In honor of Alex Rodriguez's awesome performance yesterday

Grimm · 10-06-06, 05:14

All I can say is WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

BostonDirtDog · 10-06-06, 06:22

<<<Check the Avatar!

Sherman8r44 · 10-06-06, 01:36

Spilchy · 10-06-06, 03:44

Funny, he finished a "sub par" year batting .290 35 HR's and 121 RBI's and people go bonkers on how much he sucks. That shows you how AWESOME of a ball player he is.

In my mind, he is still a shortstop as that's where he played the bulk of his career.

At *only* 31 years old he has a 12 year career average of batting .305, 464 home runs, 1347 RBI's with awards out the ying yang.

I defy anyone without a chip on their shoulder, to find me a better offensive / defensive player at the shortstop position that has ever played the game of baseball. By the end of his career he will displace Honus Wagner as the best all around shortstop.

Do the research.

GO YANKEES!

JETER MVP!

Sorry Boston, maybe next year.

Scottwax · 10-06-06, 05:20

Have you seen E-Rod's playoff stats? He simply has not proven himself to be a clutch player. Great regular season numbers don't mean squat when you can't get a hit with the pressure on during the playoffs. Plus, E-Rod can be a real cancer in the clubhouse if he isn't getting his way. The classless way he left the Rangers was really sad. It isn't that he sucks as an all around ballplayer, it is the man he has proven to be. Jeter, on the other hand, is a terrific player and a class act. I am not a huge Yankees fan but I respect the hell out of Derek Jeter.

Put E-Rod back at shortstop and I'd still take Michael Young over him.

Spilchy · 10-06-06, 05:57

Alex's struggles are remembered more than his numerous successes. Regarding striking out with the bases juiced yesterday; two perfect 99 mph clocked fastballs followed by a devastating curve ball will strike out most people 1-2-3.

He stunk in the 2005 playoffs, but was brilliant in the 2004 playoffs (.320 with 3 home runs and 5 doubles).

There is a good chance that David Ortiz will win the MVP this year. Yet Rodriguez destroyed him in clutch situations batting .474 with an on base percentage .500 with runners in scoring position. With all due respect that's the definition of clutch hitting.

But back to the post season which folks are concentrating on. Alex's numbers over his career in the post season are near identical to his regular season. Further, his post season stats are on par with Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz.

It boils down to the fact that he is the highest paid player in baseball and people don't like him. People don't like his attitude and cheer when he does "poorly."

So, like I said, folks should take the chip off their shoulder and realize that he is one of the best shortstops ever to play the game and he is only 31 years old. His numbers are mind boggling when compared to any other shortstop.

Grimm · 10-06-06, 06:31

They just showed ARod was a great post season hitter until last year. He's hitting like .125 in the last 11 playoff games.

Go Tigers! Up 3-0!

Scottwax · 10-06-06, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spilchy

It boils down to the fact that he is the highest paid player in baseball and people don't like him. People don't like his attitude and cheer when he does "poorly."

He has a crappy attitude on par with Barry Bonds. After the obnoxious way he blasted the Rangers, who's fans cheered him the whole time he played at the Ballpark in Arlington, he lost me as a fan. He acts like a spoiled child. If he'd kept his mouth shut with regards to what he didn't like about the Rangers, he'd still have a lot of fans here.

It isn't the money, it is who he is as a person that is the problem.

His regular season stats may rank up near or at the top when he retires but if he can't hit better than the .091 he is hitting in this series (and has done in previous playoff series as well), he will be remembered as someone who chokes in the post season.

Ortiz shouldn't win MPV, he doesn't play in the field. Jeter is more deserving.

FYI, Michael Young of the Rangers leads the American League (and I think the NL too) in average with men on base and two outs.

Spilchy · 10-07-06, 06:30

I live in the NY area, watch every game, read the NY sports pages and listen to local sports radio daily. I agree about his attitude, but I would not go as far as saying it is like the steroid using Bonds.

None of the Yankees are hitting the past two games. They left a zillion men on base.

Everyone loves Peyton Manning. He is a model citizen, team player, the definition of professionalism and class. Yet he can't win a playoff game year in and year out, consistently, if his life depended on it. His post season record is horrible and has failed his team in those games each year. But he is arguably the top QB in football and will go down as one of the all time greats. But we don't see the same disdain, jokes and "he sucks" talk about Manning as with Alex. Why? Because you don't like Alex personally where as you like Manning. He gets a pass with very mild if any real criticism. If Alex had the personality of Manning there would be zero or little critical discussion about Alex's numbers. That's why there are cartoons about him like the one you posted. But that doesn't detract from his brilliant baseball skills over his regular and post season career. Instead people will focus on the 1 or 2 poor series over his career while glossing over his achievements that few will come close to when he retires, say in the next 10 years.

Scottwax · 10-07-06, 07:37

I am not questioning E-Rod's baseball skill but his ability to perform in the clutch and the Bond's comparison was purely based on attitude. Believe me, it has nothing to do with his contract. It isn't his fault Hicks (Ranger's owner) is an idiot. I'd have taken the money too.

I used to really like E-Rod, he had 3 great seasons with the Rangers but the way he acted when he was traded to the Yankees was over the top obnoxious. For that reason, I am glad to see him fail with runners on base. I am also happy when he makes errors.

I didn't like seeing The Big Ugly losing last night, I think he is a great pitcher and Kenny Rogers was kind of a jerk at times last year in Texas but if it means E-Rod doesn't get a ring, it's all good.