A late night at work saw me driving for home at around eleven with 660 AM WFAN and the callers bringing out the Long knives for the Yankees. Who was to blame? Torre? A-Rod? Wang? Even Posada was a target. Apparently one person is not likely waiting around to find out:
A clubhouse attendant packed the belongings from Alex Rodriguez's locker into cardboard boxes yesterday, in what may have been a sign that Rodriguez did not plan to visit Yankee Stadium anytime soon. He may never return as a member of the Yankees because he seems sure to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract. While the agent Scott Boras did not specifically say that Rodriguez would opt out with three years left on his 10-year, $252 million contract, he suggested that becoming a free agent again would be his client's savviest choice.You would think free agency value would coincide with actual on the game day value. Is that A-Rod? Sure he is great and has tthe stats but...umm...I'd prefer someone who plays well in the playoffs? I can think of four Red Sox right now who are more valuable than A-Rob and I don't think I even need to mention them. Who else puts up lower numbers but is of more actual value? Byrd, Cleveland's fourth pitcher the other night, the man who beat the Yanks, comes to mind with his literally throw-back style of pitching."When the arbitrator gave free agency to baseball, is there anyone in baseball who the free-agent right meant more to than Alex Rodriguez?" Boras said yesterday. "Not with his last contract, but right now, now more than any point in history."
Anyway, A-Rod, good luck in your likely destination of Chicargo, as we called it as kids, making kissy-eyes with Lou. Likely you will disappoint there as well.

Comments
Hans - October 10, 2007 10:33 AM
...and if I was Joe Torre, the idea of free agency would be very appealing to me too. If I was him I wouldn't wait around for that kook Steinbrenner to make a decision, I'd quit now. Torre would be a candidate for any number of manager's jobs.
Ben (The Tiger) - October 10, 2007 11:03 AM
Joe! Joe! Joe! Joe!
ry - October 10, 2007 4:19 PM
I grew up with Joe Torre being the colo(u)r man for the Angels. Learned a lot about the game listening to him on 710KMPC. He deserves better treatment than what Steinbrenner is giving him, that's for sure.
Maybe he'll go back to work for the Cardinals organization?
But I wouldn't dismiss A-Rod from going to the Angels. Morreno seems to want this guy, and Orlando Cabrerra is a free agent. I'd rather keep Cabrerra than lose him and get A-Rod, but it's morreno and Stoneman's call. I wouldn't mind having both though(Kendrick and Aybar can sit or be traded). The Angels desperately need a hr hitter(Garret Anderson isn't getting any younger you know). And he'd fit right in with Guerrero in disappearing in the playoffs.
Ms. Misanthrope - October 11, 2007 10:57 PM
Ah yes -- "Root, root, root for the Cubbies ... if they don't win it's the same ..."