Not everything Mike Lupica says is ignorant.

Just most of it.

"Rodriguez and the Yankees have their 100 wins now, even went to 101 against the Blue Jays yesterday. Around here, it is treated like the world's most expensive and entertaining out-of-town tryout. Tomorrow night against the Twins, these Yankees get their shot at the first of those 11 wins Reggie always talks about.

And A-Rod gets his official first shot at being a great Yankee."

Fair enough.

But just be consistent. If playoff performance is what makes one a great Yankee, then Tino and Bernie haven't really been great Yankees, while Brian Doyle and Larry Milbourne have.


"He was still called the best in the game by some on his way into town, even better than Barry Bonds."

Who "some"? What "some"? Where "some"?

It's probably correct that "some" thought ARod was even better than Barry Bonds, just like there are still "some" that think the Earth is flat.

Lupica is theoretically a baseball journalist who understands baseball. Scorn those "some," don't give ink to their crazy ideas.

Besides, the only possible argument that ARod was the best player in the game was based on the fact that he was playing a gold glove ss. Everybody knew ... or should have known ... that ARod lost a lot of his status when he was moved to third base.


"This is one of the deepest and most versatile batting orders in the history of the Yankees, all the way back to Murderers' Row. Playing in that lineup, A-Rod has produced the second lowest home run total of his career, second lowest RBI total, second lowest batting average."

This is one of the deepest and most versatile batting orders in the history of the Yankees, all the way back to Murderers' Row?

Is he serious?

Just look it up, man.

Nobody on the team is hitting .300. Nobody on the team has 40 homeruns. Nobody on the team has 30 stolen bases.

This lineup might have potential to be historic if you just take career highs and dream a little bit.

But is this lineup better than the 1961 Yankees and their 240 hrs without a DH?

Better than Career Year 1998 when even Scott Brosius had 100 rbis?

Better than 1985 with Randolph, Henderson, Mattingly, Winfield, even Pagliarulo hitting 20 hrs? Okay, 2004 lineup has more depth than 1985.

Better than the 1941 Yankees with Dimaggio, Henrich, Keller, Dickey, Berra, Gordon?

Come on, get serious.

Besides, if ARod is having a disappointing year, guess who else is having a disappointing year? Everyone's Favorite MVP Candidate, Gary Sheffield.

Think I'm joking?

Sheffield had his lowest batting average since 1998 and hit 39 points lower than last season.

Sheffield also had less hrs, runs scored, and rbis while supposedly playing in a modern-day Murderers' Row.

Maybe it was the pressure of playing in NY or maybe it was because Derek Jeter was his teammate. Who can say why players have such disappointing seasons as Gary Sheffield?

Oh, well.

Maybe he'll finally start hitting in the playoffs.