Bye-bye, So Long, Farewell

Steriods?  Who, me?

At long last, baseball fans got what they wanted: Alex Rodriguez is no more.  After an arbitrator ruled that A-Rod's original 211-game suspension was being "shortened" to 162 games, it all but spelled the end of Rodriguez's career in Major League Baseball.  Having missed most of the 2013 season with a hip injury, by the time the 2014 season has ended, A-Rod will have played all of 44 games in 2 years.  At age 39, with two surgically-repaired hips, it hardly bodes well for a comeback in 2015.

However, I think there is a chance, albeit a small one, that A-Rod can play in the majors again.  The scenario itself is actually plausible -- the hiccup is that it requires Rodriguez to actually accept baseball's punishment and move on.  (So far, that doesn't seem likely.)

But let's assume that A-Rod exhausts all his legal avenues prior to Spring Training and finally faces the reality that he will not be playing baseball for the Yankees or anyone else in the major leagues in 2014.  What's a shamed superstar to do?  Hop on a trans-pacific flight and sign up to play in the Japanese league.  

That lets Rodriguez show us if there's anything left in the tank.  Prove to us that a clean A-Rod is still a viable player.  Granted, the competition in Japan isn't quite major-league caliber, but it will be easy to see if he's still a man among boys, or simply an aging, over-matched veteran seeking one more season in the sun.  If he plays well, a return to MLB wouldn't be far-fetched.

Well, sure, A-Rod still has a contract with the Yankees.  But don't you think it's worth $30 or $40 million to the Yankees to buy out his existing deal and make him go away?  With that cash in hand, it makes it easier for A-Rod to accept a lesser offer from some other MLB team.  And it's not like the other convicted drug offenders haven't been welcomed back in the fold following their suspensions.  Maybe the Marlins, in desperate need of a drawing card, bring down South Florida's own for a homecoming?  Maybe it's the A's, looking for a potential bargain and a short-term solution for some offense? 

While we're all glad to see Alex Rodriguez go, part of that glee has to do with the whole sideshow that always accompanies him.  Perhaps a year away in a foreign land, with nothing to focus on except baseball, will change him.  Perhaps not.  But it's a scenario that I'd like to see play out by the time 2015 rolls around.

Scott Boras is an Idiot

Okay, so that's not news. But Boras did make some news over the weekend by announcing (to no one's surprise) that A-Rod has opted out of his contract with the Yankees. But that's not why Boras is an idiot. In fact, I've been in favor of getting A-Rod out of town since last year's playoff meltdown. It's just that even when doing the right thing, Boras comes off as an ass.

As we all know, A-Rod had until 10 days past the World Series to make his call. So Boras makes the announcement last night during the World Series. His rationale? (And believe me, it's Boras' rationale; A-Rod is just along for the ride.) With the identity of the Yankee manager and the contract statuses of Rivera, Posada and Pettitte still undetermined, there were simply too many question marks in Yankee-land:

"Alex's decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do. He really didn't want to make any decisions until he knew what they were doing."

Umm, so let me see if I'm following this. A-Rod doesn't want to make any decisions until he knows what the Yankees are doing. So he makes the decision to leave the Yankees. Ten days earlier than needed. Right. Thanks, Scott.

Of course, this whole charade makes it that much easier to part ways with Mr. O-fer-tober. Not that I needed convincing, but there were plenty of folks who thought A-Rod should stay, no matter the cost. Instead, we're left with all his empty pronouncements, including this gem, from not even a month ago:

"I've always said it: I love New York. For me, as a player, to come full circle in New York, it's the most comfortable I've felt. Hopefully, things work out."

Well, Alex, when you're content to let your ego-maniacal agent pull all the strings, you pretty much know how this one is going to "work out". Good night, good luck, and good riddance.

Housecleaning in the Bronx

Here’s a question: if King George doesn’t threaten Joe Torre’s job, are we all still sitting here today wringing our hands, pleading for another go-round for good ol’ Joe? All sentiment aside – and really, what is the defense for keeping Torre other than that? – shouldn’t someone be held accountable for “leading” the world’s most expensive collection of baseball talent to three straight first-round losses? Coaches have been fired for less.

And if you’re one of those who believe that it’s the players who play the game – and who can argue with that? – then what role, exactly, does a manager play? Shouldn’t the man in charge of a $200 million roster get more out of his players than Torre has gotten in the last three years? The last seven years?

Joe Torre has cemented his place in Yankees’ history. No one can ever take that away. There will be a Joe Torre day at the Stadium, probably sometime soon. But today it’s time for a change.

And speaking of changes, the manager won’t be the only one. First and foremost: so long, A-Rod. As Mr. O-fer-tober has proven at every stop he’s made, you don’t need the best player in baseball to win a championship. Would the Yankees have made the playoffs this year without his offense? Probably not. Does it matter now? Not by a long shot. I know the Yankees don’t have a budget like other teams, but can you imagine to how much better use the Yanks can put that $30 million than tie it up in a ridiculous contract for A-Rod? For a third of that money they could sign Mike Lowell and use the rest to shore up the pitching staff.

Ah, yes, the pitching. Never has so much been spent on so little. Igawa. Pavano. Farnsworth. Mussina. Clemens. Good riddance, all. Unfortunately, among the ones they should keep, Chin Mien Wang is not a #1 pitcher. The Indians made that perfectly clear. But I’d have no problem with him as the #2. Andy Pettitte pitched well enough in spurts to be invited back as the #4 starter. Between them I’d stick Phil Hughes, and maybe throw Ian Kennedy at the back. Of course, that leaves a rather gaping hole at the top. But that’s why we have George. And his money. Grab that broom and have at it, Boss...