankee use to be cool,not anymore,they whine way to much and expect to get calls that they never earned. The Phillies save a few free agent players are a home grown team. The Phillies are so good,we let the Yankees have there MVP,OR CAN'T even say ' baseballs been ver,very good to me'. Another Phila. rip-off is the parade,need anything else New York,just ask. SO WEAK NY