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Roy Oswalt: A-Rod Cheated Me and The SportBy Jeffrey Gross on February 15, 2009 | No Comments
Wow, what a coincidence…yet another person is pissed off at A-Roid…oh wait I meant A-Rod I swear.
Oswalt feels cheated, hey Oswalt, guess what? So do we! We as fans feel cheated just like you. Seriously we do. We paid to see the games too, we take the time to watch all of this, get over it pal. Sorry it may have cost you another 5 mill on your last contract that A-Rod got those “Timely” hits off of you.
I agree with Oswalt in some respects, but when you bring money into it, and loss thereof it turns into something totally different.
If Roy Oswalt had his choice, any player who was proven or admitted to, using performance-enhancing drugs, the Astros ace player said on Tuesday that the suspected players’ number would be erased from baseball history.
That is if his will is to be followed. Alex Rodriguez will be a part of that list, who on Monday admitted that he used the drugs after failing a drug test last 2003. Considered by many as the best player who ever played today, Rodriguez has 553 home runs, 1,606 RBIs. But Oswalt says Rodriguez is simply one those whose numbers should be stricken from the record.
“A-Rod’s numbers shouldn’t count for anything,” Oswalt said in a phone interview with MLB.com. “I feel like he cheated me out of the game.”
Oswalt said that he feels the same way to all players who have tested positive over the years. Although giving his teammate Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt, and calling the allegations against him “suspicion”. But if proven guilty, Clemens’ number, along with all of his awards should be erased, said Oswalt.
He also said that he is bothered by those players who had tested positive in his era which spread to those players who are “clean”. Oswald entered the big league in 2001, winning 19 games in 2002 and 20 in both 04 and 05. He said everything without the help of PEDs, and that he despises cheaters.
“It does bother me,” Oswalt said. “Especially for the guys that went out there and did it on talent. We’re always going to have a cloud on us, and that’s not fair at all.“The ones that have come out and admitted it, and are proven guilty, [their numbers] should not count. I’ve been cheated out of the game,” Oswalt continued. “This is my ninth year, and I’ve done nothing to enhance my performance, other than work my butt off to get guys out. These guys [who took PEDs] have all the talent in the world. All-Star talent. And they put times two on it.
“I’m going out there with the ability God gave me. They have that ability, too, and they’re putting something on top of it.”
Rodriguez admitted in an interview last Monday that he took performance enhancing drugs during this three year stay with the Rangers. That statement made Oswald even more furious since the Astros played against him a number of times when Rodriguez was taking the drugs during Interleague Play.
Rodriguez was 3-for-5 vs. Oswalt as a member of the Rangers, with two doubles, one home run, three RBIs and two walks. As a Yankee, Rodriguez was hitless in two at-bats versus Oswalt.“The few times we played them, when he got hits, it could have cost me a game,” Oswalt said. “It could have cost me money in my contract. He cheated me out of the game and I take it personally, because I’ve never done [PEDs], haven’t done it, and they’re cheating me out of the game.”
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The Angels Land Bobby Abreu – Not BadBy Jeffrey Gross on February 15, 2009 | 1 Comment
Bye Bye Yanks, hello LA. Abreau is headed to the Angels! To be honest, it is a monster pickup in my humble opinion. Sure they lost K-Rod, but another bat in the lineup will certainly increase the cushion for the next closer in those late innings.
According to some reports, the Angels are eyeing to offer a deal to free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, although General Manager Tony Reagins still has to comment on this subject.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com said that two general managers are told that Abreu will be transferred to an American League team. Another source told Rosenthal that the deal concerning the Angels was closed.
Two other sources said that Abreu and the Angels have had a stern conversation involving the outfielder’s on year deal with the team.
When Abreu entered the free agency pool, and went on finding a potential three year contract averaging $16 million, but in a league overflowing with talent and a not so good market made Abreu to think twice, although there had been rumors that he would go for and $8 million, one year deal.Boasting a career average of a .300 hitter with a .498 slugging percentage along with a .405 on-base percentage, Abreu would provide a good balance to a team that is full of right handed bats. Kendry Morales, who is expected to replace Mark Teixeira this season at first base, is the only left handed player with power.
If Abreu signs with the team, this would put a mark of ending Garret Anderson’s chances of suiting up for the Angels. Anderson, the club’s most prolific offensive player is also a free agent, with the Mariners expressing their interest along with Ken Griffey, Jr.
“I’m just waiting to see where this goes,” Anderson said. “I’m being patient, and I’m optimistic something will get done.”
Signing Abreu will mean leaving Adam Dunn on the market. All these for the fact that they see Abreu as the best all around player, being able to play bothe left and right field, not considering his history as a good base runner.Abreu has stolen 22 or more bases for the past 10 seasons, and being with the Yankees in 2006 after 8 1/2 seasons with the Phillies.
He began his career with the Astros in 1996.Abreu has produced at least 100 RBIs across seven of the past eight seasons, and has delivered 20 or more home runs in his eight of the past 10 seasons.
With Gary Matthews Jr.’s accessibility for the start of the season questionable due to his recovery from knee surgery, Abreu would join Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera in a four-man rotation that would be involving the three outfield spots and the designated-hitter role. -
The Yanks Are Disappointed With Good Ole’ A-RoidBy Jeffrey Gross on February 14, 2009 | No Comments
Here we go again…A-Roid is stirring up trouble and controversy in the Yanks clubhouse. This really makes me wonder how the new guys are handling this situation… Sabathia, Texeira…Should they be worried too? I suppose time will tell.
After hearing Alex’s Rodriguez’s explanation after testing positive of using performance enhancing drugs, the Yankees are all but eager to help A-Rod move forward.
The Yankees broke media silence on A-Rod’s predicament just hours after the latter talked in an interview with ESPN’s Peter Gammons.
The statement reads: “We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the Commissioner to continually improve the testing process,”“We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex — like all of us — is a human being not immune to fault.
“We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never truer than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season.”
Rodriguez stated that he had been in constant communication with Yankees officials and also with teammate Andy Pettitte, who also confessed of using human growth hormone almost one year ago.
Before Rodriguez’s interview was televised, shortstop Derek Jeter and catcher Jorge Posada told reporters from the club’s Himes Avenue Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. Both said that they support Alex.
“Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever,” Posada said. “I’m going to support him any way I can.”
Jeter uttered his concern that the results of the 2003 testing, which was supposed to be unspecified, gauged to see if a test was to be repeated the following year.“They said when the Mitchell Report came out, ‘This is the end of it, everyone will move on,’” Jeter said. “Now we have this. What if something else happens? … The thing about the list that you’re supposedly concerned with is the fact that it was supposed to be anonymous.”
Both Jeter and Posada were asked if they were bothered that they might be included on the similar testing as Rodriguez’s, both Yankee player said they weren’t. “Why would I worry about me being on the list?” Jeter said. “I think that I’ve done things right,” said Posada, “and I don’t think I put anything on my body that could be positive on one of those tests.”This season will surely be the time for A-Rod to face. In his interview still with Gammons, he spoke of the Yankees’ chances this 2009 season and is excited to play with new teammates CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. A-Rod also was relieved since he spoke about the three stained seasons with the Rangers.
“The most important thing for me in my career is to be honest and forthright, to go into my ‘09 season as part of the greatest organization in the world, as one of the guys to go out and try to reach our goal,” Rodriguez said. “And when you have that monkey on your back, it’s really hard to be the person that you know you can be. It’s hard to fulfill your potential that way.”
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A-Rod and the Yanks – At the Breaking Point?By Jeffrey Gross on February 12, 2009 | 5 Comments
Issues concerning Alex Rodriguez would always be on a constant shadow for the league, whether it may be good, bad, or otherwise.
“The Yankee Years”, a 447 page book by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci should’ve sparked the not so entertaining days of Spring Training even if the CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira controversies weren’t interesting enough.
All of a sudden, no one is that interested in what was noted in the book: people in the clubhouse calling him “A-Fraud,” rumors of him opposing with Derek Jeter and the ever so popular peanut butter and jelly sandwich agenda
With Sports Illustrated’s shocking story last Saturday that ARod had tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his AL MVP season last 2003, current terms such as testosterone and Primobolan, is twisting the tale to another direction.
Although there were no penalties for testing positive during the 2003 survey, it is safe to say that Rodriguez is in no danger of a suspension that would deteriorate his 2009 season.
Rodriguez’s wealth is on the safe side as well: Sources told Sports Illustrated that the 10 year, $275 million contract is still on the go, since there is no word about the steroids news that would put Rodriguez on the line.
Is it safe to say that A-Rod is the complete package: All his potential as well as the shadows of controversies all molded into one person?
“No,” A-Rod said then. Sunbathing topless in Central Park, and scoring Madonna’s cell number can be one way to put it.
Torre praised Rodriguez for his work ethic, but at the same time commented on the latter for gaining too much attention in the clubhouse.
He also made it a point to note Rodriguez’s measures, although it is not always true. One thing is on the honest point though; A-Rod was indeed a steroid user.
A number of writers have already promised in print that they will not vote for Rodriguez as a Hall of Famer, according to a Sports Illustrated article. But with his contract not expiring until the end of 2017, decisions could very well be changed overnight, considering Rodriguez’s name should appear on the 2002 ballots.
With 553 home runs under his belt, Rodriguez only needs 210 more to surpass the record held by Barry Bonds, a likely feat that would soon be accomplished in the near future.
Instilled with his provocative actions is the media, wherein flocks of reporters, writers and not to mention critics going where the Yankees go, those responses is short lived since Alex Rodriguez is rumored to be in the Bahamas.
It was on a lone summer that Any Pettitte stole the limelight away from A-Rod. Before his teammates and the media, Pettitte apologized for his actions, which he described to be “stupid and desperate”.

