With Alex Rodriguez coming off one of the better all around seasons in baseball over the last few years, we are all still being bombarded by one thing--his failures in the playoffs. Could ESPN and the rest of the media be kind enough to talk about the season he just put together, instead of his "failures" in the playoffs? Could someone please focus on the great playoff match-ups and not the stats of a player who has had a few bad playoff games? I guess that is too much to ask from a network like ESPN, who at a time where it should be promoting the game of baseball and its great playoffs, will be breaking down one of the more marketable players in the game today.
Checking ESPN.com the day before the Yankees were set to begin the playoffs, and on the front page of the site as the main headline of the day was an article titled King of Gotham?...The next month will determine if baseball's best player conquers New York...Or abdicates the throne. Instead of focusing on how A-Rod helped the Yankees reach the playoffs, we have to hear again how A-Rod has had a few bad postseason at bats.
Now ESPN is not the only one to blame, as the New York media has played a role in bashing A-Rod. I feel that without the constant scrutiny on A-Rod, this topic would never have come about. Does anyone remember A-Rod's first playoff series as a Yankee where he single handedly helped the Yankees beat the Twins? Of course not, because that wouldn't generate the buzz that his failures produce. I truly feel that all the negative media attention has turned some Yankee "fans" against A-Rod. The true fans don't hate A-Rod, but others are easily swayed. My argument not only applies to A-Rod's play on the field, but also on off the field matters. Is there a reason why we have to know when A-Rod hangs out with his family in Central Park without a shirt or why we need front page news when he was reportedly being unfaithful on a road trip?
I guess my whole point of this is why the media needs to jump on this guys back for a few hitless games. Sure, he's the games highest paid player and probably it's most recognizable player, but it is baseball, which is not the easiest sport to play. Is the pressure getting to him? It's possible, but I don't think there would be this enormous pressure on him if it weren't for the constant attention the media puts on him, both on and off the field. And I don't buy that it's the pressure of New York that is getting to him. No other player has had to deal with the stuff that A-Rod deals with. I think a lot of people may be taking for granted what a great player A-Rod is. I really believe that instead of bashing the guy, they should try to market him as a great representative of Major League Baseball like a Derek Jeter or a Vladimir Guerrero or a David Ortiz. Why can't A-Rod also be in that mix? To me, there is just no need for stories on A-Rod's failures to be shoved in our faces anymore. I think everyone should just leave the guy alone, let him play, and let him be the star that Major League Baseball should want him to be.
Speaking about marketing, the negative attention that is constantly put on A-Rod can't help the marketing of him as a great player. I feel that the negative attention is mostly unnecessary, as there are bigger and more important things that the media should be focusing on. No one in the media pointed out the bad statistics of other Yankees in the playoffs--all the blame went to A-Rod. If I were MLB, I would try my best to get this guy viewed in a more positive light to maximize his value to the sport. Having a guy like A-Rod, in a market like New York, should be an easy sell, but so far it hasn't. If A-Rod stays in NY, MLB should really try to market this guy better than they do now, or they will miss the boat and probably regret it.
I guess my whole point of this is why the media needs to jump on this guys back for a few hitless games. Sure, he's the games highest paid player and probably it's most recognizable player, but it is baseball, which is not the easiest sport to play. Is the pressure getting to him? It's possible, but I don't think there would be this enormous pressure on him if it weren't for the constant attention the media puts on him, both on and off the field. And I don't buy that it's the pressure of New York that is getting to him. No other player has had to deal with the stuff that A-Rod deals with. I think a lot of people may be taking for granted what a great player A-Rod is. I really believe that instead of bashing the guy, they should try to market him as a great representative of Major League Baseball like a Derek Jeter or a Vladimir Guerrero or a David Ortiz. Why can't A-Rod also be in that mix? To me, there is just no need for stories on A-Rod's failures to be shoved in our faces anymore. I think everyone should just leave the guy alone, let him play, and let him be the star that Major League Baseball should want him to be.
Speaking about marketing, the negative attention that is constantly put on A-Rod can't help the marketing of him as a great player. I feel that the negative attention is mostly unnecessary, as there are bigger and more important things that the media should be focusing on. No one in the media pointed out the bad statistics of other Yankees in the playoffs--all the blame went to A-Rod. If I were MLB, I would try my best to get this guy viewed in a more positive light to maximize his value to the sport. Having a guy like A-Rod, in a market like New York, should be an easy sell, but so far it hasn't. If A-Rod stays in NY, MLB should really try to market this guy better than they do now, or they will miss the boat and probably regret it.
6 comments:
Lets be honest, players in every sport are measured by the amount of rings they have and how they have helped their teams obtain those rings. Anyone will tell you that A-Rod is one of the best baseball players of all time. He has had great season after great season. Recently though he has disappeared in the playoffs. In a town like New York, and playing for a team like the Yankees, your playoffs numbers are more important than you regular season numbers. If he was in a town like Oakland or St. Louis maybe he would not be bashed as much. It comes with the territory. A-Rod: step it up big guy.
My point is he just gets it way more than anyone else. Maybe it comes with the contract, but I find it totally unnecessary to hear about some personal stuff about him, and focusing more on his failures than the good playoff match-ups we have this year. Being from NY, I see that he gets negative headlines even when the team wins. I just think the media should do a better job marketing this guy for the good things he does, not only bad things.
I think there are many parts to this equation for why A-Rod is scrutinized as much as he is. A) He has a history of struggling in the playoffs over the past few years B) He is the $252 million dollar man C) He is a Yankee. Whether you like it or not, A-Rod will be judged much more harshly than other players due to these 3 factors.
Bottom line, players will be judged by winning. A-Rod has been in Seattle, Texas, and New York and has still not won the big one. Until he does, the media will continue to come down on him, whether it's warranted or not.
All that matters in baseball is October. Just making it to the play-offs is clearly not enough. Even though A-Rod may have had something to do with getting the Yankees to the playoffs, if he can't produce when it counts, that's a huge problem. Wait, what do I hear...Oh right, that's A-Rod CHOKING, followed by the rest of his team!!!! The real story is where Torre is going to end up. Every year during this time the franshise threatens him with losing his job. Once he goes, who will fill his shoes?
GO SOX!
As a New Yorker and a true Yankee fan, I must say that A-Rod is in fact deserving of much of his criticism. He may prove through his stats to be one of the best players of all time, but when it counts the most he has a tendancy to become just another pro baseball player. I am greatful for all that he has done while on the Yankees, but I struggle to figure out why he simply cannot take his level of talent all the way to the end. Also, considering the amount of money that he makes and his desire to earn more, I feel that the media has every right to tear him apart. His greedy nature as well as that of his agent, does not help to portray him in a better light. Personally, I believe he knowingly continues to make himself out to be a target of the media as he enjoys the attention.
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