The Broom
It's even more than I dared to hope for - The Yankees took all 5 games against Boston. At Fenway. Sweeeet!
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It's even more than I dared to hope for - The Yankees took all 5 games against Boston. At Fenway. Sweeeet!
Ok, I don't really mean the headline, it's just a sensational eye-grabber and clever play on words. Still, after being one of A-Rod's strongest defenders, I can't really support him these days. It's not that he sucks - though in the field he does - but just that he's not having an A-Rod-type season. Batting under .300 with just 25 homeruns and 91 RBIs. Fine numbers for just about anyone else. Not for him. He should have 35 homeruns, 110 to 115 RBIs, and a batting average in the .300s. And I'd like to see more clutch play out him. Some lights out moments in big situations. Not eh moments like a sacrifice fly or a lucky double or a walk. A boom! moment. A grand slam homerun when he's up in the first inning and one out, not a lousy double play. Manny corked a three-run shot in the 4th today, a moment you could see coming a mile away when Johnson lost his control. Why not A-Rod? He's having a decent series so far, but unless he's bigger, fans will remember this as another opportunity when he wasn't truly clutch and will torment him some more. Does he deserve boos? Sure, when he makes another lame error, but otherwise, no. But he doesn't deserve any cheers either.
Been ages since I posted. Not since before the Abreu trade.
In my last post, I said the Yankees shouldn't do anything at the trade deadline except try to snag a role player and a Paul-Byrd-type for the rotation. They sort of listened to me. They picked up Craig Wilson as a sometimes first baseman and outfielder and landed Cory Lidle to prop up the back end of the rotation. Of course, as we all know, the Yankees also scored Abreu in what would be the biggest deadline deal.
Despite my reservations - the Bombers had held the fort this long, why couldn't they hold it a bit longer; what it could mean to the Melk Man - Abreu has been terrific. Where Sheffield is an RBI machine, Abreau is an on-base machine. I've lost count of how many times he's been on base this series vs. the Red Sox, but it's been a lot. His addition and the return of Cano have really lengthened the Yankees line-up. There's not an out to be found anywhere. At least not an easy out
That said I do have one reservation about Abreu: his paltry power numbers. He had only 8 homeruns with the Phillies, and in 19 games in Pinstripes, he has only one homerun and 8 RBIs. With that meager production, he's more suited to be a lead-off hitter. Maybe the Yanks should swap him and Damon, who's putting up numbers worthy of a number three hitter. The Bombers might bomb even more than they have in the last three games. Although, who am I really to complain. They've torched the Red Sox so far. Shouldn't be too greedy.