Rodriguez hasn't lived up to his $252 million contract in the clutch. He's 1-for-11 in the first three games of the best-of-five series, hasn't driven in a run in 11 playoff games dating to 2004 and is batting .116 (5-for-43) in his last 12 postseason games.
"Tomorrow is the whole season," he said. "Nothing else matters. We have to go out and win a game."
you can't say anything bad about this very nice guy, this decent man, who chokes at the sight of a pitched or batted ball any where in his general proximity.
if you dare point out that the guy can't take the slightest amount of pressure - his defenders will tell you about his great numbers.
when you play in nyc and win the mvp ( undeserved and an insult to big papi ) and your own fans and teammates don't want to see you up with the game on the line or even close in the late innings --- that speaks volumes -- that tells you that the only numbers that matter are listed above.
did anyone notice that after doing nothing in the 5 game sweep of boston - k-rod went on a tear, after the division race was basically over -- a tear that ended when the playoffs started and the element of pressure returned.
Words cannot explain my myriad feelings about A-Rod. I know this may sound like a cop out, but the pressure of playing next to Jeter has this guy's thong wedged way too tight up his ####.
He's too talented to let any kind of pressure unnerve him. Or, so most thought.
I THOUGHT K-ROD WOULD BE JETER WITH CONSISTENT HOMERUN POWER -
BUT, BEING NEAR JETER AUTOMATICALLY MAKES HIM LOOK LIKE A FRAUD - HE IS A SMALL MARKET PLAYER --
NICE GUY, HE COULD DATE MY DAUGHTER, BUT NOT PLAY FOR MY TEAM.
If A-Rod has choked what has Jeter and Damon done beyond the first win. What has Abreu done against the TIgers? It is always A-Rod's fault. I thought this was a team game.
socalsportsfan
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I WOULD RATHER SEE JOE TORRE WITH A BAT IN HIS HANDS, IF THE GAME IS ON THE LINE, YOU WANT K-ROD AT THE PLATE?
I WISH I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE SILVER LINING AS WELL AS YOU -- K-ROD IS GOD'S GIVE TO BASEBALL - YOU HAVE CONVINCED ME - HOW I EVER THOUGHT OF HIM AS THE POSTER BOY FOR CHOKING, I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT.
CAN'T CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, MICHAEL JACKSON IS WATCHING THE KIDS, WHILE WE GO OUT FOR A FEW HOURS -- I KNOW HE TOO IS MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT I SEE THE GOOD IN HIM AND I AM WILLING TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
Hiya GAFF! Yep it is official, A-rod has mental issues in the clutch. Already there is much being made of the Yanks trading him due to his inability to come through when it counts. I also agree 100% that his MVP was a total scam.
Ah Gaff. I will say this about you. You say what you feel and no bones about it, right or wrong. Lots of us wish we could do the same. As for A-Rod, he will get the brunt of the criticism for this post-season loss. But it comes down to the same thing it always has, always does, and always will. Pitching. None of the Yankees hit worth a #### after the first game. The Tigers shut them down, and at the same time got a lot of timely hits. Mike Mussina? Randy Johnson? Jared Wright? If the Bronx Bummers don't improve their pitching, it doesn't matter how much they spend on their lineup. A-Rod sucked in the post-season, yes. Most of his teammates did, too.
born2playin69
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I CAN TELL BY YOUR COMPLETE SUPPORT FOR MY THESIS, YOU ARE OF SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE - OBVIOUSLY A PERSON OF GREAT BREEDING AND CULTURE.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HELPING ME PURCHASE SOME AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND ELIMINATING SOME OF THESE VOICES OF DISSENT ( OR IGNORANCE, AS I WOULD MORE ACCURATELY TERM THEM ) -- I CAN SEE THAT IF YOU AND I WERE IN CHARGE, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.
OF COURSE, I WOULD BE IN DIRECT CHARGE, BUT YOU COULD MAKE SUGGESTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME.
LISTEN, THE NURSE IS BRINGING THE MEDS NOW, I WILL GET BACK TO YOU WHEN THE ATTENDANT IS NOT WATCHING ME.
RICKO -
I AM NOT SAYING THAT K-ROD LOST THE DETROIT SERIES ALL BY HIMSELF - BUT I HAVE NEVER, EVER, NEVER, EVER HEARD OF AN MVP PLAYER THAT HIS OWN TEAMMATES AND FANS, DON'T WANT TO SEE NEAR THE PLATE IN A MEANINGFUL GAME. GIVE ME A NAME OF AN MVP IN HIS PRIME YEARS, WHO FITS THAT BILL.
OTHER PLAYERS AND ALL PLAYERS, HAVE FAILED IN KEY SITUATIONS.
BASEBALL IS A GAME THAT SALUTES THOSE WHO FAIL SEVEN OUT OF TEN TIMES AND SEARCHES IN VAIN FOR A PLAYER WHO WILL FAIL ONLY SIX OUT OF TEN TIMES - WITH NO LUCK SINCE 1941.
K-ROD IS A PLAYER WHO WILL FAIL 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES, IF THE GAME IS CLOSE AND OF IMPORTANCE.
AGAIN, THIS IS NICE GUY, A GOOD PERSON, BUT I COULD PLAY MLB IF YOU ARE GOING TO PAY ME TO FAIL WHEN YOU NEED HELP AND HELP WHEN YOU ARE DOING FINE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM ME.
NOTHING IN SPORTS IS EASIER THAN BEING THE HIGH SCORER ON A LOSING BASKETBALL TEAM - YOU CAN SHOOT, RUN UP NUMBERS AND HAVE NO PRESSURE, SINCE YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO WIN -- FEW THINGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT THAN TO GET THAT ONE BASKET IN A CLOSE GAME WHEN PLAYOFF TIME IS AT HAND.
K-ROD HAS PRESSURE ISSUES BEYOND THE NORM.
I WON'T MENTION HIM AGAIN, UNLESS SOMEONE BRINGS HIM UP. EVEN I CAN'T BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE ANYMORE.
THE MANAGER OF HIS TEAM BATS HIM NUMBER 8 - IF ANYONE OF 12 MILLION NEW YORKERS OBJECTED, I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM -- I CAN'T TOP THAT LEVEL OF SILENCE - THEIR SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
I'd like to see one of these pampered sports poodles come out and say "I sure stunk the joint out hitting a buck-oh-eight." Bad series happen to the best but sometimes instead of giving us the sanitized answers just tell it like it is, especially when you make lottery type bucks playing a kids game. Great scribble GAFF.
edhardiman
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THE GAME OF BASEBALL WILL HUMBLE ANY AND ALL PLAYERS FROM TIME TO TIME. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF KEEPING UP A FIGHTING SPIRIT AND NOT CRYING THE BLUES - THERE ARE THOSE TIMES WHEN THE MOST HONEST THING AN ATHLETE CAN SAY IS, I SCREWED UP ROYALLY AND I HAVE TO GET IT TOGETHER AND CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN AGAIN.
CLINCHES CAN'T BE AVOIDED IN SPORTS, BUT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, AS YOU STATED, REGARDLESS OF THE EXACT WORDS USED, IS ALWAYS TO BE ADMIRED
Gaff At this late a stage there's no need for a post mortem as we all knew that the Yankees were dead on arrival, even after winning the first game of the series. They were too cocksure of themselves and didn't consider that the Tigers would be able to mount a comeback. It's almost as if they hadn't learnt anything from their loss to the Red Sox in '04. Needless to say the biggest reason for their demise was their pitching and the fact they don't play small ball all that well or at all. They don't steal bases neither do they bunt. It's always the long ball. We all know how chicks dig the long ball. But not all over those in the crowd are women. The majority of the fans in the crowd are men and we want to see every facet of the game on display.
And as for A-Rod and his public personna, we now know that he's nothing but 'VANILLA' from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. I won't dare to question his manhood but if ever he were to dress up in women's clothing and come out of the closet. Then it's all well and good ! There you see I lied !
And as for the Yankee apologists out there...........just get some balls and stop whining !
all this about A-Rod, but he does his job year round. listening to NY fans made me think they were idiots. watching them on TV solidified that. Marrying a chick from NY, NY and dealing with her Long Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn family and friend solidified it: NY fans are ungrate and undeserving of success. 160 games a season, A-Rod puts up great numbers, and all you jokes can talk about it one guy - who put up great numbers. the entire series in his fault. 9 batter in the line up and every sucked because of the half-breed.
right.
he doesnt smack his wife, have child support issues, or do HGH - and i just plainly named 3 yankees for ya. he doesnt raise hell in the meda - named another guy. this is why i root against the yankees, because i hate NY fans. if anyone else on the team was anywhere near as good as he is - then they might be feeling the pressure, too. go ahead - yankee fans - ship him to another team. i guarantee you'll see him again in the World Series.
tophatal
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WHY ARE YOU READING MY MIND? YOU SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY -- BUT LET'S NOT QUESTION K-ROD'S PERSONAL LIFE -- LET' STAY ON THE HIGH GROUND - HE IS A GOOD MAN, BUT A POOR PLAYER.
IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE A GOOD MAN, BUT PEOPLE PAY TO SEE GOOD PLAYERS, THAT IS HIS PROBLEM - HE NEEDS TO PLAY A SPORT WHERE THEY DON'T KEEP SCORE - THUS, NO PRESSURE TO PERFORM.
THE YANKEES DEPEND ALMOST TOTALLY ON THE LONG BALL AND HAVE NO PLANS THAT INCLUDE THE BASEBALL SKILLS OF SMALL BALL - MY FRIEND, DLB, IN BROOKLYN HAS BEEN CALLING TORRE OUT FOR YEARS ABOUT THE TEAM'S INABILITY TO GENERATE RUNS WITH ANY WEAPON BUT THE LONG BALL AND GREAT PICHING WILL STOP THE LONG BALL MOST OF THE TIME AND IN THE PLAYOFFS, YOU FACE GREAT PITCHING ALMOST EVERY GAME.
TOPHATAL - THE JOB IS OPEN, SHOULD I TELL BIG GEORGE, YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO WORK IN THE BRONX?
Gaff The Bronx isn't my scene and no amount of money in the world could draw me to accept the job even if I were qualified to do it. There are too many egos to deal with on that roster and to placate them would be even worse.
I'm not too sure that Piniella is the ideal candidate for the position as being alleged in the press. If Torre is on the way out as is being suggested. I'd rather see the position go to Don Mattingly. He's more deserving rather than 'Big Lou'.
Did you by any chance see the punt return by Reggie Bush for the Saints against the Buccaneers ? It was a tremendous piece of athleticism on display with that run of 65yds plus return for the touchdown.
Grossman and the Bears don't seemed to have missed a beat. And their display today was completely ruthless in its efficiency and execution against the Bills.
Supposedly the game of the day was between the Cowboys and Eagles. Not a complete letdown but it certainly didn't live up to all the hype as was unfounded. The Cowboys aren't as good as they're made out to be. They're middling to average team at best if the NFC at present is anything to be judged by. Owens needed to be more involved in the game but I certainly don't know what was running through Bledsoe's mind as he and Owens were rarely involved in anything that mounted that threat
HE IS THROWING BLEDSOE UNDER THE BUS ALREADY -
WHEN YOU SEE HIS INTERVIEW AFTER THE GAME - HE SAYS, "I WAS OPEN AND SOMEONE DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER."
MY SISTER ONCE TOLD MY BROTHER THAT HE ONLY CALLED WHEN HE NEEDED MONEY. SO, A WEEK LATER, MY BROTHER CALLED AND SAID, "HOW ARE YOU DOING?"
THE NEXT DAY, HE CALLED AND ASKED FOR MONEY.
T.O. THINKS HE CAN DO THE SAME THING, HE PUTS THE BLAME ON THE QUARTERBACK AND THEN SAYS, "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER."
LIKE MY BROTHER, HE THINKS THAT A CATCH PRHASE, CAN PUT HIM ON SOLID GROUND TO GET AWAY WITH SHAFTING HIS TEAMMATES.
THIS IS HAPPENING DURING WEEK FIVE - I PREDICT T.O. WILL BE BENCHED OR SUSPENDED BEFORE GAME 8 AND MAYBE AFTER THE NEXT GAME, IF DALLAS LOSES - HE IS NOT A DECENT TEAMMATE AND IF HE HAD THE WORST QUARTERBACK IN THE WORLD, YOU CAN'T TOSS YOUR QB UNDER THE BUS IN WEEK FIVE.
PARCELL'S WILL HAVE TO STEP ON THIS GUY AND JERRY JONES WILL HAVE TO SEE THAT T.O. IS ALL ABOUT CONCERN FOR T.O. -- AND YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE COWBOYS, WAY OVER-RATED.
HOPEFULLY, I WON'T HEAR ABOUT TALENT FROM THE "PUBLIC DEFENDERS" ON THIS BLOG SITE - MO CLARETT HAD TALENT AND HE IS IN PRISON - TALENT WITHOUT COMMONSENSE IS NOT ENOUGH.
T.O. HAS THE TALENT, BUT LACKS THE COMMONSENSE TO REALIZE HE DOES NOT RUN THE TEAM, HE IS JUST A MEMBER OF THE TEAM - WIN OR LOSE.
Gaff I don't know if you noticed that during his post game interview he failed to make a commentary as to why he'd dropped several balls that he had failed to catch during the game. But plainly just stated that we failed to convert many of the opportunities that were availed to them. Which is it we failed as a collective or just I failed as being a contributory factor towards the team ? Narcicissists tend to be that way and they're not liable to change.
tophatal
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I TAOUGHT MY CLASSES THAT THERE IS ONE WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THAT IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN ANY OTHER ---- THAT WORD IS "WE"
"I" IS USED WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD --
I FOUND THE MONEY.
I WON THE GOLD MEDAL.
I GOT 100% ON THE EXAMINATION.
****************
WE LOST THE GAME.
WE COULDN'T MAKE ANY TOUCHDOWNS TODAY.
WE WERE NOT STEALING FROM THAT STORE.
NO, OFFICER, WE ARE NOT DRUNK.
************
IF YOU ARE NEAR A PERSON AND THEY USE THE WORD, "WE,"
I SUGGEST YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN THE MOVIE, "FRIDAY," WHERE CHRIS TUCKER TOLD THE GANGSTER, "WORM" THAT "WE" WILL GET THE MONEY "WE" OWE YOU BY TONIGHT.
ICE CUBE WAS NOW INVOLVED IN SOMETHING HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, BECAUSE THE WORD WE WAS USED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE.
T.O. USES "WE" WHEN HE IS TRYING TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ERRORS.
Gaff ........These are the rudimentary lessons that brother TO needs to learn at present if he's to seek his own personal salvation. That being said let's see how he fares in the Cowboys' next game. If he catches more then ten balls and scores a couple of touchdowns then he'll be completely happy. Anytrhing less than that then the petulant childish behavior will manifest itself again and then all we'll hear is the constant whining.
And batted #8 in a playoff series. Really amazing. The only other time I've seen a big hitter at #8 was Reggie Sanders when he was with the Reds. He hit a slump and the thinking was nobody would walk the #8 hitter and he'd see some fastballs. Comes across as a desparate move, more so with Rodriquez.
dudski
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OF COURSE IT WAS DESPERATION -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS IN THE GAME AT ALL. THE MAN NEEDED PARAMEDICS TO CHECK FOR A HEARTBEAT AND PEOPLE ARE ACTING LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG.
IF I SAW THE ICE ON THE DECK OF THE TITANIC, THAT NIGHT, I MIGHT THINK, THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING.
IF I AM TRYING TO WIN A PLAYOFF GAME, ANY PLAYOFF GAME, ANY YEAR, AGAINST ANY TEAM, I MIGHT REALIZE THAT K-ROD WTH A BAT IN HIS HANDS WON'T BE MUCH HELP TO HIS TEAM.
AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE THAT, AN OLD GUY LIKE LARRY BOWA, COULD NOT HAVE DONE WORST THAN K-ROD - THIS GUY HAS CHOKED IN HISTORIC PROPORTIONS AND FOLKS ARE ACTING LIKE HE IS A LITTLE OFF HIS GAME.
IF K-ROD WAS IN THE PILOT'S SEAT, ONLY ONE PLANE WOULD HAVE HIT THE TWIN TOWERS.
Gaff Don't you think we're being a little too hard on A-Rod as he's got to be at home with his wife at this time of the year. She'll probably be nagging the hell out of him......."Alex take out the garbage...."......"Alex my mom's coming for a visit this weekend"........"Alex can I have $50,000 for this weekend as the girls and I are going down to Puerto Rico for the weekend ? " All in all that's what his life is made up of now and lees I say it he's living a nightmare at present. Hated by the fans in New York and hated by all and sundry because of his play throughout the postseason.
you are a compassionate man and you are correct,
k-rod has suffered enough -- like i always add, he is not a bad guy and he is wonderful to kids.
i guess the plane crash yesterday, tells us that there are more important things than scoring the runner from third.
we will leave the treatment of k-rod in the hands of mrs. k-rod.
Gaff I do believe that the networks and in particular ESPN should let this go as they're beating the hell out of this story. They should now allow the families the time to grieve and seek solace in prayer and the 'maker'.
tophatal
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ONE OF THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS THINGS I EVER HEARD ON ESPN, WAS THAT LIDLE HAD TOLD A REPORTER HE HAD
90 HOURS OF FLYING EXPERIENCE AND HIS LOG BOOK ONLY SHOWED 88 HOURS, SO HE LIED ABOUT HIS FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
YOU ASK ME HOW MUCH I MAKE A YEAR, I SAY,
$40,000 - MY TAX RETURN SAYS, $39,843.27 --
ACCORDING TO ESPN, I LIED TO YOU !
WHAT KIND OF DIRT DIGGING IS THIS - WHY WOULD YOU CALL A MAN A LIAR, FOR BEING OFF TWO HOURS IN A CONVERSATION, WHERE HE MENTIONED A NUMBER TO YOU.
I WAS BUSY WHEN I FIRST HEARD THIS REPORT AND I HOPE I HAVE IT ALL BACKWARDS - I WOULD LIKE TO BE WRONG ABOUT THEM INSULTING THIS MAN ON NATIONAL TV, BEFORE HE IS PUT TO REST BY HIS FAMILY
AND IS OFF BY TWO HOURS A LIE?
Gaff If these are what we call journalists ? I'd like to know why or where they went to journalism school and what they learnt. I'm beginning to find the whole thing rather farcical and preoposterous.
I AM A RETIRED TEACHER. - BORN IN BROOKLYN, LIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA. * I AM A PURE FRONT RUNNER, I SEE HOW THE SEASON IS GOING AND GET ATTRACTED TO A TEAM. *MY LACK OF LOYALTY IS RELATED TO HAVING THE GREATEST SPORTS TEAM OF ALL TIME - THE BROOKLYN DODGERS, LEAVE TOWN - *NO BROOKLYN FAN CAN EVER RECOVER FROM THAT TRAUMA - AND WHEN MY GENERATION DIES OUT, NO ONE WILL REMAIN WHO CAN APPRECIATE WHAT A HORRIBLE
FEELING THAT WAS - ALMOST A DEATH IN THE FAMILY - AND YOU COULD DROP THE WORD "ALMOST." *THE GREATEST -- OSCAR ROBERTSON -- JIM BROWN - JOE LOUIS - JOE NAMATH - SANDY KOUFAX - WILLIE MAYS - MUHAMMAD ALI - #42 - BABE RUTH - BILL RUSSELL - ROBERTO CLEMENTE
**THE SCUM OF THE SPORTS WORLD - >>> BARRY BONDS - A SNAKE WITHOUT HONOR.
*READ ME AT WWW.BIGGAFF.N ET
