Post-season will be about A-Rod

by Ed Valentine on Oct 3, 2009 12:49 PM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

Here are just a few New York Yankees stories to help you bide your time between college football games today.

The post-season is coming, and that means we will be watching Alex Rodriguez closely. Bob Klapisch looks at A-Rod, who won't be able to hide once the playoffs start.

Rodriguez has been anything but an apparition — he's the cleanup hitter in the major league's most fearsome offensive machine. But it's true, A-Rod hardly makes news anymore. He rarely allows himself to be quoted in anything but the most mundane, postgame sound bites.

The reason is as obvious as it is calculated. "Alex finally figured out the less he talks, the better off he is," said one friend. Indeed, ever since he confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs this spring, Rodriguez has sacrificed his Q-rating to Derek Jeter and his pursuit of Lou Gehrig's franchise hit-record, CC Sabathia and his quest for a 20-win season and Mark Teixeira, who might win two-thirds of the Triple Crown.

Still, A-Rod knows he can't hide forever, not with unfinished business in October. Since Game 4 of the 2004 AL Championship Series, the third baseman is batting .148 with one RBI in the postseason. Which is to say, Rodriguez still has to prove he's not overwhelmed by the burden of carrying the Yankees.

In many ways this is the most important postseason of A-Rod's career — the deck has never been so stacked his favor. He's been helped, if not eclipsed, by Teixeira, and has otherwise blended in with an offense that leads the American League in virtually every meaningful statistic, including runs, home runs, slugging percentage and OPS.

GM Brian Cashman intended no insult towards Rodriguez when he said, "This time, we're not going to live and die with Alex." There are layers of protection in this nuclear lineup. But sooner or later, Rodriguez will come to the plate in an important moment in the Division Series. And then what?

To be honest, Klapisch is not the only one who wants to know.

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Why does it feel like A-Rod is in a slump?

I can only hope that A-Rod is normal A-Rod in the playoffs.

"Don't let your fears of striking out keep you from playing the game."

by Lizza on Oct 3, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course it is.

Like every postseason since he’s been here has been 90% his fault that the Yanks lose.

But like always, it won’t be his fault if the lose, nor will it be his fault if they win. He’ll be a part of it, but also Jeet, Tex, CC, AJ, Mats, MO, Cano and I could name the rest of the team too.

Doesn’t matter, not one game is one player’s fault.

If the Yanks win and A-Rod doesn’t get a single hit, then what? Who cares, that’s what. Bottom line, win the game. I mean if its obviously something A-Rod did, then praise/blame him. But otherwise its gonna be the team.

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 3, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course it will be about him

it’s always about him. If they lose, it’s always his fault. Thats just the way it works. And it’s unfair to him.

Hopefully he can just have an “April 2007” like postseason and shut everybody up. Thats probably asking for too much, but if he hits, then people will get off his back. At least for a little bit.

As long as they get #27 though, I’m good.

by nyyrocks29 on Oct 3, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In other news

if A-Rod doesn’t get a hit in the playoffs, the earth will no longer revolve around the sun.

Facial LaFleur, total facial.

by Lord Duggan on Oct 3, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The way

things are shaking out could not be any better for us. The two teams we might play in round 1 are fighting tooth and nail to qualify and they’re tiring themselves out. The Twins are ahead of KC 4-1 in the 7th, and even if the Tigers win tonight that would only guarantee that the worst the Tigers could do is a one-game playoff on Monday or Tuesday. And this means Verlander will start on Sunday because you don’t save your best pitcher for a one-game playoff or Game 1 of the ALDS when you are ahead by one game and want to AVOID a one-game playoff. It’s Verlander’s turn Sunday and he’ll pitch if Minnesota wins today regardless of what the Tigers do tonight. That means we’ll only see Verlander once in the ALDS. Edwin Jackson is a good pitcher and Porcello is certainly not a slouch but the spectre of Verlander starting twice would have made Detroit a formidable opponent. As it is we all know anything can happen, but now the Twins are using up everyone just to have a chance to get into the dance. And Morneau is out for the year. We matched up great with them even when they had Morneau. Fellow Yankee fans, this year, even moreso than in 2007, 2006 or 2005 we are going to be playing a first-round opponent that we have NO EXCUSE if we lose to. And this means the pressure is on more than ever. We have to hit and hit early. If we hit we will win, no questions asked. Neither of those two teams can outslug us if our pitchers are on their game. I think we are capable of hitting their guys well even if they pitching well, with the exception of Verlander. He can shut us down completely. We are in such good shape in every sense at the moment that I cannot help but smile.

by chambliss76 on Oct 3, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs