Alex Rodriguez @ MindSay

Here's some sickening news--New York Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez tops the major league baseball salary list at $28 million, according to a study of contract terms by The Associated Press, making more than everyone on the Florida Marlins combined. The 33 players on the Marlins' opening-day roster and disabled list total $21.8 million.

How has society gotten to the point where a baseball player can be paid such an insane amount of money???  It's sick.

I just finished watching the game between the yankees and the angels...it was a high scoring game in favor of the angels, 18-9!  Garret Anderson hit two doubles and two homeruns (a grand slam and a 3-run shot) as he drives in 10 RBI!!  10 RBI!!!  that's a lot of runs batted in!  in fact, that is the angels club record and two off the american league record of 12 held by jim bottomsley in 1924 and mark whiten in 1993. as for the yankees, alex rodriguez hit two homeruns in a losing effort. he now has 42 homeruns and 121 RBI this season!  i love numbers in baseball!!  hehe okay goodnight!

 

GO METS!!

 

manny

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been receiving a lot of negative attention lately, which I don't agree with.  Yes, he makes an obscene amount of money, much more than anyone else on the team.  This year, he's pulling in $25,680,727.  That's more money than I could even dream of. 

 

New York fans are intense.  They expect their players to come through in the clutch, something Rodriguez has had trouble with.  Every time he makes an error, the New York fans question his commitment, his concentration, his desire to win.  They think he's too soft, too much of a nice guy.

 

But when he knocked the ball out of Kevin Millar's glove in the playoffs, he got criticized for being too mean, for cheating.  Can he do anything right?

 

Lets look at his stats for a moment.  They can hardly be described as poor.  In 407 at bats he's had 115 hits, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 23 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a batting average of .283.  That is very respectable.  The only place I can fault him?  His 18 errors this season.  In his first year at third base (he was originally a short stop, before switching in 2004) he had 13 errors.  Last year, he had 12.  But he also had 24 errors in 1997 while playing short stop for the Seattle Mariners, so how can you really complain now?

 

But don't just listen to me.  Eric Neel's article over on ESPN says everything perfectly, and it's way more in-depth.  Check it out by clicking the link.

 

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach 450 home runs when he hit one Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

The three-run homer in the third inning off A.J. Burnett was also Rodriguez's 2000th hit.

 

Rodriguez, who turns 31 next Thursday, is the eighth player to get his 2,000th hit before his 31st birthday.

 

The milestones come at a time when Rodriguez has struggled. He committed his team-leading 17th error in Thursday's loss to Toronto.

 

Ken Griffey Jr. was the previous youngest to reach 450. He was 31 years, 261 days old when he did it Aug. 9, 2001.

 

Rodriguez told the newspaper Thursday he elected not to play in the March international event because he did not want to dishonor his native United States or the Dominican Repbublic, where his parents are from.

 

A-Rod was born in New York and raised in Miami. But because of his parent Dominican ties, he was eligible to play for either country.

 

Earlier this week he said he was leaning towards playing for the Dominican Republic.

 

"After thoughtful deliberations with my family, I am announcing my decision to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic," A-Rod told The Post from Miami. "When faced with the decision to choose between my country, the United States of America, and my Dominican heritage, I decided I will not dishonor either."

 

Rodriguez, according to The Post, has been saying since July what a tough decision it would be. And it seems obvious that choice has not become too much easier.

 

"I am proud to be an American citizen and to have a Dominican legacy. My commitment to baseball is secondary to honoring my patriotic duties to my country and my ancestors," A-Rod said.

 

"Sports participation should only include the admiration and respect an athlete has for a nation and family. I intend to play baseball only when I am dedicated to both."