Error-Rod no more
Calling him the best all around player in the game is not much of a stretch. He hits for power and average, has speed and plays excellent defense with a cannon of an arm.
He is always an MVP candidate and this year is no different.
Alex Rodriguez has built-up quite the resume in his 13-years as a Major Leaguer. Eleven all-star games, two American League (AL) MVP's, two Golden Gloves and eight Silver Slugger awards has made him not only one of the biggest threats in the AL, but one of the most feared players in the game.
Although Rodriguez has hit 52 home runs at the time this article was written with 140 RBI's, he still faces critics. Fans often say he is not as good as he thinks he is, or that he is only playing for the money. This could not be further from the truth. The reason why A-Rod has faced so much controversy over the past few months is only because he upset the all so perfect and innocent Toronto Blue Jays.
On May 30, 2007, Rodriguez was rounding second base and on his way to third when he supposedly said “mine,” as Jays third baseman Howie Clarke was parked under a fly ball on the infield. Clarke immediately moved out of the way and let the ball drop. Jays fans, like any Toronto fans, did not see this as a great play, but rather as a missed opportunity to get an out, which seems to come hard if you're a Toronto Blue Jay. A-Rods play was not only a smart move, but it had a great influence on the game and the rest to come between the Jay and Yanks.
Since the incident, Toronto has only been able to concentrate on getting him hit by a pitch instead of getting crucial wins in a wild card race, which they were still in at the time of the play.
If you ask me, I say Clarke was in the wrong. I'm a ball player myself and I know that if you're camped under a fly ball in the infield, and have called out to catch the ball, you don't let anyone call you off. Also, these guys play 160 games a year and become close with their teammates, which means Clark should distinguish that it was A-Rod saying “mine” instead of his short stop John MacDonald.
The truth is that if this were to happen to any other team in the league we wouldn't have a problem because any other third baseman would have just done his job and caught the ball. Which begs the question; How many times does this happen and we don't even hear about it? As much as Toronto fans don't want to hear it, and as Bob McCowan has said in the past, “They are either incredibly loyal or incredibly stupid.” For me the emphasis is on the stupid part.
Rodriguez is 32-years-old and has hit 516 home runs, Barry Bonds is 43 and has recently just passed Hank Aarons record of 755. Rodriguez is on pace to hit 59 this year, if he was to hit 40 for the next six years of his career he would pass Aaron with 756, and if he plays as long as Bonds, he will probably not only beat the record but shatter it. His years of stealing bags and winning gold gloves as a shortstop may be over, but Rodriguez's quest to become the greatest player to ever play the game is just beginning.
He is always an MVP candidate and this year is no different.
Alex Rodriguez has built-up quite the resume in his 13-years as a Major Leaguer. Eleven all-star games, two American League (AL) MVP's, two Golden Gloves and eight Silver Slugger awards has made him not only one of the biggest threats in the AL, but one of the most feared players in the game.
Although Rodriguez has hit 52 home runs at the time this article was written with 140 RBI's, he still faces critics. Fans often say he is not as good as he thinks he is, or that he is only playing for the money. This could not be further from the truth. The reason why A-Rod has faced so much controversy over the past few months is only because he upset the all so perfect and innocent Toronto Blue Jays.
On May 30, 2007, Rodriguez was rounding second base and on his way to third when he supposedly said “mine,” as Jays third baseman Howie Clarke was parked under a fly ball on the infield. Clarke immediately moved out of the way and let the ball drop. Jays fans, like any Toronto fans, did not see this as a great play, but rather as a missed opportunity to get an out, which seems to come hard if you're a Toronto Blue Jay. A-Rods play was not only a smart move, but it had a great influence on the game and the rest to come between the Jay and Yanks.
Since the incident, Toronto has only been able to concentrate on getting him hit by a pitch instead of getting crucial wins in a wild card race, which they were still in at the time of the play.
If you ask me, I say Clarke was in the wrong. I'm a ball player myself and I know that if you're camped under a fly ball in the infield, and have called out to catch the ball, you don't let anyone call you off. Also, these guys play 160 games a year and become close with their teammates, which means Clark should distinguish that it was A-Rod saying “mine” instead of his short stop John MacDonald.
The truth is that if this were to happen to any other team in the league we wouldn't have a problem because any other third baseman would have just done his job and caught the ball. Which begs the question; How many times does this happen and we don't even hear about it? As much as Toronto fans don't want to hear it, and as Bob McCowan has said in the past, “They are either incredibly loyal or incredibly stupid.” For me the emphasis is on the stupid part.
Rodriguez is 32-years-old and has hit 516 home runs, Barry Bonds is 43 and has recently just passed Hank Aarons record of 755. Rodriguez is on pace to hit 59 this year, if he was to hit 40 for the next six years of his career he would pass Aaron with 756, and if he plays as long as Bonds, he will probably not only beat the record but shatter it. His years of stealing bags and winning gold gloves as a shortstop may be over, but Rodriguez's quest to become the greatest player to ever play the game is just beginning.
