Yanksfan1523

As a true Yankee fan, I have been through losing and accept that while developing some younger players that we will have mediocre seasons! I will take it to lower the payroll and get some hunger back in this team. I think Girardi and O'neill can bring some of that back. I have missed the intensity of teams past. You come to a Cubs board and you reason by saying that you've been through losing? (only kidding). Either way, if the Yankees are really going to do it this way, it can only be good for baseball. Now its obviously that there is only one real "evil empire" and its about 4 hours NE of NYC Hey, just cause I am a Yankees fan doesn't mean I don't have intrest in other teams. I went to High School and College in Illinois and may know more about your Cubbies than some others on here. I have many interests in the Cubs/Cards rivalry! And Yes, I was happy to see the Evil empire shift itself Northeast! But let's not forget the Cubbies broke out the checkbook and closed the gap also.

As a true Yankee fan, I have been through losing and accept that while developing some younger players that we will have mediocre seasons! I will take it to lower the payroll and get some hunger back in this team. I think Girardi and O'neill can bring some of that back. I have missed the intensity of teams past.

That's not entirely accurate. The Yankees only paid $16m of it. The Rangers picked up $9m. Since he opted out, the Rangers are the happiest team in the world. EXACTLY A-Rod at 16-20 is one thing, A-Rod at 30-35 is another. And lets make one thing CLEAR. I am a Yankee fan 4 life. I am not one of the asses that boos A-Rod. I want him to preform well while he is wearing pins! I also DO NOT say it is A-Rods fault THE TEAM LOST!! There have been many guys that have playeed for the Yankees that I HATED, but I still root for my team! I sat through years of Jesse Barfield, Steve Balboni, Len Sakata, John Montefusco and others!! I have not like MANY moves made (Just like Cub Fans!) and am not dilussional as to what this team is without him! I see all the faults, saw them before last season. I see them now!! BUt signing A-Rod is not a cure for the Yanks problems. And just like the Soriano threads, What happens in the last 3 years of that contract when a 38 yr old A-Rod is making 40 Million!! I am not knocking A-Rod and Praising the Giambi, Damon, Pavano, Farnsworth-LESS's of the team!! Do not lump me in with the 96ers that think the Yanks need to make the playoffs every year! I was at the Stadium when it was Mattingly and NOTHING!!!

It is easy to say A-Rod and he would be my choice in this. BUt you have to loook at more. A-Rod an his 30-35 per = Zambrano and D. Lee Zambrano and A-Ram Zambrano and Soriano If you have 30-35 Million to spend, there are ways to do it and have it equal more than A-Rod. How about: MANNY AND BECKETT!!!! --ANY DAY OVER A-ROD!!(AND YES, I HATE THE SAWKS!!) Santana and Mauer I agree with Artie Moreno-- it does not make good business sense to put that much into any one player.

So, wait...you don't care about the playoffs, you want to see excitement? What's more exciting that watching the best player in at least a generation play? And how is ARod dead weight? Mussina, Giambi, Damon-there's your dead weight. You're not making sense. I agree, but you forgot Pavano, Farnsworth, and the half the bullpen. As far as me wanting the Yankees to miss the playoffs, I didn't say forever! Yes they may miss for a year or two, but they will still win!! I said miss the playoff for a year!! Argue all you want,The Yankees do not NEED A-Rod! He is not the Savior!! We need much more help and to pay him for 10 years is INSANE!! Let him go elsewhere and I will take my chances!! I understand who he is, but I understand WE AMDE THE POST-SEASON FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE YEARS BEFORE HE ARRIVED. It isn't like they will become the Astros when he leaves!! We can fix it, we have the technology!!

That is not THE PLAN! I am simply saying looking at this team, they need pitching more than they need A-Rod. THE PLAN is for Pettitte to return and our young pitchers to continue their development! I like the direction the Yanks are going and don't want to pay A-Rod his demands. A-Rod has shown he does not want to be on the Yankees because he wants more money! So, let him go and see what Pitching is available! Santana is not the only guy out there, I was just using him as an example. I would be happy to have Willis, Kazmir, Linceicum, or who knows who else will come up!! The fact is Pitching wins championships and A-Rod can't pitch!! SAVE THE MONEY!!

Jeter has had a few lousy post season series an says so himself. No one is blaming A-Rod for the Yankees woes in the post-season. The fact is A-Rod wants to be the best and make the most money, He has finally admitted he enjoys being the highest paid player. Therefor he should take the most critisism when his team folds like a cheap suit! A-Rod deserves his money. I am just thankful that my team has decided to spend all that money more wisely. A-rod asking for 30-35 Million is TWICE what "Mr. Yankee" makes!! While I admit, THIS YEAR the Yankees would not have made the playoffs without A-Rod's season, I also don't care only about making it!! I want to see some excitement. And the last 2 years has given me NONE. I was glad when the Yankees started to get younger and get rid of some of the dead weight they have been carrying!! And there are more that need to be shown the door after A-Rod departs!!

It wasn't Bartman. That poor guy, he wasn't the only one reaching!! He did most fans do!!

Kennedy isnt that good. Chamberlain is a reliever. Hughes is Mark Prior. Hughes is going to have a career 167 ERA+. That's much better than Prior. mark prior would have had a 178 if he didnt get hurt, you know that. hughes is also going to get hurt You're no fun. I'm going to blame it on Yankeesfan. Don't blame me!! BLAME DUSTY!! He should have gone out and settled prior down! I hate seeing Hughes compared to Prior, LMAO!! Hey I have tons of Mark Prior Baseball cards, any takers?? Auto/jerseys /25!!Hurry they won't last!!!

Kennedy isnt that good. Chamberlain is a reliever. Hughes is Mark Prior. That is what I am afraid of! If Hughes Is Prior and Kennedy isn't that good, and NO Pettitte, then you need to give Santana 25-28 Million. If you keep A-Rod and Pay Santana the Payroll will be 250 million!! The Yankees need to lower Payroll to around 170-180 and start to get younger. Yes A-rod is worth 35 Million to they Yanks NOW, but what about in 5 years? Is a 37 year old A-rod still going to pt up these numbers or is there a natural drop off?? One other thing No one mentions, What if A-Rod shows up on the Mitchell list?? Is he worth it then? I wouldn't put it past him to be on the list, he is so image conscious!! He hated being labeled a failure and he did lose 15 pounds last season, all while looking stronger!

Bernie Williams hit better than Alex Rodriguez that year. So is Bernie the best ever?? You just made my point! Bernie, O'neill, Brosius, Martinez. They fed off each other and hated to lose. That is why that was such a good team! They just wanted to win. I didn't say that team was full of bums! They had stars, but other than Jeter, Any Hall of famers? Not really (Sorry Bernie). No one hit 40 homers, but as a team they stole bases, hit in the clutch, executed the hit and run, and Pitched and played defense!! I would love to have Bernie and O'neill on this team!! You can bet I teach my boys to play like them!! No, they didnt feed off each other...they were good. There's a complete difference. THE 2007 YANKEES HAD A BETTER OFFENSE THAN THE 1998 YANKEES! The problem isnt offense. The 1998 Yankees didnt have a better outcome because of ONiell, Bernie, etc. They had a better year because they had an elite pitching staff. Youre blaming Rodriguez because you signed Carl Pavano Good Job. OK, You KEEP saying that the difference between the Yankees teams that won and tHE Yankees teams now is Pitching, SO WHY SHOULD THE YANKEES PAY A-ROD 30 MILLION? I would prefer to save it for Pitching! That is all I have been sayiing!! The Yankees of the Late 90's were good, and they did not have one player that was the highest paid at his position!!

We were talking about the 98 Yankees.

So they miss the playoffs, but maybe the rest of the guys learn how to play together and grow into a TEAM. Say what you want the 2006 and 2007 Yankees had great players but were not a team!!

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. Bernie Williams hit better than Alex Rodriguez that year. So is Bernie the best ever?? You just made my point! Bernie, O'neill, Brosius, Martinez. They fed off each other and hated to lose. That is why that was such a good team! They just wanted to win. I didn't say that team was full of bums! They had stars, but other than Jeter, Any Hall of famers? Not really (Sorry Bernie). No one hit 40 homers, but as a team they stole bases, hit in the clutch, executed the hit and run, and Pitched and played defense!! I would love to have Bernie and O'neill on this team!! You can bet I teach my boys to play like them!!

So if he doesn't make a great difference in the offense, and the pitching is worse, Why give him 30 million per?? Wouldn't it be smarter to reverse the trend and spend on pitching and defense?? I would rather spend the money elsewhere. Let me ask Cub fans a question. A-Rod will probably cost more per season than Soriano and Zambrano, so who would you prefer??

Who said terrifying?? Still good enough to win some games. The real worry is the Pitching, both starting and the pen!! If Hughes and Chamberlain continue to improve and Pettitte Returns, then we need some releif help and we will do alright. I would love to see this team winning more 5 to 3 games and not 13 to 11!!

Yes, it is always about money, LOL! So what, Businesses that spend more money to develop themselve are bad? I thought that was the idea! Build your business. When Steinbummer bought the Yankees they were crap!! He spent money and built his franchise!! So that make s the Yankees bad. Nobody was crying in the late 80's early 90's when the Yankees spent money and SUCKED!! But once they became the Franchise they are now, everyone goes crazy. And once they say they will not be held hostage and pay A-Rod, they are idiots again!! Semms like The Yankees are LOSE-LOSE!! I long for the days they were horrible!! It was easier for REAL fans to get a seat, LOL

lmao, I am not blaming A-Rod!! But let someone else pay Boras' price! That is all I am saying. I think 30 Million is outrageous!!

I would have prefered to keep Soriano. I was never thrilled about the trade. And to answer your question, NO. I wouldn't want him back. And funny how Red Sox fans say that the best thing they ever did was NOT get A-Rod! Even going as far as to chant it after the Series. Maybe you will get lucky and the Trib will go get him. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!

I'll try. If your OPS+ is over 170, chances are you know how to win. Wait a second, they're losing that guy. Nevermind. Hey, he loves Lou!! Kick in and let the trib pay him!!

I admit the Yankees will be worse off without A-Rod next year, maybe even for two or three years!! But so what!! They will survive and make the playoffs in 2009 as our young players develop. And since the Yankees can keep their players, maybe we see another three-peat! In closing, I know A-Rod is a great player! But he is not the only thing keeping the Yankees alive!!

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. 2007 ARod OPS+ 177 1998 Bernie Williams OPS+ 160 2007 Yankees team OPS+ 118 1998 Yankees team OPS+ 117 The 2007 Yankees allowed almost a full run per game (0.75) more than the 1998 version. That's why you weren't as good. Not because ARod is "only interested in money". EXACTLY MY POINT!!! How is A-rod and his 30 million going to help our pitching?? The Yankees have had mediocre pitching for years. I would much prefer to spend that 30 million on pitching!! We don't need the offense. ARod is worth what, 80 more runs than Betemit (total estimate)? With this FA pitching market, it's going to be tough to spread out $30 million dollars in a way to make up that many runs. The Yankees offense will be fine. I am tired of hearing how we will have no offense if he leaves! Yes his stats are IMPOSSIBLE to replace, but didn't we have a good offense in 2003? Can't we have offense without him? is everyone convinced there is no life after A-Rod? Didn't SWEET LOU guide the A-Rod less Mariners to 119 wins and the playoffs the YEAR AFTER he left?? They had the best offense and the best pitching in the league in 2001. The Yankees will definitely not have anywhere near that in 2008. If you lose ARod and you lose Posada, you can expect every player on your roster not named Cano or Melky to hit worse than they did last year. I'm not saying that it's foolish to not resign ARod, because it's going to be a lot of money over a lot of years, but if he and Posada hit the road, you are going to have to replace well over 100 runs. And if the rest of your team continues to decline (they're all well over 30 at this point), that offense is going to take a hit. I agree -- A HUGE HIT. But as a fan, I am willing to take it to get rid of more salary. Next year, Giambi, Farnsworth-LESS, Abreu all come off. I want to go back to the days when the Yankees developed young players AND spent money to get guys that know how to win.

Needless to say, they've played like they've been blind ever since they've been formed. No at times they play well and have a very good offense! The front office and the pitching is what has been running blind!!

And listen to the bitching about a 250 million dollar payroll?? As a true fan, I want to see the payroll lowered and some talent developed! ARod's money is not going to be put into the draft or anything like that, it's going to go right back into the FA market. He didn't hinder your youth development, at all. The money saved is what will allow the Yanks to go after Santana. I didn't say A-Rod hindered our youth, I said I wanted to see more youth. I am entitled to my opinion on A-rod. I will enjoy watching my team just as much without him as I did with him!!! So let someone else pay him!

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. 2007 ARod OPS+ 177 1998 Bernie Williams OPS+ 160 2007 Yankees team OPS+ 118 1998 Yankees team OPS+ 117 The 2007 Yankees allowed almost a full run per game (0.75) more than the 1998 version. That's why you weren't as good. Not because ARod is "only interested in money". EXACTLY MY POINT!!! How is A-rod and his 30 million going to help our pitching?? The Yankees have had mediocre pitching for years. I would much prefer to spend that 30 million on pitching!! We don't need the offense. ARod is worth what, 80 more runs than Betemit (total estimate)? With this FA pitching market, it's going to be tough to spread out $30 million dollars in a way to make up that many runs. The Yankees offense will be fine. I am tired of hearing how we will have no offense if he leaves! Yes his stats are IMPOSSIBLE to replace, but didn't we have a good offense in 2003? Can't we have offense without him? is everyone convinced there is no life after A-Rod? Didn't SWEET LOU guide the A-Rod less Mariners to 119 wins and the playoffs the YEAR AFTER he left??