Leave A-Rod Alone
A-Rod is not the only who tenses whenever he comes to bat, especially in a clutch situation. I tense, awaiting the fan reaction should he make an out. Every at-bat has become a referendum on A-Rod. He hit a game-winning homerun on Wednesday, and the honeymoon wasn't even a honeymoon. He was booed the next game. He slugged two homeruns last night, including a clutch go-ahead grand slam in the third inning, but will that buy him some slack from fans? Doubt it. Jorge Posada grounds into a double play with the bases loaded and no one out and no one blinks an eye. A-Rod does the same and the boos rain down. The misperception is that he fails to come through in the clutch - the numbers show that he actually does produce in the clutch, including thirteen career grand slams - and the fans expect him to do something on every at-bat and every time he comes up in a meaningful situation. These are absurd expectations. The best players fail seven out of ten times. A-Rod is no different. I am no huge fan of A-Rod, but the abuse he has taken has put me in his corner now. Fans need to cut him a break.