A-Rod talkin' like Mr. Cub

[E.J.]

NY Daily News[/url]"]Speculation will mount Monday night (10 p.m.) when Rodriguez appears on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel." If you come away sensing the Yankees third baseman has the Windy City on his mind you will have plenty of company.

 

During a profile of new Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who managed Rodriguez for seven seasons in Seattle, A-Rod is interviewed by Frank Deford. While Deford never asks Rodriguez to compare Piniella to Joe Torre, it is abundantly clear the managerial qualities - and style - A-Rod enthusiastically attributes to Piniella are not subscribed to by the Yankees manager.

 

Rodriguez also tells Deford that Piniella "has been just like a father to me." During the piece, Piniella picks up a bat with the inscription: "To my second mom." The bat was sent by A-Rod to Piniella's wife, Anita.

 

Visions of Piniella wigging big on umpires, something Torre never does, still register positively with Rodriguez.

 

A-Rod has a serious look when he says: "But that type of passion went right on through us as players. For me it worked 100%."

 

For Rodriguez, Piniella is a man of radical contrasts. The sensitive side of Piniella, his ability to coddle players, also motivated him. A-Rod says during his rookie season in Seattle, Piniella blasted him for swinging wildly at a sequence of Dennis Eckersley sliders.

 

"I remember being 18, almost in tears," Rodriguez says. "... I just felt like, 'Get me back in my senior high school uniform.' Then sure enough (Piniella) gives me a big kiss on top of my head. He goes, 'Son, I love you. I love you. I just want you to do well.'

 

"From that day on," Rodriguez says, "for the next 12 years, he's been just like a father to me."

[Mark Priors Calves]

i like it.

[Electron Blue]

So when's he gettin' here, trade deadline or offseason? :D

[CoolHandLuke]

I want him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Dear Lord...please.

 

Please.

 

Thank you.

[wade]

We don't want him, he's a CHOKER!!!!!!

 

 

Just kidding, I'd love it if he played shortstop for the Cubs.

[roadster]

NY Daily News[/url]"]Speculation will mount Monday night (10 p.m.) when Rodriguez appears on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel." If you come away sensing the Yankees third baseman has the Windy City on his mind you will have plenty of company.

 

During a profile of new Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who managed Rodriguez for seven seasons in Seattle, A-Rod is interviewed by Frank Deford. While Deford never asks Rodriguez to compare Piniella to Joe Torre, it is abundantly clear the managerial qualities - and style - A-Rod enthusiastically attributes to Piniella are not subscribed to by the Yankees manager.

 

Rodriguez also tells Deford that Piniella "has been just like a father to me." During the piece, Piniella picks up a bat with the inscription: "To my second mom." The bat was sent by A-Rod to Piniella's wife, Anita.

 

Visions of Piniella wigging big on umpires, something Torre never does, still register positively with Rodriguez.

 

A-Rod has a serious look when he says: "But that type of passion went right on through us as players. For me it worked 100%."

 

For Rodriguez, Piniella is a man of radical contrasts. The sensitive side of Piniella, his ability to coddle players, also motivated him. A-Rod says during his rookie season in Seattle, Piniella blasted him for swinging wildly at a sequence of Dennis Eckersley sliders.

 

"I remember being 18, almost in tears," Rodriguez says. "... I just felt like, 'Get me back in my senior high school uniform.' Then sure enough (Piniella) gives me a big kiss on top of my head. He goes, 'Son, I love you. I love you. I just want you to do well.'

 

"From that day on," Rodriguez says, "for the next 12 years, he's been just like a father to me."

 

Most likely scenario is A-Rod opts out of his contract (I think he has an out at the end of this year) and signs as a FA with the Cubs.

[wekse]

i'd probably need a clean pair of shorts if the cubs were to find a way to land arod.

[JWCUB]

I am really beginning to believe that A-Rod will be a Cub next year. At first I thought it was just a pipe dream, but now more and more it almost seems inevitable. I like it.

[daske17]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With the Ramirez contract signed, the only way Arod becomes a Cub is if he can still play SS. So, the question arises, can he?

[goonys evil twin]

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

He's supposed to be making $27m per year for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

 

After 2007, he'll have a 3/81 guarantee remaining. If he voids the deal, I would assume he'd be expecting 5/100 at a minimum. I can't imagine the Cubs have space for that without some serious attrition of current contracts.

[wekse]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

sign him

 

soriano

murton

arod

lee

ramirez

barrett

who cares

who cares

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

Zambrano's getting a raise, and if Prior stays healthy he'll be looking for a payday too. The only way ARod can fit is if payroll is expanded to 150 or Hendry can unload the Lilly and Marquis contracts while being able to count on adequate production from pitchers like Guzman, Gallagher, Veal, or Samardalafisha.

[goonys evil twin]

With the Ramirez contract signed, the only way Arod becomes a Cub is if he can still play SS. So, the question arises, can he?

 

I believe more than well enough to still be an enormous asset to the team.

[Derwood]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

i think A-Rod has made Boras enough money that Rodriguez can tell him where to stick it. And I also think that A-Rod is a caliber of player that the team would just find the money to pay. If you were the front office, would you ever say "Sorry, A-Rod just doesn't fit in our budget"?

[goonys evil twin]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

sign him

 

soriano

murton

arod

lee

ramirez

barrett

who cares

who cares

 

To fit Soriano, Arod, Lee and Ramirez into the same payroll, while still employing a pitching staff, gusy like Jones and Barrett will have to be gone. They'd have to go with affordable guys at multiple positions, like Murton, Pie and Patterson. And they'd probably have to find a minimum wage catcher to work in with Blanco.

[daske17]

i think A-Rod has made Boras enough money that Rodriguez can tell him where to stick it. And I also think that A-Rod is a caliber of player that the team would just find the money to pay. If you were the front office, would you ever say "Sorry, A-Rod just doesn't fit in our budget"?

 

Exhibits A and B: Vlad Guerrero and Carlos Beltran

 

Until Soriano, the team hasn't been known to go after the best players on the market regardless of cost.

[goonys evil twin]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

i think A-Rod has made Boras enough money that Rodriguez can tell him where to stick it. And I also think that A-Rod is a caliber of player that the team would just find the money to pay. If you were the front office, would you ever say "Sorry, A-Rod just doesn't fit in our budget"?

 

Most front offices have already said that.

[Derwood]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

sign him

 

soriano

murton

arod

lee

ramirez

barrett

who cares

who cares

 

To fit Soriano, Arod, Lee and Ramirez into the same payroll, while still employing a pitching staff, gusy like Jones and Barrett will have to be gone. They'd have to go with affordable guys at multiple positions, like Murton, Pie and Patterson. And they'd probably have to find a minimum wage catcher to work in with Blanco.

 

fine, where do I sign? I think having 4 potential 100 RBI guys in the lineup makes up for a scrub playing catcher.

[wekse]

Okay, let's look at the logistics of having A-Rod sign with the Cubs.

 

Scott Boras clients don't take a discount. With the amount of money the Cubs have committed this off-season, and the potential for Z's contract, will the team be hamstringing itself moving forward?

 

I would anticipate that it would take a 5-6 year contract at about $18-22 million per year based on current market conditions to sign a player like A-Rod and I think that's the low end.

 

What are everyone else's thoughts on the matter?

 

sign him

 

soriano

murton

arod

lee

ramirez

barrett

who cares

who cares

 

To fit Soriano, Arod, Lee and Ramirez into the same payroll, while still employing a pitching staff, gusy like Jones and Barrett will have to be gone. They'd have to go with affordable guys at multiple positions, like Murton, Pie and Patterson. And they'd probably have to find a minimum wage catcher to work in with Blanco.

 

i know...just dreaming...geeze mr. buzzkill

[goonys evil twin]

fine, where do I sign? I think having 4 potential 100 RBI guys in the lineup makes up for a scrub playing catcher.

 

I agree. A big 4 of Soriano, Lee, Ramirez and Rodriguez would give you tremendous leeway for the rest of the lineup. I'd say Murton, Patterson/Theriot, Pie and Fox (or some other minor league catcher) would would be perfectly fine in the rest of the lineup.

 

The key is offloading guys like Jones and DeRosa, and probably at least one of Marquis/Lilly.

[goonys evil twin]

i know...just dreaming...geeze mr. buzzkill

 

I'm not trying to kill your buzz, just dreaming up realistic possibilities for getting ARod on board. I've been trying to think of ways to get him here since '99.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'll take paying ARod the big bucks over paying Z the big bucks any day of the week and a zillion times on Sunday.

 

Just an idea.

[Soul]

I'd love for this to happen.

 

Izzy or ARod? Hike my ticket price $5 and give me ARod.