Let's see what we learned from last night's game: Randy Johnson should retire, "E-Rod" can't play well against the Red Sox, and the 14-3 loss was ARod's fault.
You're stupid, you're stupid, and you're stupid, too.
I. Heyman
Randy Johnson is slumping. Just like hitters slump.
In the 2006 season, Randy Johson walked 4 batters in the first 32 innings he pitched. Then, he walked 3 in 1 inning. Then, he walked 7 in his next 10 innings.
I think he will turn it around quickly and win close to 20 games this year. Jon Heyman thinks he should retire.
II. Vaccaro aka "that stupid bastard right there"
"But there is always something extra special about the struggles of Alex Rodriguez, especially against the Red Sox, because it is his fate and his destiny. That is the way he is forever going to be judged. These are the games that define him, that will always define him."
Alex Rodriguez does not struggle against the Red Sox. I won't even look at the career numbers, since we're talking about the numbers since ARod has been with the Yankees.
2004: .306 ba, .412 ob%, .486 slugging%, 3 hr, 9 rbis, 16 runs, 6 stolen bases.
2005: .271 ba, .363 ob%, .571 slugging%, 6 hr, 11 rbis, 13 runs, 2 stolen bases.
Of course ARod has had some bad games against the Red Sox. ARod has had some bad games against every team. David Ortiz has had some bad games against the Yankees.
But I know there's a little more going on here besides the numbers. I'm not quite sure why, anecdotally, ARod's successes against the Red Sox are forgotten. The HR against Schilling, the Game Four HR against Wakefield, the 3-HR weekend in Fenway last year, the pennant-clinching game last year, etc.
Go ahead and define him by his play against the Red Sox. Judge him by his playoff record against the Red Sox, if you really want to: 7 games, .258 ba, .378 ob%, .516 slugging%, 2 hr, 5 rbis, 8 runs.
Surprise!
If that's struggling, I don't need success.
Are Yankee fans and writers so spoiled that the good memories of the past five seasons are completely blotted out because they didn't ultimately result in a World Series title?
III. Harper
"All we know for sure is that A-Rod failed the Yankees again at an important moment, this time with his glove instead of his bat. And so you begin to wonder if he is ever going to win over this town, no matter what kind of numbers he puts up, or how many MVP awards he wins.
You begin to wonder if he is ever going to do something big to beat the Red Sox. They seem to bring out the worst in him, which is why Yankee fans are always ready to boo him at their first opportunity, as they did last night."
He may not ever win over this town, that much is true.
But he has already done several big somethings to beat the Red Sox, and the Red Sox certainly don't seem to bring out the worst in him.
Funny, isn't it?
ARod just stunk the joing out in the most recent homestand.
Again, it's a slump. Slumps happen.
At home, in April, mid-week, half-empty Stadium (well, one-fourth empty), no pressure, no buzz. The opponents are Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Kansas City. The spotlight is off.
So what does ARod do now that he can relax and get in the flow? Let's see: 9-for-42 (.214) with 0 hrs.
This does not fit the storyline. If there's no pressure, then ARod can't choke.
Because the whole time, maybe it's not choking, maybe it's just slumping.
As for the error on the Ortiz ground ball, which singlehandedly led to 14 unearned runs and ended the Yankees' playoff hopes, Harper deconstructs:
"It was hard to see why he didn't make it. The ball was on him quickly, but it wasn't a laser either. If anything, it seemed maybe he tried to rush the play, perhaps the way he tries to force the issue at the plate in crucial situations."
It was hard to see why he didn't make it?
He was moving to his left, the ball took a tricky hop. ARod kind of lunged and smothered the ball with his body. He quickly found the ball rolling nearby, fired to first, and the runner beat it by a step.
Daily occurrence in the baseball world.
The other error, I considered a bad-hop single, but whatever.
Now, I'd like to ask Harper another question: Did he see the play that ARod made against Mench on Sunday
Did he see it? Do you watch baseball?
Put it this way: Brosius doesn't make it, Ventura doesn't make it, Nettles probably doesn't make it.
Saved two runs at least and may have saved the whole game.
The play didn't count because it was against Texas?
ARod's glove hasn't been "good." ARod's glove has been great. Watch the games once in a while and you'd know.
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