ARod has no walk-off grand slams this season.

"Rodriguez had a big day yesterday against the Red Sox, but so did everybody except the ushers. He hit a three-run homer when it was already 10-0, his 34th of the season. Maybe this is the beginning of an ending to this season that will be up to his standards. Starting right now, against Boston, is when Rodriguez can look like the player the Yankees thought they were getting from the Rangers, and that means the best baseball player, at least this side of Barry Bonds, in the whole world."


First of all, the ushers probably did have a big day against the Red Sox. Lots of people were in the stands and a lot of them were fat.


Secondly, ARod had 3 hits, 3 runs scored, and 3 rbis. Yes, his hr occurred when the score was already 10-0, but I'd like to see Lupica mock "Papi" Ortiz for hitting a solo shot to make the score 14-1 in favor of the Yankees. "Papi" is clutch.

Just in case you forgot, Lupica is such good friends with David Ortiz and so comfortable with the traditions of the Latino community, that he feels comfortable referring to David Ortiz as "Papi."


Thirdly, let's compare 2004 vs. Red Sox stats, since Lupica is fixated on this. Are you ready to be shocked? You thought ARod was having a bad season vs. Boston, didn't you?:

ARod -- .310, 2 hrs, 6 rbis (eh), 11 runs., .895 ops.

Jeter -- .190., 0 hrs, 4 rbis (eh), 6 runs (yuck), .488 ops.


Let's explore how deeply Lupica misunderstands baseball. When Torre and the Yankees moved ARod to third base, they instantly lowered his status. ARod at third base is no longer the second-best player in baseball.

It is clear as crystal that the only reason ARod won the MVP last season -- or ever was considered the best player in the AL -- is because he was putting up his offensive numbers at the same time he was winning gold gloves at shortstop.

Move him to third base, and his AL competition is Huff, Chavez, Glaus, Blalock, Mueller, etc. His NL competition is Rolen, Beltre, Chipper, etc. Lots of third basemen hitting lots of hrs and driving in lots of runs.

ARod's numbers this year almost exactly mirror his MVP numbers from last year. A few less homeruns while playing half his games at Yankee Stadium instead of the Bandbox at Arlington, naturally. The main reason he won't get much MVP consideration because he plays a less important defensive position. ARod's offensive numbers were never the best in the league, they were never historically significant unless one includes the clause, "for a shortstop."

Am I repeating myself? I apologize if I am repeating myself. But this fact is utterly obvious, yet it seems to be universally ignored.

ARod isn't starting to play like ARod, he has been playing like ARod all along. If you're not impressed, you haven't been paying attention.


Finally, if you have any doubt that Lupica misunderstand baseball, read the following passage, where he once again inexplicably rips ARod (maybe Torre, too?) for batting second:

"Joe Torre recently moved him to No. 2 in the batting order. He wasn't brought here to bat No. 2 in the order behind No. 2 of the Yankees, which means Jeter. Rodriguez was brought here to be a big stick and bat in the middle of the order where Ruth and Gehrig and DiMaggio and Mantle batted."