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More poop from Steve Phillips
Topic Started: Jul 21 2006, 07:34 AM (37 Views)
Mantlemurcer
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5 QUESTIONS FOR STEVE PHILLIPS

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July 21, 2006 -- This week, NYP TV Sports' Andrew Marchand spoke with ESPN analyst Steve Phillips. Phillips, 43, thinks the Yankees should trade Alex Rodriguez.

Q: You have said for a couple of weeks that the Yankees should trade A-Rod. Why?

A: Because when it becomes the thing to do to boo somebody, it becomes nearly impossible for the player to overcome that. When you have been the AL MVP, you are the Player of the Month, you hit a game-winning home run and the next at-bat you take you still get booed because you don't get a hit, you are not going to ever win that battle.

He will never be the ultimate player in New York. I just don't think he can win that game with the fans. Ultimately, the booing also takes a toll on the rest of team and creates an environment of negativity that I think has an impact that becomes difficult to overcome.

Q: Mike Piazza was booed at Shea and he turned them around. Why can't A-Rod?

A: Piazza turned it around within a three-week period. This has been going on for two years. The problem is that reality doesn't mean anything. There is this notion that he never hits in the clutch. There is this notion that A-Rod never makes a play.

He has actually hit with runners in scoring position. I just don't think people are ever going to give him a break in New York.

Q: What holds A-Rod back?

A: What happens is, he is a "tryer.'' He is a guy who cares what people think. He'll continue to play to less than expectations because he tries so hard.

Q: So if you were the GM of the Yankees, you really would trade A-Rod?

A: It is an offseason trade, but yes, I would. It is time to consider where to go with that. I just don't see how he is going to get out of it in New York. If being the MVP, if being the Player of the Month, doesn't do it, then he is not going to do it. What happens is you see his performance start to deteriorate because he does care and he wants to earn the fans' respect.

Q: I'm sure it had a lot to do with Mets' ownership not wanting to pay Rodriguez the money in 2000, but do you feel at all vindicated about your "24 plus one'' comment regarding A-Rod when you were the Mets' GM?

A: No. I think "24 plus one'' made him sound like he wanted to separate himself from everybody else, all the perks he was looking for. He wanted an environment that was different than the rest of the team. I haven't seen any signs of that with the Yankees. In fact, he wants desperately to be like everybody else and not treated differently.

I don't feel any vindication for that. I actually feel some empathy for him.


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timotime
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Quote:
 
This has been going on for two years.

He won the MVP last year!

This whole A-Rod "issue" is pathetic. It's entirely a creation of the media. A great clutch player will fail in the clutch 7 out of 10 times, yet if A-Rod was hitting .300 with runners in scoring position writers would be complaining that he sucks after those 7 unsuccesful at bats.
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Gategem
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timotime
Jul 21 2006, 07:48 AM
Quote:
 
This has been going on for two years.

He won the MVP last year!

This whole A-Rod "issue" is pathetic. It's entirely a creation of the media. A great clutch player will fail in the clutch 7 out of 10 times, yet if A-Rod was hitting .300 with runners in scoring position writers would be complaining that he sucks after those 7 unsuccesful at bats.

So will certain members on this board.
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Mantlemurcer
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Gategem
Jul 21 2006, 10:46 AM
timotime
Jul 21 2006, 07:48 AM
Quote:
 
This has been going on for two years.

He won the MVP last year!

This whole A-Rod "issue" is pathetic. It's entirely a creation of the media. A great clutch player will fail in the clutch 7 out of 10 times, yet if A-Rod was hitting .300 with runners in scoring position writers would be complaining that he sucks after those 7 unsuccesful at bats.

So will certain members on this board.

:yes:
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Strider
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timotime
Jul 21 2006, 07:48 AM
Quote:
 
This has been going on for two years.

He won the MVP last year!

This whole A-Rod "issue" is pathetic. It's entirely a creation of the media. A great clutch player will fail in the clutch 7 out of 10 times, yet if A-Rod was hitting .300 with runners in scoring position writers would be complaining that he sucks after those 7 unsuccesful at bats.

Actually it's been going on for 3 years. He was booed in year 1 because he hit .286 and struggled for much of the first half. He was booed last year for not coming through enough in the clutch (which was perception). And he's getting booed now for hitting under .290 and having regressed defensively.

I don't think it's a media creation. Don't be like Bonds and blame them for everything. If the major New York papers didn't write a single article about the Yankees or Rodriguez this year, he'd still be getting booed. High price + high talent = high expectations. People see him as the antithesis of Jeter. "He puts up numbers when it doesn't matter. That's why he doesn't have a championship. He's a superstar loser." And seeing Papi on SportsCenter every other night getting game-winning hits doesn't help. "See! And that's why Papi's got a championship. He got the walk-off while Suck-Rod wilted under the pressure. Just like in 2004." The media is just talking about what's going on and what's up with the fans. That, in turn adds fuel to the fire, but they didn't ignite it.
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