6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

Frankly, I don't want to see A-Rod in an Angels uniform. Yes, he can mash. He's also all about the money. Following are quotes from A-Rod in the years 1999 and 2000, all from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. I think you'll find that he was pretty much about (a) winning, and (b) the money, and not necessarily in that order. If you squint hard, you can see him still wanting to hang out in the Pacific northwest's damp climate, but ... nah. All quotes presented here are direct A-Rod quotes, unless otherwise indicated.

If you're not on three or four teams, you're not going to win. Bottom line. You're not going to kid each other. The team that's going to spend $90-115-140 million in the future is the team that's going to win. That's a sad situation, how baseball let it get to this. So if you say, well, I'm going to play for a team in Milwaukee, you're going to choose to stay in Milwaukee your whole career and you're 100-percent guaranteed you're not going to win a championship.

I think when Dale Murphy played, all it took was probably two good pitchers who weren't going to cost you $100 million, probably more like $14 million between the two, and you had a chance to win. So the difference between a middle team and a great team wasn't all that huge, money-wise. Now you're talking about the Yankees' $100 million payroll compared to Montreal at $9 million.

My biggest thing is I love the people in Seattle and the following I have with the people in Seattle, and the organization has been really good to me, too. I still feel we have a chance to win here. It's just a matter of getting the right pieces to the puzzle. We have a new stadium now, so we'll see what happens.

— "Two Threes In Pod: A-Rod's Number And Playing Style Honor Boyhood Idol Dale Murphy" by Tyler Kepner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 1, 1999

I know I've been good to this city, I know this city's been good to me and I have a clean conscience. I've had a great time here and I really, sincerely want the best for Seattle. And if it's going to take a championship team to get me out of here, then that's what I want for Seattle.

— "With Boras By His Side, Rodriguez Faces Future Deal Maker, Deal Breaker" by Tyler Kepner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 28, 1999

The only team Rodriguez would consider signing with this winter is the Mariners, he said....

— "Rodriguez In No Hurry To Sign With M's" by Tyler Kepner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 14, 1999

I signed a four-year deal, and that means I want to play four years and win there. When you sign a four-year deal, you don't want to be there three years or three and a half years. The ball's in their court, and they have to do what they please, but I want to be a Mariner. I was born and raised there.

— "Agent Says A-Rod Won't Deal Until Current Contract Ends" by Tyler Kepner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 20, 1999

"Alex wants to win as a Mariner," [agent Scott] Boras said. "He just wants time to observe and evaluate and make a decision. The Mariners can do what they feel they need to do, of course. But if they did trade him with the team in contention, that would be against everyone's best interests.

— "The End Of An Era -- Ken Griffey Jr. Traded" by Tyler Kepner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 11, 2000

I want to play this year for Seattle. But I won't sign a contract (extension) during the season.

I will be a free agent at the end of the year. And who knows? I might sign with Seattle.

...

I want to be here. If they trade me or keep me, that's a decision that they have to make.

— "All Eyes On Alex A-Rod Tells Reporters, `I Will Be A Free Agent'" by John Hickey, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 23, 2000

Labels: angels, rumors

// posted by Rob @ 11:46 AM link  //  7 comments