Report: A-Rod banned through 2014?

[Comfortably Lomb]

I know this has been said before, but I can't help but feel the need to reiterate it.
 
What stands out the most to me in this whole ARod thing is his total lack of denial. He's been pretty stone cold about how unfair the process is, how he doesn't deserve a 200+ game suspension, how MLB is out to screw him, etc. Yet, when it comes to declaring his innocence, he doesn't really say much. Sure, maybe in passing he'll say "Well, I'm innocent" .. but not at all like he's fighting agains the MLB and their "fraudness". 
 
We all know he's guilty, he knows he's guilty.. but I just find it telling that he's not playing the "I'm innocent and was framed" card. 

 
I think most people assume he was using something. Saying he wasn't too often or too forcefully would undermine the real message: that MLB used him and his performance (augmented or not) to sell the brand for two decades, and now Selig has decided to make A-Rod a scapegoat for the PED era as Selig thinks about his legacy. This isn't about innocence, it's about making the league look as ugly and dirty as possible (which is rightly deserved). It looks like A-Rod is coming unhinged a bit but I still think everything his team does, including letting him talk, is calculated.

 

[Dan Murfman]

Believe him or not he absolutely flat out declared his innocence numerous times during the interview with Francesca. Of course he said the same thing to Katie Couric.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

All I know is that I find myself bizarrely rooting for A-Rod as this farce progresses, not just to fuck the Yankees but also because I'm sick of MLB's bullshit with respect to their treatment of the steroid issue. A-Rod is already a massive joke in the eyes of the public and he's going to end up uber-rich either way, so I don't really give a shit whether "justice" is truly meted out to him. If he can screw the Yankees and drag Bud Selig down into the mud, then I'm all for it happening.

 

[lambolt]

Im totally with you Morgans Magic Snowplow, I hated ARod with every fibre of my being until this stuff all kicked off, now I am hoping he will drag it through real courts, and show up that douchebag Selig and the comedy pantomime trying to make Arod the scapegoat for basically ignoring rampant PED usage when it suited them and now they gotta make a show. Plus, fuck the Yankees getting out of that contract. I'm still of half a mind those fuckers are in on this with MLB.
 
 
 

DrewDawg, on 20 Nov 2013 - 7:58 PM, said:
We don't walk .260 hitters [/Tek]

bravo

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

All I know is that I find myself bizarrely rooting for A-Rod as this farce progresses, not just to fuck the Yankees but also because I'm sick of MLB's bullshit with respect to their treatment of the steroid issue. A-Rod is already a massive joke in the eyes of the public and he's going to end up uber-rich either way, so I don't really give a shit whether "justice" is truly meted out to him. If he can screw the Yankees and drag Bud Selig down into the mud, then I'm all for it happening.

 
I don't know that I'm rooting for him, but it seems to me that he stormed out of the meeting with MLB and vented on Mike because he sees Selig's pursuit of him as personally driven. He's pissed because he thinks Bud's out to make an example of him and yet won't even be forced to testify at the meetings. Since he's taking it as a personal attack his personally affronted and is reacting much the same way any of us would react if we thought someone had a personal vendetta against us.
 
I'm not saying that he's right or that it's any less distasteful, but to be honest this whole recent development might be the most human thing he's done since the issue broke. I can empathize with that somewhat.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I don't know that I'm rooting for him, but it seems to me that he stormed out of the meeting with MLB and vented on Mike because he sees Selig's pursuit of him as personally driven. He's pissed because he thinks Bud's out to make an example of him and yet won't even be forced to testify at the meetings. Since he's taking it as a personal attack his personally affronted and is reacting much the same way any of us would react if we thought someone had a personal vendetta against us.
 
I'm not saying that he's right or that it's any less distasteful, but to be honest this whole recent development might be the most human thing he's done since the issue broke. I can empathize with that somewhat.

That's a great point and I agree. Even if the whole thing was premeditated, there was something human about his response which really departed from his usual android personality.

Whatever happens, I'm entertained...so I guess that's something.

 

[glennhoffmania]

What would surprise me the most would be if the truth wasn't somewhere in the middle.  There's no way ARod didn't continue taking PEDs, but I also think there's no way he's as bad as MLB has made him out to be.  Given that, I can't understand the stupidity of giving interviews and showing up at radio studios to flat out lie.  At some point shit will come out and he'll look even worse than he does today.

 

[Murderer's Crow]

What would surprise me the most would be if the truth wasn't somewhere in the middle. There's no way ARod didn't continue taking PEDs, but I also think there's no way he's as bad as MLB has made him out to be. Given that, I can't understand the stupidity of giving interviews and showing up at radio studios to flat out lie. At some point shit will come out and he'll look even worse than he does today.


I think he waited to make sure that the MLB has no positive tests and has no substantial proof of his wrongdoing before making those declarations. 2 months ago he wasn't so willing to say he never used steroids. It was "when I have a forum to talk about it, I will."

He's at a point now where he's certain they can never prove he took anything and he's declaring he didn't.

 

[Van Everyman]

ARod's "meltdown" is making people say crazy things:

@Deadspin: Peter Gammons on A-Rod: "He wants to blow up the world. You know, he's like the marathon bombers."
http://t.co/TOu2bGnkab

 

[glennhoffmania]

I think he waited to make sure that the MLB has no positive tests and has no substantial proof of his wrongdoing before making those declarations. 2 months ago he wasn't so willing to say he never used steroids. It was "when I have a forum to talk about it, I will."

He's at a point now where he's certain they can never prove he took anything and he's declaring he didn't.

 
Perhaps, but that doesn't mean proof won't come out later.  Like one day a former friend decides to tell the world that he shot up ARod in the ass.  He has zero credibility so I don't see the upside of him telling Mike that he never took PEDs, and I don't understand why his advisors think this is a good strategy.

 

[mauidano]

ARod's "meltdown" is making people say crazy things:

Peter, Peter, Peter.  What in the world are you thinking?  Been reading too many athletes tweets?  Senility finally creeping in?

 

[Average Reds]

I think he waited to make sure that the MLB has no positive tests and has no substantial proof of his wrongdoing before making those declarations. 2 months ago he wasn't so willing to say he never used steroids. It was "when I have a forum to talk about it, I will."

He's at a point now where he's certain they can never prove he took anything and he's declaring he didn't.

 
I'm pretty certain that you have it precisely backwards:  if MLB has no substantial proof of his wrongdoing, he will win his arbitration case and go back to playing baseball.  And someone in that position doesn't blow up the process and storm out.  I see his actions as being those of a man who knows he's about to lose in arbitration and is launching the first salvo in next stage of the battle. 
 
To your last point, he does know that MLB is contractually prohibited from releasing the evidence used against him during the arbitration process, so to a certain extent you are right - he can say whatever he wants and (in the short term, at least) MLB will be powerless to refute him without committing a serious violation of the CBA. 
 
It's not a winning strategy for A-Rod in the long run, but I think he's living day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month these days.  His objective is to turn up the heat to the point where MLB folds.  I don't think he has that power, but we shall see.
 
[SIZE=10pt]

[/SIZE]

 

[mauidano]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10010705/attorneys-alex-rodriguez-vow-release-all-evidence-take-case-federal-court
 
Put up or shut up time!  Although we have heard this before...

 

[glennhoffmania]

What are the consequences if he violates the confidentiality agreement and releases all of the evidence?
 
I continue to enjoy this show immensely.  Don't give up the good fight, Alex.

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

This is like a spinoff of the Yankees Schadenfreude thread!

 

[YTF]

I know this has been said before, but I can't help but feel the need to reiterate it.
 
What stands out the most to me in this whole ARod thing is his total lack of denial. He's been pretty stone cold about how unfair the process is, how he doesn't deserve a 200+ game suspension, how MLB is out to screw him, etc. Yet, when it comes to declaring his innocence, he doesn't really say much. Sure, maybe in passing he'll say "Well, I'm innocent" .. but not at all like he's fighting agains the MLB and their "fraudness". 
 
We all know he's guilty, he knows he's guilty.. but I just find it telling that he's not playing the "I'm innocent and was framed" card. 

 
Just my opinion, but the first part of the highlighted sentence is the answer to the second part. That came back (eventually) to bite Ryan Braun in the ass. Braun can still redeem himself and make a lot of people forget most of this because he still has a shot of having a stellar career while playing clean. A-Rod doesn't have that opportunity and it will always be questioned as to how much of his career was enhanced by the use of PEDs. He HAS to say he's innocent when asked point blank, but he's not offering that unsolicited because he knows it just magnifies how big a fraud he is. The fact that his "defense" mostly consists of "Bud hates my guts" and that he's now playing the "daughter card" speaks volumes to the fact that he can't convince people that he's innocent. He's not fighting for his legacy, he's fighting for his money. MLB still holds most of the cards here. I don't think they have presented A-Rod with everything they have on him and I think he knows that. That's why he's not screaming his innocence. Apples and oranges as far as the actual suspensions, but why do you think there was no fight put up by Ryan Braun? He knew he was screwed, just wasn't sure how badly they could nail his ass to the wall if he fought the suspension.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

So last year after the HBP, Yankee team mates all rallied around him in the spirit of brotherhood. This is a big thing in sports, the false equivalence of war. 
 
Now I wonder what both his team and his "brothers" in the MLBPA are thinking. My guess is that they too wish him gone. MLB players are striving towards an equal playing field so there's less pressure on them to juice, without impacting their payday. They also don't want arbitrary penalties...but I'm also guessing they're secure in the arbitration process.
 
Now Slappy is trying to blow all that up under the facade of fairness. I'm also guessing other players see this for what it is...selfishness.
 
So back to his Yankee "brothers". This fiasco is preventing the Yankees from having certainty in how to rebuild their team, which impacts them (including their paydays) and the manager.
 
Does Slappy have any friends left?

 

[Alcohol&Overcalls]

 
I'm pretty certain that you have it precisely backwards:  if MLB has no substantial proof of his wrongdoing, he will win his arbitration case and go back to playing baseball.  

 
Given the nature of the arbitration and the historical evidence (X-1 all-time, and the 1 loss resulted in the dude getting fired), I don't think this is true at all.
 
There's a good chance he feels he can win in the court of public opinion, but not MLB's kangaroo arb. He's probably wrong, but it's certainly possible he's right.

 

[zapo]

 
he's now playing the "daughter card"

 
also - "Bud doesn't like New York."  So silly.

 

[zapo]

Does Slappy have any friends left?

 
 Of course, just they all happen to charge him $600/hr

 

[geoduck no quahog]

 
Given the nature of the arbitration and the historical evidence (X-1 all-time, and the 1 loss resulted in the dude getting fired), I don't think this is true at all.
 
There's a good chance he feels he can win in the court of public opinion, but not MLB's kangaroo arb. He's probably wrong, but it's certainly possible he's right.

 
Care to back up that ridiculous assertion? Or are you just throwing crap around to be cute.

 

[glennhoffmania]

Yeah seriously.  I'm the last person to support Bud but does anyone really believe that MLB is going after ARod for solely personal reasons and not because they actually believe that he's a cheater?

 

[mauidano]

 
 Of course, just they all happen to charge him $600/hr

Mo loves everyone...even A-Rod.
 
http://nypost.com/2013/11/21/rivera-a-rod-has-right-to-defend-himself/

 

[Average Reds]

 
Given the nature of the arbitration and the historical evidence (X-1 all-time, and the 1 loss resulted in the dude getting fired), I don't think this is true at all.
 
There's a good chance he feels he can win in the court of public opinion, but not MLB's kangaroo arb. He's probably wrong, but it's certainly possible he's right.

 
You are down the rabbit hole, my friend.
 
Let's remember that A-Rod is being suspended for a non-analytical positive.  By definition, there has to be substantial, if not overwhelming evidence of his use to overcome the fact that they don't have a positive test.
 
Let me put it to you another way - the MLBPA has been participating in the process since the summer.  If there was nothing to this, do you think they would have allowed MLB to suspend  one of the most prominent players in the game without any proof?  Don't you think they would have shut the game down right then and there?  Hell, they've done it before over far less than this.
 
It defies belief to say that A-Rod would lose his case if MLB did not present any evidence.  And it defies logic to think that the MLBPA would be their partners in the effort.

 

[mauidano]

Yeah seriously.  I'm the last person to support Bud but does anyone really believe that MLB is going after ARod for solely personal reasons and not because they actually believe that he's a cheater?

Mike Francesca?

 

[Alcohol&Overcalls]

 
Care to back up that ridiculous assertion? Or are you just throwing crap around to be cute.

 
Sorry for the lack of clarity, but I meant that from ARod's point of view.
 
Although you don't think that an all-time record of X-1, plus rules that allow a single individual nearly unlimited power, makes the process something less than most collectively-bargained arbitration processes?  Not that it's a sham, per se, but that it's fairly difficult for the player to actually win in the traditional sense - even the best-case scenario for ARod was simply reducing his suspension.  The fact that it's a non-test positive removes most of his ability to rebut, which the players agreed to fair and square, but which probably colors both ARod's view of the situation and his risk/benefit calculations.

 

[Rovin Romine]

 
I think most people assume he was using something. Saying he wasn't too often or too forcefully would undermine the real message: that MLB used him and his performance (augmented or not) to sell the brand for two decades, and now Selig has decided to make A-Rod a scapegoat for the PED era as Selig thinks about his legacy. This isn't about innocence, it's about making the league look as ugly and dirty as possible (which is rightly deserved). It looks like A-Rod is coming unhinged a bit but I still think everything his team does, including letting him talk, is calculated.

 
Oddly, A-Rod sold the A-Rod brand himself, to Nike et. al, and did rather well by his big paid endorsements.   While ARod won his MVPs, it's not like he was anointed the new "face" of baseball, or Selig dragged ARod into a closet and force fed him PEDs. 
 
Secondly, A-Rod already confessed to using PEDs during the Texas years and followed it up by apologizing, saying he knew it was wrong, and he'd never do it again.  So unless Selig dragged him into a closet and force fed him PEDs. . .
 
And, just to make it even more painful, the Player's Association agreed to the drug testing regime plus the penalties (which include suspensions for "non-analytic"/no-positive-test reasons) so he was on notice Again that PEDs weren't going to be tolerated from here on out. 
 
He'd have something of an argument if Selig was trying to 'retroactively suspend' him for his TX days - we can all agree that would be unfair.   But the point is that Alex got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.   After he was told the cookie jar was off limits.   And nothing that Selig did vis a vis Arod in the 90s or McGwire or anyone else has any bearing.  

 

[Average Reds]

 
Sorry for the lack of clarity, but I meant that from ARod's point of view.
 
Although you don't think that an all-time record of X-1, plus rules that allow a single individual nearly unlimited power, makes the process something less than most collectively-bargained arbitration processes?  Not that it's a sham, per se, but that it's fairly difficult for the player to actually win in the traditional sense - even the best-case scenario for ARod was simply reducing his suspension.  The fact that it's a non-test positive removes most of his ability to rebut, which the players agreed to fair and square, but which probably colors both ARod's view of the situation and his risk/benefit calculations.

 
Couple of things.
 
First, this is not what you said initially.  You made an assertion that given the nature of arbitration and fact that MLB does not usually lose, you think the process is rigged.  Now you are saying that it's just from A-Rod's perspective.  (And then you essentially repeat what you said before.)
 
Either way, it's a preposterous assertion, for the reasons I outlined before. 

 

[geoduck no quahog]

Transcribed from Lester Munson on ESPN.com today
 

...Arbitrations are almost always good for the players. Owners hate arbitration. How do we have free agency in baseball? Because of arbitration. Ryan Braun won his arbitration. Players can do very well in these arbitrations....
 
A player is better off in the arbitration than he would ever be in the courthouse and most judges in America are going to say the Arbitrators decisions are final, unless the party can show the Arbitrator was bribed, or that the Arbitrator ignored basic principles of the law - you cannot revers an arbitrator's decision in the courtroom.
 

 
 I've been to a few arbitrations in my industry. Never once did we expect the CEO's or President's to appear...but that may be a poor example.

 

[soxhop411]

RT @TBrownYahoo: I'm told Horowitz (A-Rod arbitrator) will not be held to 25 days. Expect a decision perhaps not until after the holidays.
 
That could screw up the Yankees plans

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

RT @TBrownYahoo: I'm told Horowitz (A-Rod arbitrator) will not be held to 25 days. Expect a decision perhaps not until after the holidays.
 
That could screw up the Yankees plans

 
So what, it will just give them a bigger pile of money to pick up a bad contract at the trade deadline (after Girardi heroically keeps the team within single digits in the wildcard race).

 

[Hoplite]

 
So what, it will just give them a bigger pile of money to pick up a bad contract at the trade deadline (after Girardi heroically keeps the team within single digits in the wildcard race).

 
Kevin Youkilis is available.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Question.

Let's say the arbitrator comes out with his ruling sometime in January and upholds the 211 game ban or even reduces it. What happens if ARod's lawyers then take the case to federal court and there still isn't resolution by Opening Day?

 

[ItOnceWasMyLife]

RT @TBrownYahoo: I'm told Horowitz (A-Rod arbitrator) will not be held to 25 days. Expect a decision perhaps not until after the holidays.
 
That could screw up the Yankees plans

I gotta think the MFYs should be pretty confident at this point that his 2014 season is shot.  I'd definitely take that risk.  He's not playing next year.  And probably for a good part of 2015.  Make your plans accordingly.

 

[FFCI]

Picture 77 year old Bud Selig sitting back watching this whole thing play out.  Watching Arod spending his time and money on lawyers, etc. - all the while, knowing that, regardless of the outcome, he's got the "wildcard" of giving Arod the lifetime ban from baseball under his powers for the integrity of the game.
 
It makes this whole charade even more schadenfreuderific...
 
It's like watching the World Series of Poker and the guy that keeps betting, raising and trying to make the other guy blink is drawing dead...  The world knows you aren't going to win and that your opponent won't fold - it's now just a matter of watching you lose your dignity.

 

[OCST]

That's a great point and I agree. Even if the whole thing was premeditated, there was something human about his response which really departed from his usual android personality.

 

 
Well, yeah.  He's a douche.  But at least he was actually being a real douche.

 

[Sprowl]

What are the consequences if he violates the confidentiality agreement and releases all of the evidence?
 
I continue to enjoy this show immensely.  Don't give up the good fight, Alex.

 
Do not go gentle into that dirty water
Rage, rage against the dying of the MFY
 
 

 

[EvilEmpire]

I'm glad to see there are some things that Sox and Yankee fans can agree to be happy about.  The more outrageous and desperate ARod gets, the better chance some substantial part of that ban remains in place.  Good for Sox fans in that they can cheer the turmoil in the Bronx, good for Yankee fans if some of that contract goes away and they get a bit of cap relief. 
 
Everyone gets something to be thankful about.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

I'm glad to see there are some things that Sox and Yankee fans can agree to be happy about.  The more outrageous and desperate ARod gets, the better chance some substantial part of that ban remains in place.  Good for Sox fans in that they can cheer the turmoil in the Bronx, good for Yankee fans if some of that contract goes away and they get a bit of cap relief. 
 
Everyone gets something to be thankful about.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 
And it's the 10 year anniversary of Theo's Thanksgiving dinner in Arizona with Curt and Shonda.
 
Happy Thanksgiving indeed!

 

[nattysez]

Question.

Let's say the arbitrator comes out with his ruling sometime in January and upholds the 211 game ban or even reduces it. What happens if ARod's lawyers then take the case to federal court and there still isn't resolution by Opening Day?

 
I expect MLB would ignore the appeal to the federal courts and proceed with the suspension UNLESS Slappy's attorneys can get a preliminary injunction against the league preventing the enforcement of the suspension.  A preliminary injunction requires evidence that if whatever's happening is not stopped, the injured party will suffer damages that are not compensable with money.  So Slappy would have to argue that if he is wrongfully suspended, his inability to play and therefore keep moving toward some all-time records would create a harm not compensable by money.  He'd also, of course, have to demonstrate a likelihood of winning his suit on the merits.  I'd give that about a 10% chance of happening.  So long story short, his federal court appeal will likely result in nothing and MLB will enforce the suspension as soon as the arbitrator rules.

 

[Investor 11]

 
I expect MLB would ignore the appeal to the federal courts and proceed with the suspension UNLESS Slappy's attorneys can get a preliminary injunction against the league preventing the enforcement of the suspension.  A preliminary injunction requires evidence that if whatever's happening is not stopped, the injured party will suffer damages that are not compensable with money.  So Slappy would have to argue that if he is wrongfully suspended, his inability to play and therefore keep moving toward some all-time records would create a harm not compensable by money.  He'd also, of course, have to demonstrate a likelihood of winning his suit on the merits.  I'd give that about a 10% chance of happening.  So long story short, his federal court appeal will likely result in nothing and MLB will enforce the suspension as soon as the arbitrator rules.

I've been drinking, so my memory on this may not be as lucid as it could be, but I believe this was addressed by a legal expert today on Francesa. What he said was essentially what you have said except that a monetary value has already been placed on those records with the salary bonuses that could be afforded to A-Rod based on the homerun milestones.

His main theme was that he thought getting an injunction would be tough to obtain.

 

[JimD]

 
I don't know that I'm rooting for him, but it seems to me that he stormed out of the meeting with MLB and vented on Mike because he sees Selig's pursuit of him as personally driven. He's pissed because he thinks Bud's out to make an example of him and yet won't even be forced to testify at the meetings. Since he's taking it as a personal attack his personally affronted and is reacting much the same way any of us would react if we thought someone had a personal vendetta against us.
 
I'm not saying that he's right or that it's any less distasteful, but to be honest this whole recent development might be the most human thing he's done since the issue broke. I can empathize with that somewhat.

 
He's playing you guys.  I have zero doubt that his temper tantrum was every bit as phony and rehearsed as those supporters his side likes to prop up outside the building with the identical signs.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
He's playing you guys.  I have zero doubt that his temper tantrum was every bit as phony and rehearsed as those supporters his side likes to prop up outside the building with the identical signs.

 
From what I've read from the storming out incident (not the Francesa appearance), his reaction seemed genuine (as genuine as ARod gets, anyway) and emotional and I could easily see myself doing the exact same thing if I thought I was being persecuted and driven out of the game and not given a chance to question the man in charge of said persecution.
 
As I said, ARod's not right about any of this. But just that his reaction in such circumstances seems pretty typically human to me.

 

[Average Reds]

 
From what I've read from the storming out incident (not the Francesa appearance), his reaction seemed genuine (as genuine as ARod gets, anyway) and emotional and I could easily see myself doing the exact same thing if I thought I was being persecuted and driven out of the game and not given a chance to question the man in charge of said persecution.
 
As I said, ARod's not right about any of this. But just that his reaction in such circumstances seems pretty typically human to me.

 
See, this is where I differ completely with you.  That walkout was a 100% contrived exercise.
 
I've participated in three arbitration proceedings and I have a family member who is an arbitrator.  And I can't stress enough that arbitration is a very tightly controlled process.  By the time you get to the actual hearing, everything is generally known to the participants.  (At least in terms of what evidence will be allowed and who will be testifying.)  So for A-Rod to act surprised at the fact that Selig would not testify is a completely fabricated moment.  I'm not saying it's right or its wrong that Selig was not ordered to appear, but I can guarantee you that it was not a surprise to A-Rod.  So his reaction was a manufactured moment designed to cover the fact that he can't risk testifying about any of this under oath.
 
It is also worth noting that this is the reason that A-Rod has been paying a top PR firm for the last two or three months. 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

That's all fair enough. But the emotional reaction once he learned that Bud wasn't going to testify rung true to me, for whatever reason. I mean, it's hardly like ARod has lived a life like the rest of us do. He's not used to being stymied.

 

[Montana Fan]

How much time elapsed between A-Rod slamming his hands on the table and Francessa lobbing the first softball?  I also think the whole thing was pre-planned.

 

[Average Reds]

That's all fair enough. But the emotional reaction once he learned that Bid wasn't going to testify rung true to me, for whatever reason. I mean, it's hardly like ARod has lived a life like the rest of us do. He's not used to being stymied.

 
That just means he follows direction well, because that's the intent of the stunt.
 
I can't stress enough that because he has been physically present in the hearing for weeks, it's just not possible that this was a surprise.  He knew what witnesses were scheduled.  He heard the arbitrator discuss the schedule of events and who was testifying.  And yeah, you can make request to change things, but there is no way - not even the slightest chance - that his lawyers mislead him as to the actual chances of getting Selig to testify.  Hell, they have been signalling for months that they want to get this case in court because they will have subpoena power to make Selig testify in public about all of this.  That has to have been based on the fact that they knew that arbitration wasn't going to give them what they wanted.
 
I'll drop this now because it's not really relevant.  I will say that A-Rod's PR firm have proven their worth, because making his appear sympathetic is a masterstroke.

 

[glennhoffmania]

 
So his reaction was a manufactured moment designed to cover the fact that he can't risk testifying about any of this under oath.

 
This has been my thought all along.  He never planned to testify and he was waiting for a valid reason to cop out.  Any idiot could've guessed that Selig would never testify but Alex planned to throw a hissy fit when it was announced and act all surprised and hurt.  He's paying millions of dollars to advisors to craft a legal a PR strategy and this was all just part of it.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
That just means he follows direction well, because that's the intent of the stunt.
 
I can't stress enough that because he has been physically present in the hearing for weeks, it's just not possible that this was a surprise.  He knew what witnesses were scheduled.  He heard the arbitrator discuss the schedule of events and who was testifying.  And yeah, you can make request to change things, but there is no way - not even the slightest chance - that his lawyers mislead him as to the actual chances of getting Selig to testify.  Hell, they have been signalling for months that they want to get this case in court because they will have subpoena power to make Selig testify in public about all of this.  That has to have been based on the fact that they knew that arbitration wasn't going to give them what they wanted.
 
I'll drop this now because it's not really relevant.  I will say that A-Rod's PR firm have proven their worth, because making his appear sympathetic is a masterstroke.

 
I'm sure it's not a surprise. But I'm equally sure that ARod was confident that his team would find a way to "force" Bud to testify. Once it became clear that wasn't going to happen, Arod, much like my 3 year old does, flipped out completely.
 
Net net, it doesn't really matter one way or the other. But I do think the idea that every last little thing ARod does is carefully manufactured is overblown. Going on Mike, yes, that was a PR stunt. I don't believe storming out of the meeting angrily was.

 

[zapo]

I believe i heard the written statment that A-Rod "made" voicing his disgust with the process was releast almost immediately.
 

How much time elapsed between A-Rod slamming his hands on the table and Francessa lobbing the first softball?  I also think the whole thing was pre-planned.