Why wouldn't A Rod sign with an NL team or in a city that has a hitter's ball park. The pitching in the NL isn't as good as the pitching in the AL and Yankee stadium doesn't favor right handed hitters. As he gets older some of his homers in Yankee stadium will become pop flys.
2007-11-26 17:47:02 · 17 answers · asked by The Official Texting Pro 6 in Sports ➔ Baseball
You make a good point. He set the record for homers by a right handed hitter in Yankee stadium in 2005. Then he was booed (shame on the Yankee fans) for not doing it again in 2006. Sure, he had a great year in 2007, but when he becomes 38 or 39, that long right-center field will hold a lot of his homers. That is, of course, unless the Yanks build a "House that A-Rod built" in the new one coming up in 2009.
Imagine if he played in Wrigley? What if he'd become an Astro? He might then have had a shot at the single season record, too.
2007-11-27 01:14:21 · answer #1 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The new Yankee Stadium will have identical dimensions to the original, so the challenges to hitting homers will remain the same, but this is less important than the consistently good starting lineup in the Bronx. It would be more challenging to break the HR records on another team because there's not another team with a comparable lineup in all of baseball. AL pitchers have to pitch to A-Rod because intentionally walking him just brings up another stellar hitter with a man on base.
In my estimation, there are more personal reasons that he'd choose to stay. One, breaking those records as a Yankee will amplify the glory of each record and make them more rewarding for him. Also, the pressure of being the only slugger on a team doesn't bode well for a guy like A-Rod, as it didn't for Abreu who is much happier surrounded by superstars.
I believe A-Rod is more genuine than some people give him credit for. I think he's grown comfortable on the team at long last and has fallen in love with New York City. I'm a New Yorker, and this place is easy to love, let's not forget.
I also think he's an excellent father. Choosing to uproot his pregnant wife and little girl for the lure of another team seems like a selfish thing to do to his family.
This was the best decision for his career and his personal life.
2007-11-27 09:45:25 · answer #2 · answered by alibauer 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
He re-signed with the Yankees because that's where he can make the most money.
Besides, he's going to break the home run record anyway. He's hit 518 homers in 12 years (actually 14 but he only played in 65 games combined his first 2 years) an average of about 43 per year. He's only 244 behind Bonds so I predict he'll break the record in about 6 years no matter where he plays.
2007-11-27 08:54:36 · answer #3 · answered by bencas9900 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All Arod has to do is to stay healthy. No matter which park he plays in all he will have to do is hit 25 HR per season for 10 years. He's averaged 43 per season so far. It is kind of funny to hear someone say that Yankee Stadium isn't a good Home Run park when some of the greatest home run hitters of all time have played there. But it is more a park for lefties than righties, but Arod has managed to hit 173 in 4 seasons there.
But the main reason is that no other team would pay him $300 million dollars.
2007-11-27 06:42:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Arod stayed with the Yankees because they offered him the best contract.
With the Yankees, they will never take a "well, it's you and that's all we can afford" attitude with him and he knows that too.
The reason Bonds was walked so much during his
Arod will never have to be worried about walking so much that it impedes his HR total, they will have big guys behind him all the time.
However, in all honesty, I disagree that Arod 'wants' to break the record as a Yankee, I think people are giving his integrity and history of the game too much credit.
He wants to break the record being paid the most he can.
If St. Louis would have offered him $27 and the Yankee's offer was $22, he would be a Cardinal.
I don't know what the spread would have to be for him not to go to the highest bidder, but I am sure the actual loyalty part doesn't buy much.
2007-11-27 08:33:34 · answer #5 · answered by brettj666 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would have to say it was probably a combination of the money (no other team is going to pay him what the Yankees pay) and the "fame" (there is no bigger stage to play on than New York).
Arod is a performer, not unlike the singers and dancers that perform on Broadway. He likes the bright lights and attention. If/when he breaks the HR record - he will do it in NY, and in that way he will overshadow the Babe like no one else could.
2007-11-27 06:27:08 · answer #6 · answered by auntielibrarian 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because it ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! If he really wanted to stay a Yankee he would have negotiated an extention instead of opting out. PERIOD. He wanted to leave and thought he'd be able to get more money elsewhere. Example: A-Rod comes out in the media and says "The RED SOX are my 1st choice". Does that sound like someone who "wants to be a Yankee". Please, he hates those crybaby fans who don't appreciate anything. If they'd pay him he'd play for the KC ROYALS instead of being booed in Yankeee stadium every time he slumps alittle...or misplays a ball. Those classless hacks booed Roger Clemens in the 2nd inning last year after they spent the 1st half of the Year talking about how he wanted to end his career as a Yankee. Just like Clemens the bottom line is HOW MUCH. They could both learn from real class acts like Curt Schilling & Mike Lowell. Both had better deals on the table in their contract years and both took less money to stay in Boston becaus of the Fans & the organization. How many times can you say that about a Yankee player? ZERO!
2007-11-27 09:30:05 · answer #7 · answered by Qbass187 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
He stayed because he was more interested in breaking the all time salary record and the Yankees were the only ones dumb enough to give in to his games. For all the crap Boras has gotten for "misplaying the market" on A-Rod, he still managed to turn 3 years at 75 million into 10 years at 275 million with a potential for another 30 million in homerun incentives, plus who knows how many more dollars in incentives for MVP's, all-star games and other performance bonuses, all by taking Boras' advice and opting out, so I think Boras did a bit better than he's getting credit for
2007-11-27 08:40:37 · answer #8 · answered by James S 3 · 4⤊ 2⤋
If his goal is to break the all time home run record, he was smart to stick with the yankees. he will ALWAYS have the highest paid hitters surrounding him in the line up, and they dont intentionally walk people in the AL. hell, in interleague play the AL pitchers didnt Int. walk Bonds. I have never understood that.
But you are right about yankee stadium(although I have no idea what the new stadium is going to look like. he would do better in a place like Fenway or the phillies park.
2007-11-27 01:55:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
i second legend
if he goes to some team that can't field a lineup around him he will have no protection and they can just pitch around him
you look at this year he had 2 ridiculously hot stretches where he was ahitting 1 or 2 HR per game, but the pitchers couldnt put him on like barry cause unlike the giants there were 3 other mashers right behind him
2007-11-27 06:32:34 · answer #10 · answered by bourgoise_10o 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋