Saturday, April 17, 2010
Weighing in on Alexis:
Here’s the deal…If I’m hosting a BBQ at my house, I’m not inviting Alex Rios because we’re not friends, and he’s not one of my favourite ball players. I don’t want him refusing to sign autographs, swearing at my children, and claiming that cleaning up after a meal “isn’t one of my five tools”. Moreover, the guy’s a little too good looking and I don’t want him hitting on the Toronto Baseball Wife –even though she assures me that she wouldn’t accept his advances because, while the money would be nice, he’d be a bad role model as a step father-.
As a Blue Jay, Rios was overpaid, underperformed, and regularly put in the effort of a Rogers Centre usher covering a 500 level outfield section during a midweek game in April. So I’m not claiming that he’s my favourite ex-Jay, but I can’t say that he’s hated yet. Without further adieu I’d like to present the following properties of hated athletes –For tangible examples please see Vince Carter-
1.) Demand a Trade: At no point was Rios asking to be moved. We were the ones pushing him out the door.
2.) Speak Badly About the Team: Rios was not speakly badly about the Jays when he suggested that baseball is dead in Toronto. He was merely putting his own interpretation on the fact that he played in front of more empty seats than filled ones.
3.) Throw a game by giving away strategy/putting in a questionable effort: Rios’ effort as a Jay was lacking, but this wasn’t a recent development. The guy was too talented and too pretty, things were so easy for him growing up, that he never learned how to try. Fortunately the Jays have learned from this, and are applying the knowledge to the development of Travis Snider.
4.) Spike in Performance with New Team: Rios batted .199 with an OPS of .530 after joining the White Sox last year.
5.) Haunt the Team when playing against them: Rios played well this week but wasn’t a difference maker in the series.
Based on these items above, I don’t hate Rios yet, but there’s still time. Oddly enough, as I look at the list and check in on Roy’s Philadelphia stats, I’m finding that he nails items 1 and 4 and an argument could be made for 2 and 3 when one considers the slight dig he provides in this article after his opening day vicotry and, and his performance in August last year after the trade deadline. ¶ posted by Mark at 4:35 PM
As a Blue Jay, Rios was overpaid, underperformed, and regularly put in the effort of a Rogers Centre usher covering a 500 level outfield section during a midweek game in April. So I’m not claiming that he’s my favourite ex-Jay, but I can’t say that he’s hated yet. Without further adieu I’d like to present the following properties of hated athletes –For tangible examples please see Vince Carter-
1.) Demand a Trade: At no point was Rios asking to be moved. We were the ones pushing him out the door.
2.) Speak Badly About the Team: Rios was not speakly badly about the Jays when he suggested that baseball is dead in Toronto. He was merely putting his own interpretation on the fact that he played in front of more empty seats than filled ones.
3.) Throw a game by giving away strategy/putting in a questionable effort: Rios’ effort as a Jay was lacking, but this wasn’t a recent development. The guy was too talented and too pretty, things were so easy for him growing up, that he never learned how to try. Fortunately the Jays have learned from this, and are applying the knowledge to the development of Travis Snider.
4.) Spike in Performance with New Team: Rios batted .199 with an OPS of .530 after joining the White Sox last year.
5.) Haunt the Team when playing against them: Rios played well this week but wasn’t a difference maker in the series.
Based on these items above, I don’t hate Rios yet, but there’s still time. Oddly enough, as I look at the list and check in on Roy’s Philadelphia stats, I’m finding that he nails items 1 and 4 and an argument could be made for 2 and 3 when one considers the slight dig he provides in this article after his opening day vicotry and, and his performance in August last year after the trade deadline. ¶ posted by Mark at 4:35 PM
