First off I’d like to state for the record that Alex Rodriguez is a douchebag for trying to preempt the Red Sox’s World Series joy with the announcement that he is opting out of his contract with the Yankees. With that stated, I am overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him in a Giants uniform. A Giants uniform? Yes. I will explain:
1. The Giants have the cash, as they have shown with Barry Zito.
2. Barry Bonds is gone, and so is his ridiculously large contract freeing up more salary room to bring in a guy like A-Rod.
3. Speaking of Barry Bonds, where else could he have spent his time and been totally loved by his fans? Look at A-Rod: he hits 54 home runs and drives in 156 RBIs and Yankee fans still boo and insult him. Sure, Giants fans are not always the most interested fans, but they are loyal to their stars. After a tumultuous time in the Bronx, the Bay Area would certainly be a nice place to unwind and play some ”less pressured” baseball.
4. The Giants can win, next season. They have a quality pitching core of Cain, Lowry, Lincecum, and yes, even Zito). With that rotation and a solid bullpen (well, close to solid), all the Giants really need to make a run is a star slugger (specifically, one that isn’t 43 years old). Add A-Rod and another savvy vet to hit behind him to go along with a lineup full of young talent and you have the opportunity to make the post-season in 2008.
5. I’m clearly not all that far off, as others who work with the Giants seem to agree with me. Again, it is in the hands of Brian Sabean to come up with the spending options to get him.
6. We all know A-Rod likes to whine (and dine). So, why not live in the state with the most whiner-ries?
7. I quote the San Francisco Chronicle: No. 1 reason A-Rod will sign with the Giants: The golden opportunity to break all of Barry Bonds’ intentional-walk records.
That’s my take. I challenge others to come up with better reasons for A-Rod to go somewhere else, except for Boston, because according to Boston fans’ chanting of “Don’t Sign A-Rod” after Game 4 of the World Series, they don’t even want to hear about it.
2- It also helps free up more room to bring in multiple good players.
4- Our rotation has been good for a few years now, and Bonds has needed a savvy vet behind him since Kent left. If we blow all our money on A-Rod, #7 really will come true because he’ll have Kevin Frandsen hitting behind him.
5- Everyone in every baseball city (as well as fourteen Expos fans in Montreal that haven’t noticed they left yet) thinks Rodriguez should come to their team. Just because a beat writer thought about it doesn’t mean it’ll happen.
That said, I’ll be the first one cheering if it does happen. I just don’t think it particularly likely, and I don’t think it would necessarily be the deus ex machina the Giants need to go all the way.
Troy McClure SF
October 30th, 2007
4. The Giants will have to improve by 20 games next season in a competitive division to win next year. That ain’t happenin’, A-Rod or not.
Ben K.
October 31st, 2007