NEW YORK (WCBS) -- I'm a hypocrite.
I just wanted to get that out of the way since I am guilty of the absurdities I am about to rail against.
I, too, have allowed myself to get swept up into the ocean of psychosis that is the Jeter vs. A-Rod argument.
I stand in front of you accused of Jeter myopia, which is not a bad thing in and of itself, unless it comes at the expense of A-Rod's reputation. And there lies the heart of the matter.
Somewhere along the line it came to be that one must choose between Jeter and A-Rod.
Are you an old-style fan, believing that a player can be more than the sum of his parts? Do you believe that certain intangibles apply when judging a ballplayer that cannot be measured? Do you think four rings count for something and you find yourself constantly reminding friends and foes alike about those four rings from long ago? Then you are a Jeter fan.
Are you more of the sabermetric bent? Do you rely upon the indisputable, objective facts of statistical measurement? With an OPS to beat the band in hand, you are solidly in the A-Rod camp.
What is this? Coke vs Pepsi? Chevy vs Ford? Leno vs Letterman?
The most annoying aspect about statistics is that you can certainly use them to prove anything you want to, particularly if you go into the exercise to cherry-pick the stats that prove the point you already have pre-determined.
A-Rod's detractors can point to his Crosbyesque close-and-late numbers this year: .178/.260/.311. They can point to his hideous performance in the ALDS last year.
A-Rod's supporters can point to his RISP numbers this year of .312/.458/.591, which are better than Jeter's, or they can simply parade out enough impressive stats to choke a horse. A-Rod is undeniably one of the greatest players of his generation, a man whose only fault has been to be on teams that did not have enough pitching to win it all.
Here is the thing, both men play for the Yankees. You don’t have to choose.
You don't have to choose.
As Yankee fans, isn't it enough that we can watch two of the greatest players of their generation everyday? Why is it necessary to compare the two constantly and choose between them?
I'll take one of each, thank you!
Comb the baseball forums across the web and almost any thread about A-Rod will eventually turn into a comparison of him and Jeter. Why not compare A-Rod to Giambi, or Cano for that matter? It is indiscriminant anyway.
Moreover, it seems nearly impossible to find a level-headed assessment of Jeter's abilities and contributions. You'll either find mesmerized devotees who see no blemish, or you'll encounter embittered, jealous detractors who see little upside the over-rated defensive liability.
Of course, this has all happened before at Yankee Stadium. In the early 1960s, one had to express his allegiance to either Mickey Mantle or Roger Maris.
A few wise fans may have actually thought that both players helped the Yanks win. They may have thought to themselves, "Thank God we have both." (And thanks for that "Farm team," in Kansas City for giving up Maris!)
But there is something more sinister this time around. The recent boos that have rained down upon A-Rod are deeper and more heartfelt than the momentary boos that Jeter or Rivera experienced a few years back.
The boos of A-Rod come from a deeper, more angst ridden-place.
I've heard them. They are different. They are guttural.
As the FAN's Chris Carlin recently pointed out, they are representative of a dysfunctional relationship between Yankee fans and A-Rod.
As dysfunctional as the characters in O'Neil's Long Day's Journey into Night.
A-Rod strikes out. "I hate you."
A-Rod homers to right. "I love you."
Then it's back to "I hate you" the next time he pops up.
It can change with every at bat. There are times when the fans even poke fun at themselves, as with the mock booing of A-rod after he popped up following his two homers against the Mets on ESPN's Sunday night baseball. The fans realize they are characters in a passion play.
No wonder Alex is seeing a psychiatrist. Wouldn't you?
When Jeter was asked about all the boos A-Rod was getting, he shrugged it off and said it happens to every one, no big deal.
That was the wrong response from the captain. Jeter had a golden opportunity to tell the fans to lay off A-Rod. If this team is going to make a run in the 2nd half of the season, A-Rod will need to be a major contributor. It would be helpful if he knew the fans of New York are behind him.
Forget about his paycheck. Not only is there nothing we can do about it, many fans forget that Texas is still paying a healthy portion of his salary anyway.
A-Rod is a Yankee. He's here. Get used to it.
Celerino Sanchez was treated better than A-Rod. So was Mike Pagliarulo.
Do you want either of those guys back here instead of A-Rod?
It's time to simply appreciate A-Rod's skills and lay off the comparisons between him and Jeter.
Now, about the pitching….
Comments for Phil? Contact him at PhilAllard27@hotmail.com
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