Comments on: By the Decade: Better off with him http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/ A New York Yankees Blog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:36:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Benjamin Kabak http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730938 Benjamin Kabak Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:29:52 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730938 My point is simply that Alfonso Soriano grows on trees. Even the Yanks were considering moving him off second base following a 2003 campaign that saw him make 19 errors and flash no range. He hit a lot of home runs and that really looks attractive from the second base hole. But he couldn't do much to get on base, and the Yanks had pretty much determined, rightfully so, that he was overrated. Perhaps I'm too dismissive of him, but my point was that it was no great loss to lose him. My point is simply that Alfonso Soriano grows on trees. Even the Yanks were considering moving him off second base following a 2003 campaign that saw him make 19 errors and flash no range. He hit a lot of home runs and that really looks attractive from the second base hole. But he couldn’t do much to get on base, and the Yanks had pretty much determined, rightfully so, that he was overrated. Perhaps I’m too dismissive of him, but my point was that it was no great loss to lose him.

]]> By: Steve http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730935 Steve Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:24:06 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730935 If you reread what I wrote, I in no remote way was trying to say that Soriano is better than A-Rod. As a matter of fact, I made it a point to note that I was not saying that at all. Of course the trade was a no-brainer. That wasn't my point, rather that you dismissed Soriano by saying "we gave up nothing too great in return," which in my opinion was akin to saying we threw a B prospect or two at Texas and took on A-Rod's ginormous salary. We gave up an all-star second baseman, and probably one of the top 15-20 offensive players in the league at that point in time. To use Soriano's struggles over the last couple of seasons is revisionist history and completely misses my point. If you reread what I wrote, I in no remote way was trying to say that Soriano is better than A-Rod. As a matter of fact, I made it a point to note that I was not saying that at all. Of course the trade was a no-brainer. That wasn’t my point, rather that you dismissed Soriano by saying “we gave up nothing too great in return,” which in my opinion was akin to saying we threw a B prospect or two at Texas and took on A-Rod’s ginormous salary. We gave up an all-star second baseman, and probably one of the top 15-20 offensive players in the league at that point in time. To use Soriano’s struggles over the last couple of seasons is revisionist history and completely misses my point.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730877 Benjamin Kabak Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:43:35 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730877 A-Rod in New York: .304/.407/.579, 156 OPS+ Soriano since leaving New York: .275/.328/.514, 112 OPS+ Throw in the facts that Soriano is older than A-Rod and has been playing left field for the last four years, and the trade is still a no-brainer. They gave up a good contact hitter who couldn't draw a walk to save his ass and plays a less premium position than A-Rod. He's also due to make $18 million a year in 2010-2014. I'll take A-Rod and won't miss Soriano. A-Rod in New York: .304/.407/.579, 156 OPS+
Soriano since leaving New York: .275/.328/.514, 112 OPS+

Throw in the facts that Soriano is older than A-Rod and has been playing left field for the last four years, and the trade is still a no-brainer. They gave up a good contact hitter who couldn’t draw a walk to save his ass and plays a less premium position than A-Rod. He’s also due to make $18 million a year in 2010-2014. I’ll take A-Rod and won’t miss Soriano.

]]> By: Guest http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730354 Guest Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:03:33 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730354 Soriano amazingly turned out to be older than A-Rod, which makes that trade amazing. Soriano amazingly turned out to be older than A-Rod, which makes that trade amazing.

]]> By: JobaTheHeat62 http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730339 JobaTheHeat62 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:54:27 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730339 yes yes yes...alex's 2009 postseason was a never ending boner yes yes yes…alex’s 2009 postseason was a never ending boner

]]> By: pat http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730334 pat Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:52:22 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730334 Ever see the url to the site? It's like 300 characters long. Not easily accessible. Ever see the url to the site? It’s like 300 characters long. Not easily accessible.

]]> By: Steve H http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730315 Steve H Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:44:51 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730315 IETC. IETC.

]]> By: Steve http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730309 Steve Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:36:55 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730309 "The Yanks were the only team that could afford A-Rod’s astronomical salary, and they gave up nothing too great in return." Ben, I think you are doing Soriano a real disservice here. I mean, I would never argue he is as good as A-Rod, but you act like we just gave up a B prospect and a bag of balls to get A-Rod. The dude was the most offensively prolific second baseman in MLB for back to back seasons, and coming off a year in which he hit .290 with 38 HRs, 35 SBs, and 91 RBIs as a leadoff hitter (misplaced as he may have been). Besides taking on a large portion of A-Rod's contract, the Yankees also gave up a damn good, relatively young hitter in the deal. “The Yanks were the only team that could afford A-Rod’s astronomical salary, and they gave up nothing too great in return.”

Ben, I think you are doing Soriano a real disservice here. I mean, I would never argue he is as good as A-Rod, but you act like we just gave up a B prospect and a bag of balls to get A-Rod. The dude was the most offensively prolific second baseman in MLB for back to back seasons, and coming off a year in which he hit .290 with 38 HRs, 35 SBs, and 91 RBIs as a leadoff hitter (misplaced as he may have been). Besides taking on a large portion of A-Rod’s contract, the Yankees also gave up a damn good, relatively young hitter in the deal.

]]> By: Evil Empire http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730308 Evil Empire Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:36:13 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730308 NOT ANYMORE!!!! Seriously, it makes me kind of sad, seeing how small of a community his blog has. And stop by and put in my two cents sometimes about Boston issues, in an objective and non-trollish way. NOT ANYMORE!!!!

Seriously, it makes me kind of sad, seeing how small of a community his blog has. And stop by and put in my two cents sometimes about Boston issues, in an objective and non-trollish way.

]]> By: steve s http://riveraveblues.com/2009/12/by-the-decade-better-off-with-him-21676/#comment-730307 steve s Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:33:33 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=21676#comment-730307 Based on the length of his contract pencil Arod in for the next decade as well (unless he ends up as the DH when going for number 800). Will probably be dating Jeter's and Minka's daughter (or Tiger's daughter) by then. Based on the length of his contract pencil Arod in for the next decade as well (unless he ends up as the DH when going for number 800). Will probably be dating Jeter’s and Minka’s daughter (or Tiger’s daughter) by then.

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