TRADED: Alex Rodriguez (Texas Rangers) for Alfonso Soriano (New York Yankees) and a minor leaguer

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― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 14 February 2004 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy moly!

The Boss just dropped the big one on Boston.

― earlnash, Sunday, 15 February 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

the strange thing about the past few years is that while the yankees and red sox have been one-upping each other with multi-zillion-dollar acquisitions and declaring that nothing will satisfy them short of a world series win, OTHER TEAMS keep winning the damn series. the yankees and sox keep dropping atomic bombs on each other, and the rest of the world walks right by them. so the question isn't, "is this the big one?," but rather, "big what?"

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Sunday, 15 February 2004 02:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Poor Soriano.

― Leee Majors (Leee), Sunday, 15 February 2004 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. So what's the batting order??

Lofton
Jeter
A-Rod
Giambi
Sheffield
Matsui
.......

Criminy!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Sunday, 15 February 2004 04:33 (twenty-two years ago)

do you see? do you see why the evil fucking empire is so despised by red sox nation? this leaves the bosox only one choice and that is to thaw out and re-animate teddy ballgame.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Sunday, 15 February 2004 15:13 (twenty-two years ago)

2001- Diamondbacks
2002- Angels
2003- Marlins

If this pattern holds up, I think either the Rockies or Mariners are going to win it all.

― earlnash, Sunday, 15 February 2004 16:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Padres in 2K4!

― David R. (popshots75`), Sunday, 15 February 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the greatest lineup of spoiled stars ever assembled.

― bnw (bnw), Sunday, 15 February 2004 17:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Quit complaining. As a Yankee fan, I love this deal. But as a baseball fan I see why you guys can dislike it. I want a hard salary cap like football has so that there is more parity in baseball, but since there isn't a cap, just live with it. We don't cheat, we aren't evil, we simply have more money than anyone else in a sport where that actually counts.

Regardless of that, the reason I want a cap is to show everyone that regardless of what we spend, the Yankees will always be the best. In case you don't realize, our farm system is amongst the best, and while we pay for many free agents, a lot of our money is invested in home grown prospects. Think Jeter, Williams, Posada, Soriano, and Rivera. And last year, we were paying Nick Johnson and Pettite.

GET OVER IT.

― Tommy Baseball, Sunday, 15 February 2004 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Technically, right now the Marlins are the best.

― Leee Majors (Leee), Sunday, 15 February 2004 21:16 (twenty-two years ago)

are they actually gonna move a-rod to third and keep jeter at ss? how fucking stupid is that?

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:34 (twenty-two years ago)

the yanks farm system has gone seriously downhill. they should be pretty good next year but since most of their infield can't field for shit they're gonna do shit in the postseason, again. the yankees are the new braves. congrats.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 15 February 2004 22:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Possible Yankee problems in 2K4:
- defense up the middle (Lofton's no spring chicken, and - as Blount sez - the Yankees should realize that trading for a Gold Glove SS & putting him at 3B is not a smart move, and Posada is woooboy)
- bullpen issues (I am not impressed by either Heredia or Gordon)
- buttass bench (Miguel Cairo AND Enrique Wilson? Tony Clark AND (possibly) Travis Lee?)

I'm still hoping that my boy Bud gives the Yankees the high hat, but it ain't no thang.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

We don't cheat, we aren't evil, we simply have more money than anyone else in a sport where that actually counts.

uh tommy? are you a member of the yankees? employee of the team in any way?

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 16 February 2004 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The Yanks are also going to have more pressure than any team in recent memory put upon them. If they start out slow or they get banged up, things could get ugly and spiral downwards.

The strain was showing bad during last years run, this year is only going to be worse and now they have to win without Clemens and Pettitte, both of which are proven playoff starters.

Even worse, what happens if the Yanks lose a third straight appearance to the World Series, especially if to the Padres, which is a better out of nowhere choice than the Rockies.

― earlnash, Monday, 16 February 2004 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

In case you don't realize, our farm system is amongst the best, and while we pay for many free agents, a lot of our money is invested in home grown prospects. Think Jeter, Williams, Posada, Soriano, and Rivera. And last year, we were paying Nick Johnson and Pettite.

Not that I want to get in this fight again, but a great farm system can only help so much, especially when you have to ship off players reaching their prime as they command too much money. Ask the Oakland A's. Or Albert Pujols :(

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 16 February 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh - methinks they're paying TOO MUCH for some of their homegrown product (cf. Jeter & Williams). And there's a semi-obvious line to be drawn between the impressive Old School class (Jeter, Williams, Rivera, Pettite, Posada) and the not-so-impressive New School grads(Soriano, Johnson).

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I want to change my introduction posting. I'd now like to make the Giants my official favorite team. Steinbrenner has now gone too far. The Sheffield signing coupled with letting Pettitte go was tough enough. The Yankees are looking a lot like the team that used to frustrate me back in the 80's, high priced SOB's failing to accomplish what they were brought to NY to do. What made the Yankees of the mid-90's so enjoyable (as a Yankess fan anyways) was the fact that many of the major contributors came up through the ranks before joining the big league club and making an impact. Now the team is simply a hodgepodge of household names. A house that is gaudy, cold, and hastily built. Go Giants.

― metfigga (metfigga), Monday, 16 February 2004 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, it's much easier to keep that choice farm system when you don't have to trade away prospects to get new talent (ie having the cash to bombard free agents with).

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 16 February 2004 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Williams is gonna suck even more this year. Lieber and Contreras are big question marks, as is Kevin Brown's health and Vazquez's adjustment to the AL. Plus, how good is Matsui? And Lofton isn't that good anymore.

My guess is: the Cubs sign Maddux and take it all! Wood, Prior, Maddux, Clement, Zambrano! Sosa, Lee, Patterson, Ramirez, Alou! they shall repel all boarders

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 16 February 2004 23:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you mean "boarders", as in "bandwagon jumpers"? (Tee hee.)

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 00:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you'll see a lot from Matsui this year. He was impressive in his first season considering the pressures of NY, a new league, and the hopes of a country riding on him. As for Williams, he should also perform better this year than last. Injuries really hampered his production last season. Lieber and Contreras don't figure to play that large of a roll in the Yankees game plan. It is quite clear that NY has decided to up the ante offensively and let the pitching take a back seat. I don't think this is a successful strategy but it's what they've done.

What the hell do I care, go Giants.

― metfigga (metfigga), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

so the yanks needed a 3rd baseman. so they trade away their 2nd baseman. for a shortstop. that will play 3rd.

my head is swimming just thinking about what they're going to do about 2nd base now.

― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Vidro =(

― Gear! (Gear!), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 04:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm here in Dallas, quizzing the locals about the repurcussions of this trade. I'm hearing a lot of "No one is worth a $.25 billion"s and Soriano and Michael Young are a nice mid-infield 1-2 punch (although I think Soriano will hit clean-up(?)).

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

FUCK YOU STEINBRENNER!

― Chris V (Chris V), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

ESPN sez the Yanks are now going after Maddux... hahahahahaha (what an evil fucking empire)

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Plz substitute "evil" for "mindbogglingly stupid" in Aaron's post OK THX.

Hey, Poops, m'man - don't despair. Despite Steinbrenner's happy-go-lucky "what, me, pay luxury tax?" ways, there are still plenty of dents in the Yanquis' seemingly impeccable armor that will make their supposed "2004 Yankee Championship Invitational" campaign a little bumpier than most expect. (cf. this year's Lakers team.)

Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus made a good point in the site's roundtable discussion of the trade (article available only to subscribers - sorry!) - with Soriano's escalating worth as he approaches free agency (approximately $10-15 / year in arbitration settlements per year) PLUS the bit of A-Rod's salary the Rangers will be paying (approx. $6 million / year), the trade makes NO DAMN SENSE for the Rangers. This is especially obvious when you realize the actual millstones on the Rangers rosters are overpaid asshats like Chan Ho Park & Rusty Greer & Insert Overpaid Reliever Here and not the one player in MLB that is actually worthy of being the highest-paid player in the sport.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

And lord help the Rangers if Soriano hits clean-up.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

all's i have to say is WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?, i mean trading soriano for a overpaid and overrated stuck up pretty boy, AND he costs what, only $15 million friggin dollars more!, i mean uh hello, how stupid of a decision can george make, the yankees are fallin apart, i mean i love em, but really, you gotta question this one

― KEG, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't think you have to question this one. i think a-rod is probably the most dangerous player in the al. the question i have is why would you move him from shortstop when he's better defensively than jeter?

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

'cuz it is/was Jeter's team, o captain my captain, etc. I hope they divide the clubhouse and sink the team.

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Some ESPN guru suggested that, come Opening Day, Jeter will have graciously moved over to 3rd base so that A-Rod may assume the position. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some behind-the-scene discussions going on, wherein Joe Torre / someone with two working eyes is suggesting to Jeter that he move over, while allowing for the move to look like it's a product of Jeter's selflessness & leadership & desire to win more than, you know, COMMON SENSE.

If I have to see one more play/replay of Jeter diving / reaching for a ball & making one of those loooooong in-the-hole throws on a play he should've made without the dive / reach, I will eat my left hand. If I hear some Fox Sports / YES Network asshat complement Jeter for making a mountain out of a routine molehill, I will eat my right hand.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

THIS JUST IN: Yankees, in desperate need for another lefty power bat, are in negotiations with the Alcor Life Extension Foundation & John Henry Williams to thaw former Red Sox slugger Ted Williams & hook him up to the Juvenation De-Aging Machine. The Yankees hope to use Williams as a "safety net", according to anonymous team sources, in case current Yankee left-fielder Hideki Matsui becomes "another f**king fat pussy toad".

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Negotiations have begun between Yanks GM Brian Cashman and the author of Casey at the Bat to make Casey a Yankee and to have the mighty casey knock the ball out of the yard on the third pitch for a Yankees victory. It's been reported that NY is prepared to pay $3.5 million dollars for the newly revised storybook ending.

― metfigga (metfigga), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

just $3.5¿

― dyson (dyson), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 18:37 (twenty-two years ago)

My "fuuuuuuuuck youuuuuuu Tom Hicks" post never got through, apparently.

It would probably be upsetting if I didn't already hate Hicks, liked A-Rod or cared about the Rangers. As it is, I just hate baseball - I like going to the Ballpark and halfway watching the game with friends, but I'm not doing a damn thing that will put money in Hicks pockets.

I'll drive ten minutes the other way to watch a Ft. Worth Cats minor-league game (most expensive seat: $10) or drive to Frisco to watch the Rangers double- or triple-A team.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Possible Yankee problems in 2K4:
- defense up the middle (Lofton's no spring chicken, and - as Blount sez - the Yankees should realize that trading for a Gold Glove SS & putting him at 3B is not a smart move, and Posada is woooboy)
- bullpen issues (I am not impressed by either Heredia or Gordon)
- buttass bench (Miguel Cairo AND Enrique Wilson? Tony Clark AND (possibly) Travis Lee?)
I'm still hoping that my boy Bud gives the Yankees the high hat, but it ain't no thang."

aside from the last statement which i'm ignoring because it was obviously the result of one of "lucky" lucchino's crazy brainwashing schemes, you forgot the fact that their average age is still like 52. the yanks could be suffering untold injuries + decline in 2004. i mean does anyone really think brown OR giambi is going to make it through even 3/4 of the season?? not to mention bernie mo flash contreras sheff etc???

oh you also forgot that one of those "buttass bench" members will be STARTING as the team is currently constructed.

defense is a fucking huge flaw in this team and putting a-rod and 3B is incredibly dumb - he's arguably the best SS of all time!! jeter can run the fucking team from third base too, ya know! i hope george get's rash and forces the switch after a jeter error on opening day.

david r., about the guru's prediction - not happening. they've been showing a jeter interview on espn today where he makes it quite clear that he ain't budging.

btw has anyone else noticed that in almost ALL guru-evaluations boston is still (rightfully) the marginal favorite? i think that's awesome; these people (who are obviously anti-yankee, cuz EVERYONE in the media is, except for max kellerman i guess) aren't overreacting with some "well the yankees have the pennant won now i mean i don't even know why anyone else should bother" shit like i expected they would.

finally: check soriano's road splits - yankee stadium absolutely KILLED the guy. he's going to one of the best hitter's parks in the game; he would've easily surpass a-rod's raw hitting numbers the past 2 years if he had been playing in arlington..if he had been playing in arlington BUT against AL East pitching, since good pitching (OAK and SEA) eats him up. don't know what i'm getting at but it's POSSIBLE that soriano will actually post superficially better numbers than a-rod (RHH in YS) next year, although i doubt it because a)a-rod is possibly good enough to hit superbly in any ballpark (check his numbers while w/ seattle, unless arlington has masked a pretty significant decline), and b) soriano will be facing seattle and oakland's top-flight staffs (against whom he has like a .650 OPS or something) 36 or so times this season.

sorry for the rambling; if you can't tell i'm an obsessive yankees fan and i haven't been able to sit still or think straight since 10:44 PM CST saturday night when this thing dropped from the sky and hit me over the head like a ton of solid gold bricks.

― John (jdahlem), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

It's going to be a fun/messy/potentially scandalous season

― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

milo!!!

i'm looking at the frisco roughriders' stadium (it's pretty cool looking) as i type this!!!

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

And there'll be an IKEA store in Frisco next summer - I can catch a game and buy an entertainment city. Yee-haw!

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 19 February 2004 21:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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