Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

I've long hated the Evil Empire, but, after reading Tom Verducci's SI cover story on Alex Rodriguez, I'll be rooting for at least one Yankee come October. But, before I get too ahead of myself, allow me to backup for a moment. Verducci's piece is a delicious insider's account of what it was like for A-Rod as he struggled through those mid-season months when New York's fate actually hung in the balance.

What makes it so interesting and entertaining are the direct and uncomplimentary quotes from members of the leaders of the Yanks clubhouse, including Derek Jeter, Joe Torre and, most notably, Jason Giambi. Yet it's this passage that resonates the most with me:

"One day last month, [Verducci] asked Rodriguez whom he has relied on most during his difficult summer. He first mentioned [his wife] Cynthia. But to whom has he turned on this Yankees team? He looked down and thought in silence. Ten seconds passed.

Finally he said, "Rob Thomson." Thomson is the team's special-assignment coach who throws batting practice. "And Mo. Mariano is the best. Those three."

And that was it."

That's sad. The guy's an outsider on his own team, which doesn't mean he's a sociopath or anything of the sort. When I was in high school, I got along with most people except for the guys on my baseball team. We'd go on a California trip to play in a tournament every spring and it was always the worst week of the year for me. Sure, traveling to LA and facing prime competition was great, but it was miserable trying to mesh with guys day in and day out just for the sake of fitting in.

Would I mesh with Jeter? With Giambi? Probably not. I don't like their personalities from afar and I doubt I would in-person either. But that doesn't mean I didn't produce my senior year and it isn't preventing Rodriguez from knocking in 125 runs this year. That's not to compare me to him or the George C. Marshall Statesmen to the New York Yankees, but still.

Anyway, read the piece. It's the second in a stringof great SI cover stories(Gary Smith on Pat Tillman being the other), and it's absurd that I'm still paying for SI (the magazine) when I'm already reading SI (the web site) two days before it hits my mailbox.

And one last note on A-Rod before moving on. He has 463 career home runs and is 31 years old, which means that, if he continues hitting 40 per year, he'll break Hank Aaron's record in May of '14 at the age of 38. So be prepared for that. I'm sure Giambi will remain unimpressed. Prick.

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• #9 Comment from burstlp1958 
  9/23/06 2:33 PM | Permalink

  if you are into his stats etc then arod is a freak of nature.  But, he is an outsider on a team that doesn't really care about stats other than winning.  Its not his salary or the crap he goes into in the article of poor poor me ie maybe its because he's good looking, or biracial, or the highest paid on the most popular team blah blah blah, its everything he does is about him.  Forget giambi or jeter, the guy is the only one of 25 whose primary concern is him--stats are for losers ie texas and seattle when he was there.  If he is so great why is it that the two teams he left had significantly BETTER years AFTER he was gone?  How is it possible his numbers are going DOWN in a lineup where he has the most protection ever?  Until he wins something he is just a stat machine which is interesting but not what the yanks have built the success of the past 12 years on.  Its not about fitting in, its about priorities--did you travel with that basketball team to get your numbers or win.  I would think win.  Arod would think numbers.
• #8 Comment from andrewjohnson034 
  9/22/06 12:49 AM | Permalink

  What's amazing to me is how A-Rod has gone from money-grubbing self-centered ego-maniac to sympathetic character in the matter of a year, thanks to the brutality of Yankees fans. What's more the traditional knocks on A-Rod are completely based in myth. 2006 numbers (BA/OBP/SLG): .284/.384/.514. With RISP: .297/.427/4.97. With RISP/2 Outs: .316/.495/.481. Career numbers: .307/.385/.577. Postseason numbers: .305/.393/.534. So where exactly does the rep that he's terrible in the clutch come from? Thin air. Yet, Derek Jeter, the captain and savior of the Yankees (who by the way can't hold A-Rod's jock as an offensive player or as a shortstop) is the one with the "calm eyes" and mystical powers. Leave it to spoiled fans in the Bronx to alienate the greatest player of this generation.
• #7 Comment from monponsett 
  9/21/06 12:53 AM | Permalink

  One of my husband's friends, on you still paying for SI when you read SI.com..."It's tougher to carry the computer into the bathroom to jerk off to the swimsuit issue."
• #6 Comment from monponsett 
  9/21/06 12:49 AM | Permalink

  Pay me $25 million a year, and you can snob on me all you want. I'll hire friends, and they'll effing love me.
  
  Alex must have had trouble not laughing when Giambi shook off his steroid stupor long enough to question ARod's motivation.
  
  If I were feeding Rodriguez his lines, his answer would have been "Thanks, Jason... so, have you found one non-retarded American yet who bought that stomach tumor story you blamed your power loss on when MLB started watching for steroids? Get back to me when you do, BALCO Boy..."
• #5 Comment from pwillkc 
  9/20/06 4:46 PM | Permalink

  I love how Giambi has the audacity to attack A-Rod.  Giambi never struggled?  What were Giambi’s pre-All Star game numbers in 2005?  Weren’t the Yanks thinking about sending him to AAA?  Not to mention he has used steroids.  Not to mention that Giambi is making $20,428,571 this year and is hitting .250.  A-Rod makes about 5 million more, and is hitting .286 with more RBI’s, and two less homeruns.  I don’t get it.  
  
  thanks,
  
  Patrick
  http://pwill.blogspot.com/