A-Rod opts out of contract in attempt to upstage Red Sox World Series sweep!

Just A-Rod being Alex Rodriguez. During last night's 4th game of the World Series, in around the 6th inning during the broadcast, Fox Network's lead baseball announcer Joe Buck breathtakingly stated on air that according to numerous sources, Alex Rodriguez had decided to opt out of the final 3 years of his contract with the NY Yankees, electing to become a free agent. Rodriguez, otherwise known as Mr. "Me", "My", or "I" did not have the courtesy to delay this announcement until after the conclusion of the World Series, (which with the result of last night's game was only about one hour away).

I will not give any more props to Rodriguez in this post. Obviously A-Rod and his lowlife agent Scott Boras believe that living on 20-25 million dollars per year is not enough. Rodriguez and Boras, in a typical act to draw attention to themselves, decided to make this announcement, taking away from what turned out to be the Red Sox 2nd World's championship in 89 years, (and backing up the first which took place in 2004). The NY Yankees all along stated that if A-Rod were ever to go the route this winter in opting out of his contract, it was sayonara they would have no interest renegotiating with him. He would no longer be welcome to play for the team in the future. It is hoped that Steinbrenner and company put their money where their mouths are and bid A-Rod adieu. If not, they are nothing but phonies!

No, I want to discuss instead the Red Sox' fantastic achievement. Coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the ALCS against Cleveland, Boston rudely told the Colorado Rockies and their fans that winning 21 out of their last 22 games to reach the World Series meant nothing. Many of the veterans on the Red Sox, holdovers from the '04 championship team - Curt Schilling, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Jason Varitek and the team's manager Terry Francona have been on the grand World Series stage before. In addition, stud pitcher Josh Beckett clinched the 2003 World Series pitching on two days rest for the Florida Marlins in a sublime performance to eliminate the NY Yankees in game #6. Most of the Colorado Rockies players were virtual unknowns outside of the state of Colorado to baseball fans. The Matt Hollidays', Kazuo Matsui's, Garrett Atkins', Todd Heltons', and Jeff Francis' of the world had never been to the ultimate fall classic before. And, basically except for Matt Holliday, who had a great series batting for the Rockies, (although we will also remember him getting picked off first base in a key moment late in game #2 by Jonathan Papelbon), none of the Colorado players were able to come through in crucial moments during the Series.

The Red Sox, set a record as a team hitting over .350. For the most part, Boston's #3 and 4 hitters in their lineup David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez did not do the brunt of the damage against ineffective Colorado pitching during the Series. Instead, it was a team effort. Rookies Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia were constant thorns in the Rockies' sides as repeatedly they were on base, especially during the final two games played at Colorado. Ellsbury tied a World Series record for rookies getting 4 hits in game #3. World Series MVP, third-baseman Mike Lowell constantly came through with clutch hits, including a home run in game #4. Weak-hitting shortstop Julio Lugo even got into the act, batting close to .400 during the Series. In game #3, pitcher Dice-K Matsusaka forced to make an appearance as a batter with the game being played in the National League part had a crucial two-run single in game #3 to keep a rally going which resulted in Boston scoring six runs in the third inning. (It was stated on air that Matsusaka joined two other former Red Sox pitchers who also were able to drive in a pair of runs during a World Series game. Those pitchers names were: Cy Young and Babe Ruth).

Boston's starting pitchers were, for the most part, dominant. Obviously, the same could not be said for the Rockies' counterparts during the Series. Beckett was Beckett in game #1. Josh is rapidly getting the reputation as being the game's dominant post-season pitcher, along with the likes of baseball immortals such Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax who were close to untouchable during their careers in World Series appearances. The thing is Beckett is only 27 years old, and barring injury, is just entering the prime of his pitching career. Schilling gutted through seven innings and proved the nay-sayers wrong; those individuals who stated that Curt was through as a dominant pitcher because he could no longer throw the 99 mph cheese. He allowed only one Colorado run in game #2. What had to be thrilling for Red Sox fans was the great performance by Jon Lester in game #4 and for two reasons. One, Lester had not pitched in a game since mid September. Secondly, it was his first appearance ever in a post season game. Lester pitched brilliantly into the sixth inning last night, constantly befuddling the supposed iron batters in the middle of the Colorado lineup: Holliday-Helton-Atkins-Hawpe. And the Red Sox had the "man" in the bullpen, unlike the Rockies. Closer Jonathan Papelbon was called into save situations by manager Terry Francona in the eighth inning of games #2, 3, and 4. Francona was asking his stud closer to get 5-6 outs to preserve victory. In today's baseball world, having a closer come into pressurized situations before the ninth inning is now a rarity. But, each time Papelbon rose to the occasion. This was especially true in game #4 when he entered the game with one out in the eight inning and asked to nurse a one-run Boston lead. Papelbon can now be called the premier closer in baseball, as he extinguished any hope of a Rockies comeback. Closing out the final batter, Papelbon blew a 99 mph fastball by the Rockies hitter for strike three and the championship.

Red Sox Nation must be besides themselves this morning. For the 2nd time in four seasons, fans of the team from all over New England are experiencing something which had not occurred from 1919-2004: The Red Sox being called World Champions, as the city of Boston prepares itself for another massive parade to celebrate. The scary thing is that the team management has developed a young team filled with stars either approaching or in the prime of their careers. Indeed the Red Sox essentially re-tooled and have reloaded the team since the 2004 championship, and baseball experts state that they are now the elite franchise in all of baseball. In comparison, the Yankees are already in the throes of a tumultuous off-season with the expected loss of Rodriguez, (along with his 54 homeruns and 156 RBI's). The Bronx Bombers also face the prospect of trying to key re-sign free agents Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera. The team's best pitcher Andy Pettite, (no it's not Chieng Meng Wang who for the second consecutive post-season pitched like a dog in the playoffs) has a player option and might choose to go back to Texas and retire along with his buddy, old man Roger Clemens. The team's beloved manager Joe Torre, as we all know thumbed his nose instead of taking an insulting one-year offer and 33% paycut to return next season to lead the Yankees. It could be chaos next season in the Bronx, as well as a possible non-appearance in the 2008 post-season. Boston, on the other hand can be penciled in today as favorites to appear in the World Series next year, and the year after that!

One final thing about A-me Rodriguez. While he is thought to be on pace to eventually become the all-time home run king by the time he does retire 8-10 years from now, (and another 300 million dollars in his bank account); there is one statistic that seems to illustrate his baseball playing career so far. Number of World Series appearances by Rodriguez so far in his career: zero! Early in his career while playing for the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez was on a team with Ken Griffey Jr., before injuries ravaged his body and he was hitting 55-57 home runs/year, Randy Johnson who during his prime was averaging over 300 K's/season and Edgar Martinez one of the greatest DH's in baseball. For all of the greatness of those four players alone, Seattle never made it to the World Series in the mid to late 90's. During the 4 seasons that Rodriguez played for the Yankees they never made it to the World Series; their last such appearance being the year before A-Rod came to NY. For the most part A-Rod was known as "A-choke" during the playoffs while playing in NY; failing miserably in crucial situations where his bat would have helped the Yankees. A comparable player to A-Rod, Manny Ramirez meanwhile now has two championship rings to his resume and is known for rising big-time during clutch playoff moments. Just some food for thought for the next franchise in baseball, (the LAA Angels?, Chicago Cubs?, LA Dodgers?) willing to fork over a lot of dough to a player who it is said can not be called a "winner" in the sport.

Congratulations Red Sox. World Series champions in 2007! I welcome any comments to this post.