Blaming A-Rod seems perfectly acceptable

We often talk about the game finding a particular player. But last night, it felt like this whole 2008 Yankees season hoisted itself from its hammock and staggered around, tossing aside empty whiskey bottles ...

[Annie Savoy]

Does Joe Girardi have the guts to bench ARod? If not, this mess will continue for as long as ARod plays..

[Still Wondering]

Yes, A-Rod doesn't deliver, but again, what about the lack of pitching and the pathetic bull pen?

[Phil]

Girardi needs to shuffle things and put some of the young speed back on the field. Nady, Jeter, Cano, and Rodriguez are the only must-play guys in this lineup, along with Damon... but not in center. Could he play 1B? Watching Giambi continue to hit into the shift rather than take it to left, as he was able to do his entire career in Oakland, is mind-numbing.

[CTRedSoxFan]

A-Rod Chokes...how is that news???? That's a common occurance.

Thanks Alice for giving new meaning to the 10th man. Keep it up and you'll take the title away from Rivera

[FPC]

ARod puts up big numbers year after year but just is NOT a clutch hitter.

[Bernie]

It took an 0h for five night in late August in 2008 against the Red Sox for everyone to realize that A-Bomb can't hit in the clutch? Oh, I'm sorry I forgot about that great clutch play in 04 when all he had to do to earn his billion dollars was to hit a fly ball that probably would have sent the Yanks to the World Series but instead he tried to slap the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's hand after hitting a weak grounder and the rest is history. The curse of A-Rod continues in 08. The Yanks will never win as long as he is on the team!

[jonny john]

well, it is just great that he gets his GIANT pay check no matter what he does on the field!

keep paying to go to the ballgames everyone, don't stop going to watch this overpaid idiot!

[ALWAYS A CHOKER]

Why is this news? Since he came to NY he has been Mr choke. Never hits in the clutch. Big deal he hits homers when they are up by 10 or down by 10. Woopie! Once he is gone they will win again.

[HEHE]

Funny how the yankees got rid of a young Soriano for this bum A-Rod. Now who is getting the last laugh? Oh is it coincidence that no one is reaching the 60-home run mark this year with all the steroid scrutiny? things that make me go hmmmm...A-Rod last year was on pace to hit 70 it seemed and now he's at 28? Big Poppy and all the so-called power hitters have inexplicably lost some of their juice it seems...just saying..

[NYStateOfMind]

ALWAYS A CHOKER wrote:

Why is this news? Since he came to NY he has been Mr choke. Never hits in the clutch. Big deal he hits homers when they are up by 10 or down by 10. Woopie! Once he is gone they will win again.

Never, repeat, NEVER hits in the clutch???...

I will concede this season, A-Rod has very few hits in key situations. In 2007 he had NINE game winning home runs in the 9th inning alone...

If anyone is going to say he doesn't hit in the clutch in the playoffs, be reminded that the prince of the city, Derek Jeter, didn't drive in a run in clutch situations against Cleaveland in last year's division playoffs...

[Jay]

A-Rod and Jeter never hit in the clutch. All they both do is hit in to double plays and strike out.
"Jeter, he's got an Edge." What a laugh. Couldn't hit a baseball if someone held it up infront of him.

[ckck]

In addition to his lack of hitting when the chips are down he is also a lousy baserunner!! Gets throwm out way too many times being stupid on the bases, not aggressive nor smart!!

[Rich]

A
Really
Overrated
Dud

[Good Vibrations]

This team needed a Lou Pinella to light a flame under their "ices" Not Joe Giardi. Sweet Lou would have never stood FOR this nonesnse. Never. Just look where the Cubs are this year. It only took Lou 2 seasons to make the cubbies good. Injuries on the Yankees my brown. Tampa Bay has had injuries. Last time I looked they were in 1st place. A-rod makes more money than entire Tampa Bay roaster and he can't hit the clutch to save his life. He is useless

[vinnie]

"the best ball player in baseball"give me a break
You can take all the home runs and all the base hits etc.and put it up your A**.Its what you had
done to win a ball game,"the best ball player in baseball"

[Muhammad]

Are you kidding? A-Rod was constantly booed in 2006 with the fielding problems and failed hitting with RISP.. to complete that horrible year he batted 7th in the final playoff loss to the Tigers..

[NYStateOfMind]

Good Vibrations wrote:

This team needed a Lou Pinella to light a flame under their "ices" Not Joe Giardi. Sweet Lou would have never stood FOR this nonesnse. Never. Just look where the Cubs are this year. It only took Lou 2 seasons to make the cubbies good. Injuries on the Yankees my brown. Tampa Bay has had injuries. Last time I looked they were in 1st place. A-rod makes more money than entire Tampa Bay roaster and he can't hit the clutch to save his life. He is useless

Uh, let's wait until the playoffs and see how well "Sweet" Lou and the Cubs perform. History is not on the Cubs' side in the post season.While I like Lou, I don't think you are factoring in the injuries to Chieng-Ming Wang, Jorge Posada, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy being a complete bust this season...

In my view, no manager can overcome those losses or missed expectations and win, regardless if they can, as you say, "light a flame under their ices"...

[edwardo]

they were done the moment they (cashman & company) put hitting over pitching

[Bobby Clarkes Gums]

When Big Papi, Albert Pujols or Manny Ramirez come up to the plate with the bases loaded, you cringe and assess how much damage is coming.

When A-Rod Comes up with the bases loaded....you WAIT or EXPECT a GIDP, a pop up, a strikeout looking, etc. You're SURPRISED when he gets a hit.
Not a clutch player, the aforementioned players are.

[San Diego Keith]

In what your manager deems the most important game of the season, the "fantasy best" player in baseball goes 0-5 2 double plays, 6 left on base and 0-3 with chances to tie the game. The ghosts of Ruth, Mantle and Gehrig are going to curse this team for 100 years for allowing him to disgrace the pinstripes he wears. I hope he caught something from Madonna!