Alex Rodriguez Sues MLB, MLBPA
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Told you this circus was just beginning.
Yesterday, Alex Rodriguez filed suit against MLB and MLBPA. As part of the suit, the 33-page decision from arbitrator Frederic Horowitz had to be attached as an exhibit, making the total filing some 77 pages. You can read the entire filing here. (H/T: Hardball Talk).
I would go through the filing and pick out certain aspects from it, but as Brian Kenny said on NBC Sports Radio this morning, he got a headache. So did I. Headaches suck…
But the reaction to the filing has not been in ARod’s corner (go fig), in particular adding the MLBPA as a defendant.
Absolutely disgusted with arods latest attack on the players association and the late Michael Wiener… the only people who fought for him…
— Brandon Snyder (@BrandonSnyder29) January 14, 2014
I didn’t have much left but whatever respect there was for him is long gone… I hope he never steps foot on a field again
— Brandon Snyder (@BrandonSnyder29) January 14, 2014
So Arod has no one else to blame, so he's decided to sue @MLB_PLAYERS - wow. Classy. How quickly he forgets...
— Jon Rauch (@jrauch60) January 14, 2014
I do find it interesting that players have chosen to remain largely silent, even through social media circles, but the tweets from Snyder and Rauch are strong and powerful.
And when players are asked about Rodriguez and all the shenanigans, they do not want to discuss it…
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Does put them in a tight situation.
Some writers have taking to the interwebs as well.
Alex Rodriguez is God’s gift to billable hours, and a scourge on just about everything else.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 13, 2014
Alex Rodriguez officially is on an island now after suing MLB and MLBPA. Rest assured that both side want him to go away forever.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) January 13, 2014
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark released a statement:
"“It is unfortunate that Alex Rodriguez has chosen to sue the Players Association. His claim is completely without merit, and we will aggressively defend ourselves and our members from these baseless charges.“The Players Association has vigorously defended Mr. Rodriguez’s rights throughout the Biogenesis investigation, and indeed throughout his career. Mr. Rodriguez’s allegation that the Association has failed to fairly represent him is outrageous, and his gratuitous attacks on our former executive director, Michael Weiner, are inexcusable. When all is said and done, I am confident the Players Association will prevail.”"
None of this grandstanding should shock anyone. Didn’t you know it’s all about ARod?
Popular opinion, especially those in legal circles, is that the chances of the Horowitz decision being overturned are slim. From Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk: (For those that are unaware, Calcaterra knows a bit about law spending 11 years as a business litigation and Constitutional law attorney.)
"So go ahead, A-Rod: sue in federal court if you want. But you will waste your money. You will likely not get any help from the union — which, when MLB made noises about appealing the favorable arbitration ruling Ryan Braun received following his 2011-12 suspension, strongly stated such a move was ill-advised — and, most importantly, you will almost certainly lose."
Insert your own ARod one-liner here…
It’s not like you already didn’t get the sense some view this move by Rodriguez as classless. Taking a shot against Michael Weiner, former director of the MLBPA as noted in Snyder’s tweet, shows just how far ARod is willing to let his ooze travel. ARod could now be labeled as the guy you want to take his toys and go home.
And Brandon Snyder, I agree with you. I hope he never steps a foot on a baseball field again either.