So what you're saying is that the best way to get Alex Rodriguez out is to make good pitches ...

... it sounds crazy, but let me think about it:

"In their scouting report for that first-round playoff series, according to a person with knowledge of it at the time, the Angels told their pitchers that it was crucial to pound A-Rod inside with fastballs, the goal being to make him so inside-conscious that it affects his approach."

In other words, if Rodriguez was worried enough about being pitched hard inside, then he might not react as well to fastballs and breaking stuff on the outer half of the plate, where he is most dangerous." I think that goes for ARod and every other player who every played baseball.

It's called "pitching."


"As a scout from a different AL team said yesterday: 'The book on (A-Rod) hasn't changed over the years. You need to come inside hard, above the hands. That's where his hole (in his swing) is. If you get his attention in there, then you have a better chance of getting him to chase breaking stuff away.' "

Just don't miss, or ARod might hit it very far.


Good work, by the way, John Harper.

Very timely analysis of Alex Rodriguez's swing, and very revealing.

Breaking news: The book on Mariano Rivera is that he throws a cut fastball. So, look out for the cut fastball.