Yankees and A-Rod

[acoustix]

I play in a twilight hardball league (and a beer softball league on Sunday mornings). There are virtually no left handed pitchers (at least none good enough to start) and few righties who are sophisticated enough to hit opposite field consistently, so my opinion could be swayed I suppose.

The fact the 2nd base takes hard slides doesn't make it a more physically demanding position IMO. It means it's a more dangerous position, sure. "Physically demanding" to me is more along the lines of physical exertion put into your position. Whether or not you take hard slides speaks more to the career shortening part of it I guess, but I am focusing more on the exertion. They both move a ton, whether it be diving, backing up a base, coming in for bunts, etc. In my experience, 3B is more of a physical, bust-your-butt position, while 2B is more a finesse position at it's core (barring the spikes in the shins).

[prohornblower]

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The fact the 2nd base takes hard slides doesn't make it a more physically demanding position IMO. Whether or not you take hard slides speaks more to the career shortening part of it I guess, but I am focusing more on the exertion. They both move a ton, whether it be diving, backing up a base, coming in for bunts, etc. In my experience, 3B is more of a physical, bust-your-butt position, while 2B is more a finesse position at it's core (barring the spikes in the shins).

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...but Jack's argument was that the career of a 2nd baseman is likely to be shorter than 3rd, due to the extra exertion and physical demands...

When do you bust your butt at 3rd? Seriously. The hardest thing about 3rd is having to make a longer, stronger throw. And charging bunts/barehanding.

If you are talking softball, I would agree, because everyone and their mother rips 1-hoppers to 3rd base. When I play 3rd in softball it usually leaves me with bruised shins and a bruised left palm. 2nd never gets action in softball. But baseball is a different story. The games are so dissimilar, they are like a distant cousin twice removed.

[acoustix]

I obviously misunderstood Jack's post. Oh well, it was still awesome to talk baseball while bored at work.

Back to the point, Arod should not and will not be traded.

[SuitedDucks]

with all this arod trade talk, does everyoen realize that arod has a blanket no trade clause and has said he will end his career as a yankee. the guy is not going anywhere.

[DesertCat]

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A Rod is one of the top 3 players in the MLB but i think a lot of his value is taken away by him being a Yankee. .880 OPS may lead AL 3B but its not a lot better than .876 Troy Glaus or .846 Mike Lowell or .864 Joe Crede. And im sure that Crede and Lowell are both playing a better 3rd base than A Rod this year.

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But it's very likely that (barring injury) ARod hits substantially better the rest of the year while Glaus, Crede and Lowell hit the same or worse. ARod has a career OPS+ of 145, Glaus 120, Lowell 109, and Crede 91.

If he cleans up his throws, his defensive value is solid. Trading your best players because they have a bad half season at age 30 is likely to turn out very bad, it's like buying high and selling low in the stock market.

Of course, if ARod goes all Knoblauch the rest of the season you can't play him anywhere but DH. But he's still likely to be one of the best DH's in the game.

[djj6835]

I saw this on the front page of ESPN. I found it quite ironic considering that literally the most overated player in baseball was on the field in that game only he was playing about 20 feet to A-Rod's left. I assume the fan was just confused.

[prohornblower]

Dare you.

Jeter = God on a good day.

[Karak567]

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I saw this on the front page of ESPN. I found it quite ironic considering that literally the most overated player in baseball was on the field in that game only he was playing about 20 feet to A-Rod's left. I assume the fan was just confused.

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Yeah man, a VORP of only 46.9? [censored], that only makes him in the top 10 of the best players in MLB this year. Certainly overrated.

[djj6835]

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Yeah man, a VORP of only 46.9? [censored], that only makes him in the top 10 of the best players in MLB this year. Certainly overrated.


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He' not the best player in baseball, he's not even the best short stop in baseball, he's not the best short stop in his team, he hasn't deserved a single one of the gold gloves he has won....in other words he is overated. Clearly he's a great player, but he's not God like many would lead you to believe.

[cdxx]

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Yeah man, a VORP of only 46.9? [censored], that only makes him in the top 10 of the best players in MLB this year. Certainly overrated.


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He' not the best player in baseball, he's not even the best short stop in baseball, he's not the best short stop in his team, he hasn't deserved a single one of the gold gloves he has won....in other words he is overated. Clearly he's a great player, but he's not God like many would lead you to believe.

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i am confused, who are we talking about here? wasn't this thread about ARod? (who by the way is rebounding nicely from his horrendous week)