"Say the Bombers go out in the first round, as they did against the Angels last year. Or even more damning, imagine them losing to the Mets in the World Series while Rodriguez struggles with Pedro Martinez's change-up or is unable to catch up to Billy Wagner's fastball. Fair or not, it'll be a debt he'll never repay."
Say the Mets go out in the first round and Pedro Martinez is on the disabled list ...
Say ARod bats .500 in the first round, but the Yankees lose ...
Say you were a sportswriter and you just proposed the inconceivable notion that losing in the World Series is worse than losing in the first round of the playoffs ...
"Not after going 2-for-his-last-17 in 2004 while the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead to the Red Sox in the ALCS. Not after failing to drive in a single run in the Yankees' five-game loss to Anaheim in 2005. One more disappointing October, and A-Rod can forget about ever winning over the fans, many of whom have already given up on this seemingly futuristic robot."
Raise your hand if you've already given up on this, errr, "seemingly futuristic robot." If you are a Yankee fan and you've given up on Alex Rodriguez, then you are ignorant.
Especially since ARod's a futuristic robot. He can just go back to his futuristic laboratory and replace a few parts and fix his mechanical flaws.
"A-Rod has the skills and strength that exceed any mortal's, and there's no denying he's on his way to an 800-home run career. Rodriguez's swing is still the one you'd teach to a Little Leaguer. But at this point, most Yankee loyalists will take Derek Jeter's heart, any day."
The crux of the matter.
ARod is not a human. He's not even mortal. He's just a heartless tin man futuristic robot who happens to be super-skilled.
In contrast, Derek Jeter is a bartender-by-day who worked hard to hone his mere mortal skills.
Bull. ARod has a smuch heart as anybody and he works as hard as anybody.
"The shortstop's ninth-inning, two-out, two-strike [sic] single off Jon Papelbon at Fenway Park on Aug. 20 did more than send the Yankees and Sox into extra innings and an eventual 8-5 Bombers victory. It all but ended the Red Sox' dream of a first-place finish in the East."
Offensively and defensively, ARod outperformed Jeter during the five-game sweep in Boston. Just a matter of fact.
Thank Goodness for Jeter and his two well-timed RBI hits, but (a) Giambi had 2 homeruns in that game, (b) one hit can not possibly determine the 162-game AL East pennant, (c) the Red Sox are not dead yet, and (d) I'm almost positive it was an 0-1 pitch to Jeter.
"It's anecdotes such as these that make you appreciate the subtle difference between great players and those who come close. Talent isn't the only crucible; there are hundreds of major league-caliber players stuck at Class AAA. Hard work alone won't end a slump, either. If so, A-Rod would've already been hitting 1.000. It's the mental toughness that smoothes the path to the World Series."
So, ARod has immortal strength and skill and he will cruise to 800 homeruns. But he's not a great player. The reason ARod isn't quite great is because he tries too hard and practices too much.
Uh huh.
"Think of the players who've flourished in the Bronx – Jeter, Mariano Rivera, even the volatile Gary Sheffield."
(Just don't bring up the 2004 ALCS again.)
Using Klapisch's criteria, Sheffield and Giambi have absolutely not flourished in the Bronx.
"That's not to say he can't save himself from this downward spiral. Even one four-hit game would be enough to remind everyone why Rodriguez is still the single greatest weapon in pinstripes. But time is running out, and now the stakes have been raised. For A-Rod, it's all or nothing this October."
Wow. If you say so, Bob Klapisch. "All or nothing." ARod will quit or be traded if the Yankees lose in the playoffs or if ARod has a bad postseason.
But, I think the writers should put something on the table, too.
If ARod wins the World Series MVP, they need to shut up. Forever.
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