Rodriguez eyeing return to Yankees lineup
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 16, 2011 
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Today will be the day that the Yankees get their third baseman back. That’s Joe Girardi’s hope, anyway. He’s planning to put Alex Rodriguez in the lineup for tonight’s series opener in Toronto. If Rodriguez struggles in batting practice, then he’ll adjust accordingly, but for now Girardi’s planning to play A-Rod.
“I don’t want to mislead you guys,” Rodriguez said on Wednesday. “I haven’t touched a bat in five days. Maybe he has more confidence in me, but hopefully that kind of works out.”
The Yankees haven’t had a full-strength Rodriguez since mid-June when his knee began bothering him, leading to surgery and a stint on the disabled list. In his first game back from the knee injury, Rodriguez sprained the thumb and was once again a diminished player. He said his timing hasn’t been an issue, but it’s been a while since he was able to put any “ authority” into his swing.
“I think I was to the point that I had to stop because I wasn’t able to do my job,” he said. “To say it’s going to feel 100 percent, it’s not going to do that until next spring, but that’s fine… This time of the year, there’s not one guy in this clubhouse that is not playing with bumps and bruises. And that’s what I want to upgrade to.”
With the bullpen rested by an off day, Russell Martin returned from a bruised thumb and Nick Swisher back from elbow tendonitis, Rodriguez is the last significant piece the Yankees need to get back.
If he can return tonight, playing somewhere close to his expected production, Rodriguez will be a significant boost to a lineup that’s been inconsistent recently. He is almost certainly going to end his streak of consecutive 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons, but he’s hoping a strong finish will makeup for that.
“There’s no question that we’re in a franchise that, the most important month is October,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously with a good performance and the team attaining it’s goal, then I think everyone would agree that everything would be forgotten.”
Associated Press photos
“To say it’s going to feel 100 percent, it’s not going to do that until next spring”
Not what you want to hear.
Pretty weird since the MRI was negative and he was given a cortisone shot and time to rest it ?
Alexander!
The Yanks have 14 games left…..if they play .500 baseball (go 7-7) over that time then Boston would need to go 11-2 over their final 13 to tie them for the division.
If they go 8-6 then Boston can only lose 1 more game…….as they’d need to go 12-1 to get to 98 wins.
MTU and Blake-
Good morning
I agree that Theo made some bad acquisitions this year in players like Jenks, Albers, Wheeler and Andrew Miller, but after trading hyped up “nobodies” to SD for Gonzalez, who are some of the other farm players that he traded away that have made it with other clubs?
The Yankees should be able to win the next 4, facing Cecil, Alvarez, McGowan and Pavano who might face Burnett, a matchup of money not well spent
$$$ vs $$$$
It was A-Rods left thumb, which doesn’t look discolored or swollen in the above picture. Out of curiosity, does anyone know the Yankees record with and without A-Rod in the lineup this year??
YT-
It more about errors of omission than commision for me. Their farm system is barren at the upper levels.
One example would be Murphy of Texas.
Theo is also responsible for Lackey, cc, and Dice-bb.
Spent a lot of Henry’s coin and little to show for it considering.
Trader,
He traded Masterson to the Indians…….
Blake-
Forgot about that one.
Bet they wish they had him back.
I’ve been doing these magic number photos every season since I’ve been in here. Last season was screwy because there was a magic number for the division and a separate one for the wild card and it just didn’t seem to work out.
This season that’s not an issue. It’s all about earning a division championship as Blake has pointed out.
This photo depicts the first big HR in my lifetime. It’s also of my first “favorite Yankee”
Any guesses?
http://assets.nydailynews.com/.....ays-25.jpg
I think Lackey was his biggest error in judgement really…..most people thought that was a bad signing even at the time because he was clearly trending downward with his stuff…..Crawford was way overpaid and everyone agrees with that but hardly anyone saw a dropofin production from him this significant…….Lackey was a head scratcher from day 1…..even though he was billed as an ace.
MTU,
Bet they wish they had him back…..and also bet the wish the guy the traded him for (Vmart ) wasn’t with the Tigers. How.bad will that sting if Vmart helps put them out in the ALDS?
Blake-
I’d say the Halos knew what they were doing when they let him walk.
YT: For the record, the Yanks are 52-38 (.577) in games Arod has played this year; 38-20 (.655) in games in which he hasn’t played.
Make of this what you will.
Bronx,
Wasn’t that Chambliss?
MTU
Ahh yes! Thanks for reminding me!
The Red Sox sent left-hander Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre to the Rangers, who were the busiest team in the majors before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EDT non-waiver trade deadline in 2007, for Eric Gagne-withaspoon!!
If Arod is not going to be 100% until next year, should he be hitting cleanup?
They should move him up to 3 leave Cano @ cleanup and demote Mr. Popup to 5th.
Vmart was/is a buc/1b/dh type.
He’s not particularly good at one of them cept DH. He sure can hit though.
I’ve cited him as a Montero comp a few times minus the switch-hitting.
Their catching and ss situations have tended to be a fiasco over the last few years.
Of course they have the great Iglesias waiting in the wings.
tomingeorgia,
Yes!
October 14, 1976. A walk-off to send them to the World Series.
Here’s a cool MLB video segment.
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play......id=3224124
It’s become obvious that the Yankees will now win the division unless there is a catastrophic (Red Sox or Mets style) collapse and the Sox catch fire. That is almost certainly not happening.
They will also almost certainly get home field for all AL series. So it’s all about getting healthy and sorting out the playoff rotation. So if A-Rod sucks for a few games, but starts to improve and get his timing and strength back then they are a stronger team come playoff time (regardless of what their record with and without him says – he is not the New Patrick Ewing).
Blake-
Justin Masterson was traded along with some minor leaguers for Victor Martinez, not a bad trade. Theo’s failure there was not bringing back Martinez, who know with Detroit is a key offensive threat.
Niblick-
Thanks for the numbers. I don’t know what to make of it, except that while A-Rod was out many other players stepped up to the plate and performed better??
uh that would be who *now* not know!
Bronx,
I remember that game vividly. Chambliss was one of my favorites, too.
PacoDooley September 16th, 2011 at 9:31 am
It?s become obvious that the Yankees will now win the division unless there is a catastrophic (Red Sox or Mets style) collapse and the Sox catch fire. That is almost certainly not happening.
*******************
I agree. I don’t want to jinx them, but I can’t see them not winning the division at this point.
YT-
Problem was the Sux needed Youk to play 3rd and V-Mart was not an acceptable defensive 1b in their eyes. They had a DH in Sloppy.
As a C Martinez had an arm like your grandma. Terrible behind the plate other than as a BUC.
So they flipped him.
To me I can’t kill Theo or Cashman until they trade an allstar for nothing major in return. Both these teams are in win now mode and will make deals to keep doing so.
Masterson got V-mart (allstar) and was a reaction to losing Teix to the Yankees. They also got 2 draft picks for V-mart.
Murphy for Gagne was bad but it’s still not as bad as Vizcaino, Dunn & Melky for Vazquez, but the supplemental pick of Dante Bichette might reduce the level of disaster.
This photo depicts the first big HR in my lifetime. It’s also of my first “favorite Yankee”
————————————–
I too remember that game-great moment!! BTW- are you in that picture?
JK-
No one is saying Cashman is perfect either. He’s had his share of clunkers.
One thing he and his team have done is do a much better job of rebuilding the Farm.
To the point where we are now considered in the top handful.
We are loaded with upper level pitching and catching talent.
Murphy for Gagne was bad but it’s still not as bad as Vizcaino, Dunn & Melky for Vazquez, but the supplemental pick of Dante Bichette might reduce the level of disaster.
——————————————–
Boone Logan was in that trade and his numbers this year are better than Vizcaino and Dunn, although losing Vizcaino hurt.
blake September 16th, 2011 at 9:09 am
The Yanks have 14 games left…..if they play .500 baseball (go 7-7) over that time then Boston would need to go 11-2 over their final 13 to tie them for the division.
If they go 8-6 then Boston can only lose 1 more game…….as they’d need to go 12-1 to get to 98 wins.
========================================
Yanks have a magic number of 10 to clinch the AL East, 7 to clinch the wild card. Splitting their remaining 14 games will be sufficient to clinch the AL East. In other words, 97 wins will be enough for the Yanks to ensure themselves a playoff spot. As you suggested, the Sox don’t really have a margin of error to contend for the AL East championship this year.
Winning HFA is a bit more complicated because the Yanks don’t have any games remaining against the Tigers. The Yanks have a magic number of 10 to clinch against the Tigers. In all likelihood, 97 wins should be enough to clinch HFA, because I tend to think that the Tigers will lose at least 3 games down the stretch (even as hot as they are). If the Yanks win their remaining series, the Tigers won’t be able to catch the Tanks.
If Boston can manage a split this weekend, they should be able to hold off the Rays, and hobble into the post-season. With Beckett, Lester, and Wakefield slated to go this weekend, I hunk that the Sox have a very good chance at winning two of the three games. It would be a very difficult–all but insurmountable– task for Tampa to make up a 4-game deficit in 10 games, playing the Yanks 7 times. The Sox’s magic number to clinch the wild card is 11, and it will be down to 7 games if they can take two games this weekend. So, the Sox would only have to win 4 games, assuming that the Yanks can take 3 games from the Rays.
I can’t imagine that the Angels have much of a chance at passing both the Rays and the Sox for the wild card berth, without any games against either team. It would take an epic collapse by both teams for the Angels to have a shot. The Haloes have a better shot at the AL West than the wild card.
blake September 16th, 2011 at 9:09 am
The Yanks have 14 games left…..if they play .500 baseball (go 7-7) over that time then Boston would need to go 11-2 over their final 13 to tie them for the division.
If they go 8-6 then Boston can only lose 1 more game??.as they?d need to go 12-1 to get to 98 wins.
————————–
so if the yanks win 2 of 3 against boston, its all over?? If they win 1 of 3 from boston and assuming tampa wins 2 of the next 3 against boston, its all over too?
How can arod not claim to be 100 percent? He has missed half the season… Should be very well rested. He had surgery to correct a injury and should be pretty darn close to 100 percent. Please tell me he is not Talking about his jammed thumb. Pretty sure it doesnt take 10 months to be back at full health from a jammed thumb. This dudes act is growing up. Works 24 hours a week at the max and makes over 30 million a year. Grow a pair arod.
So do you think that it’s a coincidence that ever since the steroid admission ARod has gone from one injury to another.
“As a C Martinez had an arm like your grandma.”
mtu-
he’s been 20-21% throwing out runners the past two years.
cervelli has been at 12-14% throwing out runners the past couple of years.
as much as the yankees theoretically have great catching coaching in girardi and pena, i don’t get a stat like that with cervelli being allowed to happen.
it is possible girardi and pena aren’t as good at coaching catching as they were at actually catching.
they do some really funny things with catchers. like run martin into the ground earlier in the year.
MTU,
That is because Cashman landed CC & Teix. If he didn’t, I’m not sure he would have been able to protect the system to build the current depth.
If Theo landed Teix…
They don’t empty their system trading for V-mart & Gonzo. They might have some of those same chips to trade for CC or Lee instead. They probably win their 3rd Championship & the Yankees probably miss the playoffs again in 2009….
What a disaster that would have been!
The Tigers have no games left with teams vying for a playoff spot:
3 more @Oakland
2 @ KC
then home with:
4 against Orioles
3 against the Indians
The Orioles have it in their power to destroy any chance for the Red Sox to make the playoffs and for Detroit to sneak past the Yankees for HFA.
Go Orioles, but more importantly Go Yankees and sweep the next 4 games while TB and RS are slugging it out!!
Randy-
The Sux did not consider V-Mart a solution at C. That’s all I know.
Many agree that the way the Yankee catchers are are handled and developed might leave something to be desired.
One night, not to long ago, CB was on here going apoplectic about how the Yankees are not being careful enough with some of their assets.
Montero in particular. He was ranting how they do not even make use of the new helmets.
Martin should have been given more rest IMO.
JK-
It damn fortunate that we got Tex instead of the Sux. We can thank Larry Lucchino for that one.
Dog walk time.
Back in a while.
YT-
I’m thinking 2 of 4 but 3 of 4 would be even better.
Pville September 16th, 2011 at 9:47 am
So do you think that it’s a coincidence that ever since the steroid admission ARod has gone from one injury to another.
================
Yes, it is a coincidence. Correlation isn’t causality. In fact, I’m not even sure if there is some compelling dropoff in the number of games played by him as you seem to suggest. For his career, ARod average about 133 games per season,. and he’s been at that over the last 3 years, not including this year. Yes, there has been a dropoff in games played since 2008, but that is to be expected as he gets older.
It damn fortunate that we got Tex instead of the Sux. We can thank Larry Lucchino for that one.
——————————————————————–
I disagree. Whose to say we still wouldn’t have won the world series in 2009? Sox would be worse now with Mark instead of Gonzo plus we could have signed Gonzo last off season or gone after Fielder or Pujols this off season
JK-
George wanted Cashman to sign David Ortiz in the winter of 2002. If that had happened the Yankees go all the way in 2004.
Arod, take off the weekend buddy. Give the thumb 3 more days to rest, come back on Monday and start beasting!!!… (Arod is against me in FBB this week)
I disagree. Whose to say we still wouldn’t have won the world series in 2009? Sox would be worse now with Mark instead of Gonzo plus we could have signed Gonzo last off season or gone after Fielder or Pujols this off season
–
Traded who for Agon? And if we waited until this OF to get 1 of the 3 who is playing first for 3 years?
JK September 16th, 2011 at 9:49 am
MTU,
That is because Cashman landed CC & Teix. If he didn’t, I’m not sure he would have been able to protect the system to build the current depth.
If Theo landed Teix…
They don’t empty their system trading for V-mart & Gonzo. They might have some of those same chips to trade for CC or Lee instead. They probably win their 3rd Championship & the Yankees probably miss the playoffs again in 2009….
What a disaster that would have been!
============================================
Nice post. We are lucky to have gotten Tex when we did. The other point that AI would add to yours, is that without Teix, the Yanks would have been in a situation in which they may have become willing to clear out their farm system to get a first baseman. Just because Tex is having a bad year, it doesn’t make his signing a bad one, in the grand scheme of things.
White Sox and Rangers made big offers for A-gon. White Sox had a better offer than the Red Sox if I recall. Would have been tough for the Yankees to get him.
Bad trades are made. Most probably think John Shuerholtz was one of the best GM’s ever, but the trade for Teixeira which didn’t get them into the WS was one of the worst trades in the last few years. They were 4.5 back of the Mets when that trade went down.
The Rangers acquired C/1B Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus, and three pitchers: Neftali Perez, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones in the deal for Teixeira.
Yankee Trader September 16th, 2011 at 9:52 am
The Tigers have no games left with teams vying for a playoff spot:
3 more @Oakland
2 @ KC
then home with:
4 against Orioles
3 against the Indians
The Orioles have it in their power to destroy any chance for the Red Sox to make the playoffs and for Detroit to sneak past the Yankees for HFA.
Go Orioles, but more importantly Go Yankees and sweep the next 4 games while TB and RS are slugging it out!!
=========================================
The Yankees aren’t playing the Orioles any more this season. They can’t really spoil the Yanks chances, even if Detroit sweeps the O’s. However, the Orioles are playing 3 games against the Angels, 7 games against the Sox, and 4 games against the Tigers, and are in a position to be a huge spoiler against clbs jockeying for playoff spots.
AaronBoone_ESPN Bout to go on Sportscenter in about 5-10 minutes. Talking a lil Rays/Sox
Didn’t A-Rod hurt his thumb when he came back and played the first game in the field at Toronto?
Does he DH tonight? Montero was 2-2 against Cecil last time out.
Yankees Former Yankee David Cone sits down with @MLBNetwork … http://atmlb.com/mRJeP5
I thought Arod hurt his thumb against the Twins??
Yankee Trader September 16th, 2011 at 10:15 am
Didn?t A-Rod hurt his thumb when he came back and played the first game in the field at Toronto?
**************************
YT, it was his first game back from knee surgery in Minnesota on the Mauer ground ball. Therefore, this is all Joe Mauer’s fault.
Ghostwriter-
Maybe I wasn’t clear. I was also making the point that the Orioles have it in their power to be spoilers against the RS (7 games) and Tigers (4 games), from the RS getting into the playoffs, and the Tigers possibility of getting HFA.
I think we’re on the same page.
YT, it was his first game back from knee surgery in Minnesota on the Mauer ground ball. Therefore, this is all Joe Mauer’s fault.
—————————–
Erin-
Maybe had Troy Polumalo slapped around Mauer after the commercial A-Rod wouldn’t have hurt his thumb!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFBW162l7S4
JF,
Hoyer only wanted to trade him to the Sox I believe. They prob would have let him go to free agency and collect the picks which is what they should have done anyway imo.
Well Swisher would have played first in 2009 unless they traded for someone. Nobody knows what would have happened but you can’t say they don’t win the world series in 2009 without Mark.
YT-
Love that commercial.
Nobody knows what would have happened but you can’t say they don’t win the world series in 2009 without Mark.
–
Yea but I also don’t think its a great argument to say that they didnt need Tex or that everything would have worked out without him. They might have signed Adam Dunn or something!
Tex’s presence at first absolutely changed the dynamic of the Yanks’ infield defense. He transformed a defense that seemed old into something that was truly exceptional. Swisher at first would have been at best a marginal upgrade over Giambi.
They might have signed Adam Dunn or something!
—————————————
Of course that would have been a disaster or the flip side maybe Agon goes to free agency and we get him and still win the world series in 2009.
I think every Yankee fan would sign on for us having Agon and the Sox having Mark and us still having the world series in 2009
Everyone have a great day.
Go Yankees!
Of course that would have been a disaster or the flip side maybe Agon goes to free agency and we get him and still win the world series in 2009.
–
A-gon would be going to free agency after this year. This isn’t a good argument.
Jerkface September 16th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Yea but I also don’t think its a great argument to say that they didnt need Tex or that everything would have worked out without him. They might have signed Adam Dunn or something!
===========
It’s not who they might have signed that would worry me, it’s the players that they might have traded to fill in the whole.
Tex’s free agent signing (as well as CC’s) was an unambiguous good signing for the Yanks. Hopefully, Tex will work on his left-handed swing during the offseason. We still haven’t seen his best baseball..
There were no quality 1st basemen available for 3 years. A-gon was only available because Jed Hoyer became the GM.
Don’t know if anyone watched the Sox game on NESN last night, but the one commercial that gave me a laugh was the one featuring the midget Pedroia driving a red Mini Cooper (naturally), wearing a red batting helmet….
sp. fill in the hole.
http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/.....Today_Team
Holy smokes this dude is drinking some strong Ranger Kool-Aid. Put the Ranger foam finger down man.
Ghostwriter
“For his career, ARod average about 133 games per season,. and he?s been at that over the last 3 years, not including this year. ”
Actually for the first 13 years of his career (1996-2008) ARod averaged 152 games per year (that includes 138 for 2008 the season before he was outed). Assuming he plays ever game for the rest of this season he will have averaged 121 games.
Pretty good article on RAB.
A thought on trading Phil Hughes:
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/.....hes-56245/
Yes thats right Agon would be a free agent after this year. Mark has no desire to change his swing. Remember his look at the back of my baseball card comment? What would his stats look if he were batting 6th in this lineup? He is not the type of hitter that is going to age gracefully.
Swisher made adustments and so has Grandy but to this day Mark has shown no inclination to change his approach
JF,
Would you sign on for Mark on the Sox, Agon,Fielder and Pujols on the open market this off season, no Dunn here and we still won in 2009?
Dunn, the stats people’s darling. I had a brawl for two days about Dunn. Methinks HRs and walks are overrated, SOs the opposite.
Right now for the post season assuming quality pitching, Yankees #2 and 3 hitters are a gaping hole. Low outside breaking pitches and it’s curtains. Grandy season average is striking out 25% of the time and it’s too late to slot Swisher into the two spot and Alex into the three.
Assuming four at bats Curtis is productive in only three.
Dunn, paper power, walking pylon. But hey, his OPS was great.
Pville September 16th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Ghostwriter
“For his career, ARod average about 133 games per season,. and he?s been at that over the last 3 years, not including this year. ”
Actually for the first 13 years of his career (1996-2008) ARod averaged 152 games per year (that includes 138 for 2008 the season before he was outed). Assuming he plays ever game for the rest of this season he will have averaged 121 games.
=======
Is there an actual point here? I acknowledged in my post that the number of games played had dropped off from his peak years. It seems a bit disingenuous to cherry-pick his 12 best years, and show them as representative.
At any rate, the fact remains that the drop-off in his playing time, such as it is, can easily be attributed to other factors besides steroids use, such as age.
Triple Short of a Cycle September 16th, 2011 at 10:47 am
… Mark has no desire to change his swing….
===============
How do you know this?
How do you know this?
————————————
2 straight years tells me that. Granderson changed his swing the first year he was here
Comparing before and after the steroid admission is not cherrypicking. It shows how the body breaks down when steroids are no longer being used.
Would you sign on for Mark on the Sox, Agon,Fielder and Pujols on the open market this off season, no Dunn here and we still won in 2009
–
Uh yea, but what the hell guy that kind of hypothetical is silly. There is a very low probability the Yankees win the WS without Tex. And that the team would be forced to make drastic changes to replace his production. They weren’t going to go 3 years without a true first baseman.
Comparing before and after the steroid admission is not cherrypicking. It shows how the body breaks down when steroids are no longer being used.
–
He was just fine until he became an older 30s player. He didn’t use steroids/fail a test since becoming a Yankee.
Kevin Youkilis struggles to play even 140 games a season, COINCIDENCE?
Swisher Break:
http://www.pinstripealley.com/.....ll-defined
Pville September 16th, 2011 at 11:04 am
Comparing before and after the steroid admission is not cherrypicking. It shows how the body breaks down when steroids are no longer being used.
=================
Whatever. I’m not bickering over this. The decline in playing time is not necessarily the result of peds use. If you want to think otherwise, suit yourself.
Granderson, the team MVP and the guy who destroyed the postseason last year, is a gaping hole come October???
Uh… OK.
2 straight years tells me that. Granderson changed his swing the first year he was here
–
Granderson had a long history of sucking against LHP. Tex did not. His 2010 season was injury riddled including key components of any hitters foundation (knee/hand)
Right now for the post season assuming quality pitching, Yankees #2 and 3 hitters are a gaping hole.
–
Did you watch Granderson crush playoff pitching last year ?
He was just fine until he became an older 30s player. He didn?t use steroids/fail a test since becoming a Yankee.
Kevin Youkilis struggles to play even 140 games a season, COINCIDENCE?
He was 33 in 2009, that’s “older 30s”? Clemens never failed a drug test either. Youkilis plays for the Red Sox according to ESPN they don’t even know what sterois are so it must be a coincidence.
They weren?t going to go 3 years without a true first baseman.
——————————————–
They did with Giambi and Swisher is no worse a fielder then he was.
Assuming four at bats Curtis is productive in only three.
——
You’re ssuming that every ball in play is productive, which it obviously is not.
Steroids didnt give A-rod a birth defect unless he was using them in the womb.
They did with Giambi and Swisher is no worse a fielder then he was.
–
Giambi is exactly why they weren’t going to do it.
League average for making productive outs is 33%
I should rephrase that.
League average for being successful in productive out situations is 33%.
His 2010 season was injury riddled including key components of any hitters foundation (knee/hand)
———————————————————
Was he hurt in April and May? He didn’t start hitting until June last year.
If he does nothing this post season for the third straight year what will your excuse be? and yes I am aware of his home run against Minn
And the reason why they won in 2009 had more to do with CC/Arod/Matsui then Mark so I disagree that it is doubtful that they don’t win without Mark being there
And the reason why they won in 2009 had more to do with CC/Arod/Matsui then Mark so I disagree that it is doubtful that they don’t win without Mark being there
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He hit close to .300 with 39 HR and a billion RBIs in the regular season which had something to do with the Yankees making it the playoffs, also walked off game 2 of the ALDS.
He is hitting 214 in over a 100 post season at bats. 1 walk off home run does not make up for his abysmal approach at the plate. Aaron Boone hit a walk off as well
A-Rod is 36 and on his way to 42. He is an aging, ex-steroid user and no one knows how long he used. And no one knows exactly what the long term effects are from steroid use. It may have nothing to do with A-Rod’s current physical health or it may. Increased injuries, slower to heal; it’s a possibility. There is no direct correlation between a thumb injury and PED’s, but big picture-wise, when it comes to A-Rod’s overall health and skills, well that’s unknown.
The reality as I see it is that he isn’t the player he once was, even a couple of years ago. And I don’t think it will get any better the next six years; due to aging alone if anyone wants to discount the other.
FakePeteGammons When Josh Beckett drills you w/a fastball, it’s like being touched by God’s angry hand. This is Peter Gammons.
FakePeteGammons On plus side, blowout loss last night let world get glimpse of #Redsox top prospects who are best in game. Future is bright thanks to Theo!
The reality as I see it is that he isn?t the player he once was, even a couple of years ago.
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He doesn’t have to be. Back then he was a centerpiece of the offense. Now the team will be built around Grandy,Cano and Montero
New Post: Pitching matchups in Toronto
Triple Short of a Cycle September 16th, 2011 at 11:53 am
The reality as I see it is that he isn?t the player he once was, even a couple of years ago.
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He doesn’t have to be. Back then he was a centerpiece of the offense. Now the team will be built around Grandy,Cano and Montero.
*************
Cano yes, Grandy and Montero not so sure. Not yet.
Granderson strikes out way too much and a .260 batting average does not a team centerpiece make. Bautista, Gonzalez, Martinez and Cabrera are that and are hitting over .300. As to Montero, who knows what he will do consistently. Hoping he fulfills his potential and more – but to say he will be an A-Rod like team centerpiece at this stage is speculative.