The Drubbing

Growing up as a Red Sox fan has not given me the ability to root for A-Rod. I’d boo him in a heartbeat, even in his home stadium. Because even as a New Yorker, I’m a Mets fan. Pinstripes make me vomit.

But A-Rod could retire this week and be in the hall of fame by Feb. He’s just that good. Barring major injury, he will probably go down as the greatest offensive player in the history of the game.

But will his name be mentioned along with Yogi Berra, Ted DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Frank Crosetti, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as one of the greatest winners ever? I bet Yankees fans would trade A-Rod’s 800 home runs for eight more World Series titles. Until then, they’ll boo.

Jeter’s career isn’t overrated. His fielding is, and Tim McCarver verbally makes love to him when he announces games. He is a great player, but if what you meant is that he is not the mythical superhero that the media and some Yankee fans make him out to be, I agree. But most teams would still pencil him in ahead of their starter right now.

As for Mattingly, I will put my boyhood idol crush on hold for a minute and say: Mattingly was great, he played hard, had a few really great years, but I don’t think nationally he is overrated. He got 11.9% on the HOF ballot, which is probably 11.9% more than he deserves.

Well, I decided not to write an article on it, but Jim Rice doesn’t deserve to be in either. He is a just about the same as (if not worse than Mo Vaughn with 4 additional years.

Rice: 382HRs, 1451RBIs, .298BA, .352OBP, OPS+ 128

Vaughn: 328 HR, 1064RBI, .293BA, .383OBP, OPS+132