Everybody likes to pick on Alex Rodriguez. Talk radio hosts do it, fans do it, opposing managers do it -- heck, even his wife does it -- so I guess I'm not surprised to see Donald Trump join the fun:Trump was in Arkansas on Thursday to speak at the Economics Arkansas luncheon. According to arkansasbusiness.com, Trump talked about Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP who has been criticized for his perceived inability to come through in important situations.This seems like a good place to remind everybody that Jeter hit just .176/.176/.176 in the playoffs last year, has a .699 OPS thus far this season and hasn't hit a home run in nearly eight months. A-Rod, meanwhile, OPS'd .820 in the playoffs last year and .913 in close and late situations the last three years. But shucks, Jeter's the greatest! If I want advice about real estate (or picking up women half my age), I'll listen to Trump. But when it comes to baseball (and hair), take his comments with a grain of salt.
"He always plays bad under pressure," Trump was quoted as saying. "Derek Jeter, he's the greatest. People love Derek Jeter. Are those cameras on? This is going to get broadcast back home. Oh, now he'll leave my building."
Latest Baseball Photos
Seattle Mariners' Richie Sexson, second from right, talks to Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird as Sexson is ejected after charging Texas Rangers' pitcher Kason Gabbard in the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez reacts after giving up a single and a walk to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki heads toward first after hitting an infield single against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Texas Rangers' Kason Gabbard pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Players and coaches run to break up a fight between texas Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard and Seattle Mariners' Richie Sexson after Sexson charged the mound in the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday May 8, 2008. Rangers catcher Gerald Laird is on top of the Sexson and Gabbard. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Texas Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard is tackled by Seattle Mariners' Richie Sexson (44) after Gobbard threw a pitch close to Sexson in the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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** RETRANSMISSION FOR ALTERNATE CROP ** Texas Rangers pitcher Kason Gabbard walks away after he was tackled by Seattle Mariners' Richie Sexson in the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Seattle Mariners' Richie Sexson, left, talks with Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird as Sexson is ejected for charging Texas Rangers' pitcher Kason Gabbard (not shown) in the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Texas Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, left, is restrained by Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren, second from left, after Richie Sexson charged pitcher Kason Gabbard in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game in Seattle on Thursday May 8, 2008. Sexson was ejected after the incident. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Even if Gabbard's pitch was 'purposed', and the Mariners say, it didn't come anywhere close to hitting Sexson. There was absolutely no excuse for him charging the mound. What was he thinking????
Posted at 11:37AM on May 9th 2008 by Carol
2. the pitch wasnt even near his head. sexton shows hes really a big punk. throwing his helmet, dam hes a foot taller than the pitcher lol . the big jerk couldnt even go toe to toe with gabbard , hell richie you should have took you bat out there to . what a woman you are richie. the pitch scared you and you had your eyes closed you didnt even know where the ball was . what a snach
Posted at 6:41PM on May 9th 2008 by packer
3. Paris Hilton NAKED again:
http://celebritiesvidz.com/videos.php?v=Paris_Hilton
Posted at 8:06PM on May 9th 2008 by Tim
4. A**-hole Rod is the most overpriced and overrated player in the game.
Throw the bum out.
Posted at 8:11PM on May 9th 2008 by Rob Jones
5. The ball was no where near him he should recieve a fine he was way out of order.
Posted at 8:38PM on May 9th 2008 by Carlos
6. And I'm supposed to care about Chump's whiny, stink-butt opinion of A-Rod because...?
Posted at 9:11PM on May 9th 2008 by Jeffrey H. Baer
7. For once I agree with the Donald. Rodriguez does not play well under pressure. He is inconsistent and is not worth the unbelievable salary that he is paid. With the paycheck that he receives, he should be single handedly winning games.
His head is bigger than his talent.
I miss the Yanks of yesteryear. The guys who wore the pinstripes because they loved being a Yankee, and not because they were paid ridiculous salaries.
Scotty Brocius, Paulie O, Tino Martinez, Knobby, Coney & Chili D. Those were the boys. The team was magic.
The magic is gone. It's just a business to these guys now.
Dianne
New York City Yankee Fan
Posted at 9:31PM on May 9th 2008 by Dianne
8. Who cares what Trump has to say about anything?
Posted at 9:39PM on May 9th 2008 by Pat
9. I like both Jeter and Arod, but Watson before you run your mouth about Jeter. Look at his stats, watch how he plays, and yeah he's got 4 Rings also. He's not a homerun hitter but hits above 300 every year. He gets on base and DOES hit the ball when it matters. But keep looking at the OPS for this season you dumbass.
Posted at 9:48PM on May 9th 2008 by Pat
10. trump's mad because he had arod on his fantasy team.
Posted at 10:04PM on May 9th 2008 by sam chiavetta
11. If I felt that a pitcher was throwing at me, then I'd wait for another pitch or two and swing and accidentally fling the bat right at the pitcher. "Hey, it was an accident just like him throwing the ball near my head." That would stop that stuff real fast, because a pitcher doesn't have much chance of dodging a flying bat. I think Pedro Martinez would be my first target for all the Yankees he hit when hit pitched for Boston.
Posted at 10:04PM on May 9th 2008 by Don Mack
12. That's the D for you.. Ya gotta luv it.. I like a guy that can speak his mind. You never get caught off guard with him. He keeps it real and gangsta... lol. You never know what the hell he's going to say,he doesn't care what people think about him. He's a real "G". That kind of honesty is hard to find.
Posted at 10:15PM on May 9th 2008 by tempgirl
13. I have to agree about A-Rod. I've said it all along - the Yankees will never win while A-Rod is on the team...he's a jinx. He's never been on a championship team because he jinxes every team he is on, not faithful to a team, only to his quest for the 'ring', his personal stats, and the almighty dollar (which the Yankees were stupid enough to give him more of this past winter.)
The Yankees should have unloaded him while they had the chance, but nobody else apparently wanted A-Rod that bad. I was really hoping the Red Sox would bite, so that he could go there and jinx them for a few years.
He may have the 'stats' and MVP awards, he may be one of the greatest players in baseball, but I'd rather he play somewhere else.
Until the Yankees get off the superstar mentality, they aren't going to win another WS. Look at '96 - '00; those were 'teams' in the truest sense. After 2000, they started picking up the superstars - starting with Giambi. It's been all downhill since then. And to treat Bernie Williams the way they did after the '06 season makes me sick.
I can never be anything but a Yankee fan, but I don't like Arod. Jeter is a better clutch player.
Posted at 10:15PM on May 9th 2008 by Beth Zaffran
14. ...and Trump seems to always fail at marriage.
Posted at 10:44PM on May 9th 2008 by aclu4life
15. when's the last time that bag of wind tried to hit a 95 MPH fastball.
Posted at 11:01PM on May 9th 2008 by craig
16. Rosie is more suited for Trump to start a war of words with. A-Rod has too much class to lower himself with a response.
Posted at 11:13PM on May 9th 2008 by Lee Allen
17. Unless Donald Trump has played baseball for a living then he should not critcize baseball players for their character faults or failure to bring home championships.
Posted at 12:03AM on May 10th 2008 by George B Vieto
18. DONALD TRUMP CAN NOT HANDLE ROSIE MUCH LESS ALEX!!!
Posted at 12:57AM on May 10th 2008 by DANNYIRETTA
19. The only reason trump (chump) gets any pu tang is because he is rich. He is one fugly cocksucker.
ding dong
Posted at 1:30AM on May 10th 2008 by ding dong
20. donald trump....the greatest con man since p.t. barnum...!!!!....biggest self promoter there is right now ....easy to do big things with everyone elses money .....you get enough of it ...you can't help but be successful sometimes .he's in arkansas to talk economics ...he winds up talking sports .....really what these business guys paid for ......he's ..definitely new york ..east coast product ..hype hype .hype ..and self promote ....his show was idiotic ...predictable and contrived ....i don't know how he got such a daughter ....must have come all from her mothers side ....j.t...
Posted at 1:53AM on May 10th 2008 by jt44mag