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Can't pin this one on A-Rod. Their pitching was ugly and Cleveland is just better.
Critics need to back off Yankees 3B Rodriguez
October 10, 2007
By Anthony Olivieri
PA SportsTicker Staff Writer
Go ahead, blame Alex Rodriguez. Everyone else is doing it.
Rodriguez, of course, is a choker - incapable of delivering in the clutch when it matters most. He's a heartless, gutless, soulless phony who will continue to steal piles of money from the New York Yankees each season.
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At least that's what they say.
The star third baseman and his New York Yankees authored another disappointing end to their season with a 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians in Game Four of their American League Division Series on Monday.
Supposedly, it's all A-Rod's fault - again.
This is the same Rodriguez who posted one of the best seasons in baseball history in 2007 - leading the major leagues homers (54), RBI (156), slugging percentage (.645) and runs (143).
Forget it, doesn't matter.
He also dragged a comatose Yankees' squad back to respectability and eventually into the playoffs with his dominant performance. But none of it matters if Rodriguez suc bs to the pressure, right?
Although, you may remember that the former MVP entered the campaign with more pressure on his shoulders than almost any other player in the annals of the game.
Not only was he in a contract year but was coming off three failed postseason performances, a deplorable 2006 output (for his standards) and a perceived rift with teammates and media members.
Rodriguez also was splashed on the front page of the tabloids each day while trying to live up to unrealistic expectations.
After another playoff exit on Monday, he was painted by some as the lone in New York's armor, holding down a steamrolling club which was clicking on all cylinders. He was the fly in the ointment, so to speak.
Truth be told, the Yankees were a group of overpaid failures - not a club doomed by their best player's mere presence. But after Rodriguez went 4-for-15 in the ALDS with one solo homer and two runs scored, his incompetent teammates were forgotten.
Maybe, it's about the money. Rodriguez now has 10 days from the end of the World Series to opt out of the final three years - totaling $81 million - of his $252 million deal. He will get his money from someone.
But unfairly, the rest of the Yankees' bloated "mistakes" are ignored. Check the facts.
New York employs a $23 million pinch hitter (Jason Giambi), an $11 million long reliever (Mike Mussina), a $5 million train wreck (Kyle Farnsworth) and throws $10 million into the proverbial black hole (Carl Pavano).
Hideki Matsui, who brings in $13 million this season, is 10-for-47 in his last three postseasons. All were absent for New York this October.
Future Hall of Famer Roger Clemens commanded a prorated $18.5 million for half of an injury-plagued season - leaving with a hamstring injury in the third inning of Game Three on Sunday. Staff ace Chien-Ming Wang, while not yet overpaid, has a 19.43 ERA in the playoffs.
The iconic Derek Jeter, who is almost immune to criticism in New York, was even worse than A-Rod - going 3-for-17 and grounding into three crippling double plays. But Rodriguez may be the one run out of town.
Have fun with a fresh crop of free agent third basemen, New York. Jeff Cirillo, Mike Lamb or Russell Branyan would be happy to step in. Who knows, maybe they can steal Mike Lowell away from the Boston Red Sox. Wouldn't that be a change.
Can't pin this one on A-Rod. Their pitching was ugly and Cleveland is just better.
All this article needed was a link to the gay guy screaming "Leave Alex Alone!!!"
Of course it's not his fault they lost, but I don't hear anyone saying that it is his fault.
I personally think that we should all be nice to A-Rod. Sure he's a huge bag and none of us really like him, but , we need him to break Barry Bonds record.
Yeah, I don't even remember hearing much, if any, booing from the crowd.
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