How will A-Roid do this year?

[Zito75]

Any predictions on A-Roid's on-field performance this year? It seems like he's got a full plate to deal with off the field- divorce, 'roids, Torre's book, etc.

Anyone care to make to make a prediction?

[SamtheBravesFan]

I doubt he crumbles under the pressure that much: .280-30-100 at the very least.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I expect a typical A-Rod season. A-Rod \has been in the limelight since 1996 and has always been a consistent and durable ballplayer. There's no reason to believe he'll tank it in '09.

[slugger33]

.311 BA, 45 homers, 131 RBIs.

[gman5431]

He will have a typical season, .300, 30-40 homers, 110 or so RBIs and 1 playoff win to go with 3-16 in playoff ABs.

G Man

[Paulypal]

35-45 homers, 130 rbi's, .310 average. Finally gets the monkey off of his back- Yanks win the WS, and ARod has a big world series 3 homers 8 rbi's .434 batting average, and the MVP.

[NJYankeeFan]

Agree with the others, typical season for A-Rod.

[Moses Fleetwood-Walker]

Will Yankees fans hold asterisks up every time A-Rod comes to plate in the new Yankee Stadium? Will he be hounded & booed constantly in every ballpark? Will A-Rod become the new lightning rod for lazy baseball beatwriters to masturbate their morality with? These are all interesting questions.

[TheMadDog31]

Will he be hounded & booed constantly in every ballpark? Will A-Rod become the new lightning rod for lazy baseball beatwriters to masturbate their morality with?

I thought this was happening even before the steroids...

[Moses Fleetwood-Walker]

I thought this was happening even before the steroids...

He's always been a polarizing figure and surrounded by controversy. But this would be the first time the integrity of his accomplishments would be questioned. His first response to the allegations was "talk to the union", not really an acceptance of guilt and plea for forgiveness. Given the fact that like Bonds he's facing these allegations while he's still playing and at a high level, it'll be interesting to see how the public reacts.

[Erik Bedard]

I know I'm questioning A-Rod's career. He will probably take a much greater hit in my all-time rankings than Bonds, as Bonds had pretty much locked up a top 15 spot at the very least before he started taking steroids. I might move A-Rod out of the top 50.

However, the comparisons to Bonds fall flat, because A-Rod is not yet chasing any major record. What made Bonds so abhorrent to many was the fact that it is almost universally believed he took steroids and passed somebody who it is almost universally believed did not. In summation, Bonds was not held as "worthy" of the HR crown. Rodriguez does not have the HR crown, nor is he in immediate position to obtain it, therefore there is no question of his "worthiness" yet.

[TonyK]

If anything could get him more support from his teammates then this might be it. Now he is no longer better than the rest of them (higher paid maybe). Having the kahunas to admit what he did and apologize will go a long way towards gaining their respect. I see A-Rod becoming a real Yankee this year. I would not be surprised if they win it all.

[Zito75]

If anything could get him more support from his teammates then this might be it. Now he is no longer better than the rest of them (higher paid maybe). Having the kahunas to admit what he did and apologize will go a long way towards gaining their respect. I see A-Rod becoming a real Yankee this year. I would not be surprised if they win it all.

I keep thinking the Yanks will win it all every year as well. Thank God they don't, and I don't see it again this year with the fossils they have.

[plask_stirlac]

Rodriguez will be fine, though he might be the second most efficient one in New York baseball depending on a curveball.

I know I'm questioning A-Rod's career. He will probably take a much greater hit in my all-time rankings than Bonds, as Bonds had pretty much locked up a top 15 spot at the very least before he started taking steroids. I might move A-Rod out of the top 50.

However, the comparisons to Bonds fall flat, because A-Rod is not yet chasing any major record. What made Bonds so abhorrent to many was the fact that it is almost universally believed he took steroids and passed somebody who it is almost universally believed did not. In summation, Bonds was not held as "worthy" of the HR crown. Rodriguez does not have the HR crown, nor is he in immediate position to obtain it, therefore there is no question of his "worthiness" yet.

It's a career total, not a scholarship or research grant. But if you want heroes and villains who hit a ball in the air, go for it I guess.

I mean if Bonds is not the true champ, he isn't whether he has 762 or 648 or 903. You decide, just like almost everyone decides Ruth is better than Aaron while giving kudos to both.

[TheMadDog31]

He's always been a polarizing figure and surrounded by controversy. But this would be the first time the integrity of his accomplishments would be questioned. His first response to the allegations was "talk to the union", not really an acceptance of guilt and plea for forgiveness. Given the fact that like Bonds he's facing these allegations while he's still playing and at a high level, it'll be interesting to see how the public reacts.

This is not what you said the first time though.

The fact of the matter is that Rodriguez's scrutiny will not be nearly as fierce as Bonds' and Clemens' because of the fact that he admitted using. He didn't deny it, he didn't get tangled up in his own web of lies (save for the Couric interview where he lied), and he took the high road in that he didn't insult the media, he didn't insult Major League Baseball, and he blamed only himself. The only person he managed to insult during this whole fiasco was the woman who co-broke the story for SI, Selena Roberts (was that her name?) who seemed to have a little trouble understanding that he didn't want to talk to her (Miami PD recalled an "incident" with her).

Another fact of this matter, is that Rodriguez was already hated by the majority of male baseball fans anyways. Even at Yankee Stadium, he obviously has never been well-liked. Hell, I never even really liked the guy (I prefered Soriano). Rodriguez is booed and hounded everywhere he goes, and writers constantly have field days with every little mistake that he makes. The Madonna thing, his divorce, his lack of clutch hitting this season, his "fued" with Jose Canseco, and a slew of other things that go on in his personal life.

Now, you are correct in certain aspects. You are right that, while he's never been necessarily liked, his achievements have always been respected. He admitted to Peter Gammons and ESPN, and to the general public, that he used performance-enhancers during his three-year career in Arlington. That locker room was filled with steroids, but that's obviously not an excuse. I think that, because he admitted to it and didn't lie, the general public sees him in a different light than guys like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Rafael Pointyfinger. Most will probably see him in the same light as Pettitte and Giambi, who admitted to using and very publicly apologized. I would put Canseco in the same group as those two, if he weren't such a lowlife.

Even if the public considers him to be different from the liars like Bonds and Clemens, in most people's eyes, including mine, Alex Rodriguez still used steroids and was still a cheater.

[rsuriyop]

Being aware of just how sensitive A-Rod is, I'm expecting his '09 to be similar to his '04, where he'll crumble under the torment of the fans and media but regain some composure as the season progresses. My crystal ball's seeing something like: .275-.285 BA, 30-35 Hr's, 100-115 RBI's, .510-.520 SLG.

[Dogdaze]

Being aware of just how sensitive A-Rod is, I'm expecting his '09 to be similar to his '04, where he'll crumble under the torment of the fans and media but regain some composure as the season progresses. My crystal ball's seeing something like: .275-.285 BA, 30-35 Hr's, 100-115 RBI's, .510-.520 SLG.

While you may be right that he might crumble then regain some composure , I was thinking the opposite. I think he's going to come out of SP on fire trying to prove himself.

A-Rod maybe sensitive, but I think his teammates and the Yankee management will support him and I believe he'll Persevere. There will be a lot of pressure on him, I'm sure many fans around the league will be booing and taunting him and of course the media circus that will surround him, but I think he'll use that as motivation and have a big year similar to 2007 since he'll be wanting to prove himself. It's just a hunch, but I think he will.

[boisemarinersfan]

.325-46-141 (light a fire under his @$$) he wants approval and to be liked. I think the concetration level has just gone way up. Look at Giambi's revival after he admitted use and Jason can't hold A-Rod's jock talent wise. I don't even like A-Rod (yes bitter jilted Mariners fan) but expect him to have a MONSTER season

[Zito75]

Being aware of just how sensitive A-Rod is, I'm expecting his '09 to be similar to his '04, where he'll crumble under the torment of the fans and media but regain some composure as the season progresses. My crystal ball's seeing something like: .275-.285 BA, 30-35 Hr's, 100-115 RBI's, .510-.520 SLG.

For being a sub-par year, those stats are still nothing to sneeze at.