53 at-bats is not a lot.

"Now that Rodriguez has raised his average from .250 on July 20 to .261 going into tonight's meeting with the Blue Jays' Roy Halladay, the fault-finders point to him not homering in 53 at-bats."

I don't trust you, George A. King III.

I think you are the fault-finder.

"Since the Yankees have lost three of four and open a crucial four-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, it's imperative the cleanup hitter hit.

Does he have to send balls into the seats at the homer-friendly Stadium? No, but people don't watch Rodriguez to see him hit doubles or flare singles to left and right."

Yeah, we only watch Rodriguez to see him hit flare singles to center.

The idea is a bit confusing, George A. King III.

If ARod doesn't have to hit homeruns ... and the viewing public is dissatisfied with doubles and singles ... then the only thing left is triples. So ARod has to hit some triples against the Red Sox or the fans won't get their money's worth?

"And you can bet on this: If the Yankees lose three of four or get swept by the Red Sox, against whom they are 0-8 this year, and Rodriguez doesn't homer, the blame is going between the 1 and 3 on his back."

I'll take that bet.

What are you putting on the table, George A. King III? Your credibility?