Saturday, August 22, 2009

Jim Rice is a Moron

I was reading some articles about the game this morning and came across this piece by Peter Abraham about some comments that hall of fame player Jim Rice said about Derek Jeter. While talking to players at the Little League World Series, Rice said that Jeter, along with some other players, were not fit to be role models for these kids because they were too focused on personal milestones and making money. Rice said: "You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter ... guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare". He then went on to say that guys like Ichiro, Thome and Griffey were worthy of the hall of fame.

So let me just break down how many ways Jim Rice is a moron. First of all, he argues that they're just trying to make money. Really? Because I thought players did this for charity. Its not like Ichiro's making $17 million a year right? He also argues that they're more focused on personal accomplishments. Derek Jeter has come up with the big plays when it matters, and has consistently played hurt throughout his career. Jeter has been known as a team player, and has consistently helped this team win. So what personal accomplishments is Jim talking about? You're going to tell me that Thome and Griffey aren't concerned about their homerun legacy?

Next, I'd like to point out this mystery line: "You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter ... guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare". Umm, Jim, you never played against any of those guys, nor did you play with any of them. May I suggest laying off the bottle while talking to little leaguers.

I also like how Rice sees fit to talk about who belongs in the Hall of Fame, when he barely made it himself. All of this I submit as evidence to Jim Rice being a moron.

Here's the truth. Rice wasn't half the player Jeter is. Jeter will be a first ballot hall of famer, and will go down as one of the top players of his era. Jeter has helped his team win when it matters, and Rice is just going to have to deal with never winning a ring. The smartest thing Rice can do going forward, is to shut up and keep other players names out of his mouth. Especially when it took 15 years for hall of fame voters to decide that he should get in. Jealous much Jim?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Um. I think if you parse that sentence a little differently and give Rice a tiny benefit of the doubt, his statement was really this: "Those guys (A-Rod, Manny, and Jeter) don't compare to the guys I played with and against."

I agree that it was stupid to include Jeter in that grouping, but, you know, in the final analysis, who gives a s##t? Let's all enjoy his 15 minutes of unwanted infamy and get on with our lives.

Unknown said...
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Jon Roberts said...

I don't know what the steroid stuff will do to Arod and Manny's hall of fame ballots, but Rice isn't half the player they are either. He also failed to mention Pujols in his list of players worthy for induction. That makes him a double moron. I know he's only been in the league for 9 years, but so has Ichiro and I think Pujols is right there for hits over that same span and plays a good first (not to mention the beastly abilities). I think Thome is more borderline with out checking his numbers again. Obviously good power, but what else? He's better than Rice though. He never should have been elected. What about Bylevin?

bigjf said...

Jim Rice still doesn't belong in the hall, and he certainly doesn't belong making speeches to little leaguers.

Fernando Alejandro said...

Anonymous, you're right. I likely did misread that. In fairness, I had just woken up.

Jon, it sounds like Jim Rice also tried to back track when he was asked about it later. I think he was talking out of his rear, and now looks like a complete idiot.

BigJF, yeah, he's a questionable hall of fame candidate. I'm okay that he got in, but I would have been okay with him not getting in as well. He was largely a product of Fenway Park.

bigjf said...

Fernando, not only are his numbers borderline, Fenway aside, there is a "good citizen" criteria on the ballot. Yes, he was the dominant hitter of his era, but if that citizen clause can teeter the vote either way, it should have made it so Rice never got in. I'd pick Miguel Cairo before I pick Jim Rice.

Fernando Alejandro said...

Yeah, and now he's an announcer for NESN.