That’s it. After Games 3 and 4 of the World Series, I don’t ever want to hear anything about A-Rod being a choker ever again.
With his ninth-inning, tie-breaking double following a true World Series rarity – two stolen bases on the same play by Johnny Damon – Rodriguez is within one more Yankees victory of placing himself in the company of those he most envies, the pinstripers who can call themselves champions.
In Game 3, A-Rod hit an opposite-field home run to tie Bernie Williams’ club record for home runs in a postseason (six). In Game 4, with two outs in a tie game in the ninth inning (and after Captain Clutch Jeter had struck out earlier in the inning), A-Rod hit a double to left to drive in the go-ahead and eventual winning run. And all this while the Phillies have been pretty much throwing at him. I’m not saying the guy has been great in the past, but the days of labeling A-Rod as a choker have to be over. There are few situations that would have added more pressure than his at bat last night in the ninth, and A-Rod delivered. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew this postseason and as far as I’m concerned is the new Mr. October. I know that everyone was drooling at the thought of bashing him again after his poor performance in Games 1 and 2, but A-Rod has clearly moved on.
Besides, Ryan Howard has been choking like an amateur filling in for Audrey Bitoni.
Because even though it’s the World Series, two games and eight at-bats are more than enough reason to start ripping on Alex Rodriguez again:
A beast in the AL playoffs, Alex Rodriguez has become a bust in his first World Series.
Totally out of whack, swinging at shadows, his performance at the plate in Game 2 Thursday night mirrored his output in the opener. So far: 0 for 8 with six strikeouts.
Yes, it’s been a bit disappointing if you’re an A-Rod or Yankee fan, but nobody except Jeter could hit Cliff Lee in Game 1. And in Game 2, A-Rod simply had a bad game. Ryan Howard was 0-4 with 4 strikeouts (pretty much the worst game possible), but we haven’t heard a peep from the media because Ryan Howard is a big smiley cuddly bear and Alex Rodriguez is a phony premadonna who is selfish and cares only about his stats (so selfish that he offered to play third base when arriving in New York, by the way). Pedro was dealing for the first six innings before slipping up a bit in the seventh, so just like with Cliff Lee, poor at-bats weren’t really an A-Rod specific phenomenon.
I kind of get tired defending this guy, but it’s just outrageous that he can be totally dominant for two playoff series and then have a couple of bad games and everyone’s ready to start psychoanalyzing him as mentally weak all over again. We’ll see how he does in Game 3.
That’s the only way I can explain Cliff Lee walking into Yankee Stadium last night and just totally dominating. Lee pitched a complete game, giving up just six hits and striking out 10, and would have had a shutout if not for Rollins’ throwing error in the ninth. But this wasn’t like Josh Beckett in 2003; it seemed like Cliff Lee was going to get guys out even if he was trying to walk them or give up a hit. I mean, did you see his nonchalant catch and behind-the-back snag? It was like Toby Maguire in Pleasantville when he’s playing basketball. Lee could have shoved the baseball in his mouth and spit it toward home plate, and Matsui would hit a liner right into his glove. Clearly the Devil is involved.
No, not this one. I hope not, at least. Mike Freeman over at CBS Sports has written a pro-Phillie anti-Yankee article, and it’s filled with nonsense, cliches, and heaps of bullshit. It’s a shame that the guys from FireJoeMorgan aren’t around anymore, because this is precisely the type of article they’d tear to shreds. That’s not really our thing here at Unathletic, but I couldn’t resist some good ol’ deconstruction on an article as bad as this one. Personal attacks and smarmy comments ahead.
I was trying to watch Game 4 of the ALCS, but I kept on becoming distracted by the fans – including Pat Sajak – who were sitting pretty much inside the umpire’s asshole. Anytime you’re lucky enough to get these seats, you’re guaranteed to get on television. Anyone watching will see your face. I’m sure there will be some jackasses that wave at the camera and talk to someone on their cell phone, but I want to see people really take advantage of this. Sure, those seats have got to cost thousands, but if you were , like, a rapper, how awesome would those seats be? Rappers are always rapping about how when they go to clubs, they get to sit in the best sections and get the best treatment. All eyes are on them and they’re partying it up like crazy. It sounds incredible. So wouldn’t these seats be ideal for rappers? You pretty much have your next video all set to go: sitting in the dope seats, puffing on blunts and getting fellatios from supermodels. Pat Sajak is smoking salvia and everyone sees how awesome you are.
