Joe Mauer got a front row seat to watch his hopes and dreams get smashed high and deep into the night.
So now that the Yankees have advanced in the playoffs, in no small part due to the offensive production of Alex Rodriguez, can we now stop talking about how he “isn’t clutch,” or “folds under pressure,” or “can’t do it when it matters most?” Seriously, I’ve lived in New York for the entire time A-Rod has, and I’ve seen more ninth inning, tie game, or close game homers than I can even count. And though he hasn’t produced as well in the playoffs, I can’t understand why people would doubt his ability to ever do it. So if A-Rod carries his team to the World Series, or to a championship itself, on a surgically repaired hip that will require more surgery once the season ends, can we finally stop this “not clutch” bullsh*t? Or how about we just hurry this up and just stop talking about it now? Deal? Good.
Next topic: Justin Morneau totally isn’t clutch. He didn’t show up at all in the playoffs this year. Overrated.
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“A-rod hasn’t been clutch in the postseason” is the big New York Complaint,and with steroids, Teixeira, and Matsui all augmenting his performance, I really can’t blame the fans of the Team that I was raised to Hate!…He had three bad Octobers where he went 7 for 44 with 15 strikeouts before this post season. Its nice to see him come through for the team that’s paying him 275 million, but no matter how well A-rod performs on the Baseball field this October, he will always be hated by fans and media alike for being Alex Rodriguez the arrogant cheater who tips pitches, uses juice and wears lipstick and still can’t hit 300 with Risp during the playoffs.
Would you use Beckett’s loss in the ALDS as proof that he now sucks in the post-season? Despite his previous record? If not then it seems silly to apply the same logic to A-Rod and the small sample size that is the ALDS.
That is not a criticism of A-Rod he is on a tear and if the Yanks do win it all it will be in large part because of his contributions.
3 games a post season reputation does not make, especially for the type of player A-Rod is.
It may be a small sample size, but he did have the game-changing hit(s) in each game of the series. Beckett pitched one so-so game. A-Rod is an overpaid, lipstick wearing blah blah blah (please find something new, it’s 2009), it’s just that when you watch the guy, he’s not TRYING to be liked anymore. He’s not hiding; he’s a prick. And when you’re not pressing in life, you’re not pressing in your profession. He may go hitless for the rest of the postseason, but for one playoff series, he dominated.
A-Rod absolutely has been clutch so far! Because the alternative is that the old A-Rod showed up to the postseason party and crapped out like every other year. That hasn’t happened, thus verdict is: CLUTCH! FYI: watch out next season and don’t be surprised when A-Rod wins another MVP!
As for Morneau, how the hell you can call a great young hitter overrated for missing the playoffs with an injury is completely beyond comprehension. He is great and injuries happen.
Interesting stat I just heard on Mike & Mike to add to this discussion: through the same number of postseason games in their careers, A-Rod has been more productive than “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson. Still think A-Rod isn’t clutch?
Wow, great stat with the Reggie comparisons, Broseph. The Morneau thing was a joke. Of course he “didn’t show up” he was hurt, and thus didn’t show up literally. Great arguments my Jarrad and Pat too. But my point is, yes A-Rod hasn’t had a good playoff series until now, but if players are judged b the Hall for their regular season stats, A-Rod is as clutch as anyone, so it was only a matter of time until that translated to the post-season.
Hey JD, this was a discussion on why New York fans hate on A-rod, not Jrod. The fact that many people making less than half of what he makes out produce him during the postseason is a pertinent point as is his Prima-Donna like attitude which is best exemplified by his lipstick wearing. The steroids and pitch tipping came out this year 2009. Those are all reasons (along with the postseason stats provided above) why people love to hate A-rod and jump on the he’s not clutch bandwagon regardless of what year they originated. A-rod embracing his inner prick is not a virtue when it comes to being a professional baseball player its actually detrimental to the whole teams as a baseball teams chemistry with one another can make a difference in their on-field performance.
I thought Broseph’s comments about Mr. October were a gem, but its hard to compare anyone from that era with people in this era because of not only steroids, but the huge medical advancements made in supplements/fitness.
No hate implied Jrod. I, being a New York fan, was just waxing poetic on why A-Rod has had this renaissance of a season. Not so much statistically, but in the way he plays. For the first time in his MLB career, he fits in with his team. It’s something you see if you watch all their games. As far as 2009 goes, I’m sick of hearing about money when it comes to the Yanks. It’s not fair, but it’s reality. Like 98% of major league players are overpaid and many of them are Prima-Donnas. On team chemistry: the Yankees have it this year. Whether it’s the cause of effect of their winning. I don’t know.
In other news. Ron Gardenhire just said this: “I know a lot of things get said about their payroll and all that stuff, but the bottom line is they are just great baseball players,” Gardenhire said. “And, aside from all the other stuff, they are very, very talented. That’s why they make a lot of money, because they deserve it, because they have played the game for a long time and they get it done. And they know how to get it done and they play with class.”
Classy guy himself.