How A-Rod Helped the New York Yankees Win the World Series

Harold Friend — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:42:16 -0500

Alex Rodriguez has finally played a significant role in helping his team win the World Series.

Until this season, many in the media fostered the belief that Alex Rodriguez was the major reason the Yankees had not been World Champions since 2000, which is patently false.

Solid Pitching Wins the World Series

The Yankees beat the Mets in the 2000 World Series because they had solid pitching.

Teams don't become world champions by battering the opposition. They become world champions by stopping the opposition from scoring. When your opponent doesn't score, your opponent doesn't win.

Yankees' Defeats

Alex Rodriguez was in Texas when the Yankees suffered the worst of all defeats in the 2001 World Series.

He was still in Texas when the Angels decimated the vaunted Yankees' starting rotation of Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, and David Wells in the first round of the 2002 playoffs.

Alex Rodriguez wasn't managing the Yankees in the 2003 World Series when the Marlins beat a Yankees team whose manager allowed Jeff Weaver to enter a tie game in extra innings. Weaver promptly yielded a game-winning home run.

A-Rod became a Yankee in 2004, the year the Yankees' pitching staff gave up 24 runs in the final four games of the ALCS against Boston.

Yankees pitchers had a 5.30 ERA in that series, and, despite the myth that their offense stopped scoring runs after taking a 3-0 lead in the series, they actually scored 13 runs in the final four games.

A-Rod MVP

In 2005 and 2007, A-Rod was the American League MVP. How does an MVP hinder his team's chances of becoming world champions? This brings us to another myth.

Playoff and World Series Records

Alex Rodriguez has appeared in 54 postseason games with a .302 batting average.

In the first round, Alex has batted .279 with five home runs and 13 RBIs.

In the second round, the player who will be ranked as the greatest third baseman in baseball history, has batted .347, hit seven home runs and slugged a Bonds-ian .707.

In this year's World Series, A-Rod hit only .250, but after a horrible start, he had five hits in 12 at-bats in the final four games.

Alex led the Yankees in the playoffs and World Series with a .365 batting average, six home runs, 18 RBI, and 12 walks.

Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and the Great Barry Bonds

Blaming Alex Rodriguez for the Yankees' recent lack of world championships is like blaming the U.S. government for the War on Terror. Other baseball greats have been challenged in the playoffs or World Series.

One of the greatest of all players, Mickey Mantle, batted only .257 in 12 World Series, including .208 in 1953 and .120 in 1962.

In the latter series, Willie Mays batted only .250 with no home runs. Willie batted .247 in his World Series appearances.

Ted Williams batted .200, with no extra base hits, in his only World Series.

The great Barry Bonds, who still holds the single-season home-run record, batted .216 in the playoffs.

Alex Rodriguez Helped the Yankees Win

Alex Rodriguez is an integral part of a world championship team that is an offensive powerhouse. The 2009 Yankees hit 244 home runs, scored 915 runs, and won the World Series.

It is significant that the team didn't become dominant until Alex returned from hip surgery.

A-Rod has done what was demanded of him. He hit in the clutch at the right time and won, which is not a redundancy.

References:

Baseball-Reference

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Lucky No. 13: Alex Rodriguez a King in New York

Joshua Valley — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:30:16 -0500

Alex Rodriguez is one of sports' most talked about icons. A man hated and loved by millions. Red Sox fans loved him during trade talks until he became a Yankee. Yankee fans hated him for becoming Yankee. New York is the toughest place to play sports—has been and always will be. It's Gotham. It's one of the world's most famous locations ever. If you think playing in New York is easy, ask Carl Pavano, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, Stephon Marbury, or Mark Sanchez.

I personally took verbal bashings for my loyal support of a man who was at times, hard to remain loyal to. I knew he had the potential. He needed to be A-Rod, not what the media and fans wanted him to be. At times, he was fearsome, and others vulnerable, and dare I say, human?

Now, Yankee fans are lining up to herald him as a "true Yankee." He always was—some of you fans weren't. Any team would love to have this guy as a part of their team, especially those who adamantly deny it.

Involved in numerous scandals, he was a popular target for those with nothing to gain. Irrelevant numbskulls seeking some personal glory for kicking a man while he's down. Congratulations morons. Can you see him now?

Not only was he a major factor during the season, he was an offensive behemoth. He put up records and numbers this past post season that rival Mr. October's. He didn't get the credit he deserved for bringing back the Yankees in most of their play off wins. Shadowed by home runs after he tied or put us in position to tie almost nightly. When Tex struggled, A-Rod dominated. Taking nothing from the rest of the team, as each one of them contributed, but none were as scrutinized as No. 13. This man literally had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The picture above shows him with his head down. Mr. Rodriguez, hold your head up high and straight. I am personally happy that he can relax, and watch his critics grovel at his feet. I believed in you, now all of baseball does, too.

In my eyes you were a "true Yankee'' before the ring. Mattingly has no rings as a player, yet he's a "true Yankee." Even the illustrious Joe Torre made him his personal punching bag. I love you, Joe, but you were wrong, man.

Thanks for coming to New York and putting up with our crap, Mr. Rodriguez. Thank you for remaining loyal to us, when we weren't to you. Not all of us, but most of us were buying into the media crap. I had a chance to see a game on 9/14/2008. First time ever in the "Old Yankee Stadium." Pavano was pitching and believe it or not, he got the win. Giambi and Jeter homered. A-Rod Grand Slammed. I was screaming like a damn fool. It was pure bliss. I can't wait to get to the new stadium and watch my Yankees continue their dominance in baseball, and sports in general. The Yankees are a "true dynasty", and Alex is a "True Yankee" Got that off my chest.

I believe that we have not seen the last of World Series rings with lucky No. 13.

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Bleacher Report - Alex Rodriguez

How A-Rod Helped the New York Yankees Win the World Series

Lucky No. 13: Alex Rodriguez a King in New York