(The following is being syndicated fromThe Captain’s Blog; follow me on Twitter at).
Alex Rodriguez homered in the first inning of yesterday’s 10-8 loss versus the Angels, and the crowd cheered. With the winning run on first base in the bottom of the ninth, he popped out to end the game. This time, the crowd let out a smattering of boos. Welcome to Arod’s world.
Arod hasn't always been treated fairly by the Yankee Stadium crowd. (Photo: Daily News)
The Yankees’ fan base likes to pride itself on being knowledgeable, but too many from among the team’s legion of followers are unworthy of that distinction. Those are the fans who incessantly boo Alex Rodriguez. Although just about every player has been treated harshly by the home crowd at some point in their career, the abuse of Arod by some Yankees’ fans has gone well beyond the point of being rational. Not only does a very vocal component of the Yankees’ Universe seem almost eager to boo Rodriguez when he fails to get a big hit, but there is also a palpable sense of enjoyment in the derisive response.
Before the 2009 World Series, the boos were predicated upon Arod’s “lack of rings” and the lingering myth that he wasn’t “clutch”. Well, the unclutch argument was never supported by facts (click here and here), and Rodriguez not only now has a championship under his belt, but his contribution was instrumental in attaining it. You’d think that would be enough to put Arod in the good graces of the even the most irrational and fickle portion of the Yankees’ fan base? Guess again.
Arod’s Salary versus Value, 2004 to 2012
Note: Value is a WAR-based calculation. Salary from 2004 to 2007 represents only that portion paid by the Yankees.
*2012 value is pro-rated over the rest of the season.
Source: fangraphs.com and Cot’s Contracts
The new justification for booing Arod is his contract, which will pay the third baseman over $100 million between 2013 and 2017. Granted, Arod probably won’t come close to providing value commensurate with that hefty sum, but why is that his fault? Should he have volunteered to take less? Besides, when the three-time MVP was being grossly underpaid by the billion-dollar Yankees, the same fans didn’t seem as concerned by that inequity.
For nine seasons, Alex Rodriguez has been one of the most prolific players in Yankees’ history. Among Bronx Bomber position players with at least 4,000 plate appearances, Arod ranks sixth in both OPS+ and AvgWAR/PA. Because of the historic levels of his production, Arod has been worth every penny to the Yankees and then some. Of course, many fans would argue that’s what Rodriguez was. So, let’s take a look at what he is.
Top-10 Yankees in Terms of OPS+ and Average WAR/PA
Note: Minimum 4,000 plate appearances. Average WAR is the average of bWAR and fWAR.
Source: baseball-reference.com and fangraphs.com
According to both versions of WAR, Arod ranks fourth on the Yankees, just behind Curtis Granderson. Compared to American League 3B, he ranks sixth in fWAR. Although neither comparison is befitting the perennial MVP candidate that Arod used to be, he continues to be a well above average player. In addition, when you consider that Arod has hit .353/.417/.529 in 100 plate appearances as a DH, there is reason to believe his offensive levels could improve with less wear and tear from playing the field (granted, his inability to play 3B would lower his overall value, but the net impact of improved offense might be greater).
Even the most optimistic Yankees’ fan and ardent Arod supporter would have to admit that the third baseman will not produce to the level of his contract over his final five seasons in pinstripes. However, considering his past production, Arod will still wind up returning a reasonable amount of value compared to his salary based on regular season performance alone (marketing and postseason contributions only tilt the balance in his favor even further). So, who cares if he winds up being overpaid in his waning years? Because of baseball’s economic system, that’s what happens with most veteran superstars anyway.
There are too many Yankees’ fans who will never be rational when it comes to Arod. Instead of giving him credit for a decade of excellence, they’d rather worry about how much he’ll be overpaid at the end of his career. Granted, some of that concern is based on the Yankees’ new found philosophy of fiscal restraint. However, if the team really does intend to lower its payroll below the luxury tax threshold, and finds its hands tied because of Arod’s contract, the fans’ ire should be directed at Hal Steinbrenner’s desire to increase profits, not Rodriguez inability to hold off father time. Unfortunately, it’s just much easier to boo Arod. It always has been, and will likely continue to be for the next five years.
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60 Responses to Spoiled Yankees Fans Refuse to Spare the Rod with Alex Rodriguez
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TIQ IQ
Well for $29 million he can put up with some booing – it comes with the territory. What do you expect people to do, genuflect? They’re booing the outcome as much as they’re booing the man. Mickey Mantle got booed when he was winning Triple Crowns because he wasn’t Joe DiMaggio. Roger Maris got booed when he was breaking Babe Ruth’s HR record because he wasn’t Mickey Mantle.
If A-Rod wanted to be loved he could have stayed in Seattle for his entire career like Tony Gwynn or Cal Ripken did with their teams and I doubt he would have ever heard a single boo from the home crowd.
In general I agree with your analysis. However, I would like you to explain this statement:
According to Cot’s A-Rod has been paid between $21 and $32 million per year during his Yankee tenure. I’m not sure how any of that qualifies as “grossly underpaid”.
Well, it’s now 4 full innings and no game thread. Anyone else out there?
I’m here. What’s new?
Hey Professor. I guess my crystal ball was a little late on the HR by Martin.
You should still get half credit.
Hughes looks great, but I’m still afraid to get on the bandwagon.
I know. I had so much hope for Hughes that I now sweat out every pitch. I hated reading that it looks like Garnder won’t be back. How long for a position player to recover from TJ surgery. (I haven’t heard he needs it, just appears like to me.)
That’s just weird. There has to be something broken that they can’t see.
I remember the play and was surprised that it turned out to be so serious.
These last two innings Alverez has suddenly settled in and is pitching great. Damn!
They should have driven him out of the game in the first inning.
That walk I have no problem with.
Hughes curve ball seems to be hit & miss tonight. Damn on that hit by Encarnacion.
This is just the sort of situation where the old Hughes would fall apart.
The 6th & 7th innings have been good for the Yanks recently.
How may runs will they score tonight?
102 pitches. Get Alvarez out now.
Damn the DP. I’ll say 5 runs for the Yanks tonight.
I wonder if Cashman will now make a serious run at Upton. I know he can block the trade, but that is sometimes used to get more $.
There were reports they were interested in Shane Victorino. I don’t know about Upton. I think the price will be high.
At least Upton’s under team control for awhile. I heard the Phillies are asking for a high price too. Not worth it for a rental. Upton could be Swisher’s replacement next year.
Hughes did a good job getting out of that inning.
Come on Yanks. Beat up on Beck.
SCORE SOME RUNS, YOU MORONS!
So much for the Yanks scoring in the 6th & 7th. I still feel 3 more runs are coming from them.
Wazoo Cano!
Gotta love for 3-4-1 GOs
That’s really too bad about Bautista. I hope it isn’t serious.
Yeah, hate seeing any player, but especially an elite, exciting player go down.
That must be the definition of a freak injury.
Offhand, I can’t recall seeing that before.
Heart of the order coming up. Hope they score the runs now. I love walk off wins, but hate the suspense.
Yeah, Icing the game in the 8th is nice.
Weird PB and not able to throw to first, 2 good breaks for the Yanks.
Bunt!
A walk pushes in the run.
Damn. Looking. I hate it.
Second really disappointing at bat tonight by Swisher. Oh, well. Worked out anyway.
BOOM!!
and, Soriano sits back down.
My crystal ball must be broken!
Better take it in for repairs.
Since they were 21-21 the Yanks have been incredible in the late innings.
Open up the salami shop and bring out the rye bread and mustard, abuela, because it’s grand salami time! RAUL, SO COOL!
you got the right Raul this time.
You have a veritable UN going on there. Jewish bread with Italian meat prepared by a Latina grandmother!
I was hoping Eppley would avoid making this game interesting.
It’s not interesting yet.
Come on bullpen.
Now it’s interesting.
Now too interesting.
No. no. no.
No, No, Nanet
Finish it off plz
#untuck Yankees Win it!
That’s it.
See ya. Wouldn’t want to be ya.
Wheeew!
A nice come from a tie win!
Chat y’all tomorrow. Who knows, maybe there will even be a game thread.
Sorry, but no sympathy for someone getting paid $27.5M per year for 10 years and producing at a level well below the salary. In situations like that, such players MUST produce. Pop up when there is no one on base. And Cano should be benched for a game and monetarily docked a meaningful amount of money for his base-running error, a glaring mental mistake. A little Leo Durocher or Vince Lombardi would be nice from Girardi once in a while. These guys are not in the minors any more.
I have no beef with ARod. It was a dumb contract but they gave it to him. The only question I have is when, exactly, was ARod underpaid with the Yankees? Man’s been the highest paid player in the the game for over a decade. Sure the Yankees only paid half his salary when the acquired him, but the man was still paid well.