[ThePundit]

When your a Yankee, you are judged by what you do in October - not in June. In that light, A-Rod has failed as a Yankee.

Sure, A-Rod is a great player. But many of his stats are compiled in meaningless blowouts.

In the 2004 post-season, he disappeared at the end of the Red Sox series including that play at 1st base when he knocked the ball out of Arroyo's hands. Last year against the Angels, HE HIT .133, NO HOMERS, NO RBI'S! And then ironically, a few weeks later he won the MVP. I'm surprised he even showed up to receive his award. I thought he might be ashamed.

That' s why when you ask any Yankee fan who they want at the plate in a big spot in the playoffs: Derek Jeter or A-Rod, 90% will say Jeter. I don't care if Jeter hits .220 in the regular season. In the post season, he always comes up big.

A-Rod is the opposite. But he can change that portrayal of himself. All he has to do is carry the team on his back to a championship. Hey - he wanted to come here, now he has to live with the consequences.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

A-Rod's numbers are empty numbers. Stat heads can argue that there's no such thing as a "clutch" performer, but those guys should watch David Ortiz's performance late in close games, and then watch A-Rod's. I'd challenge them to then make the same argument.

[wvuauthor]

I see where you fellas are coming from. I also get tired of hearing the saying that there is no such thing as a clutch peformer. If that's not what its called, what is it?

Bottom line is A-Rod needs to prove that he can be consistent come October.

[PrideoftheYankees]

What do you think A-Rod and fan reaction would be if Steinbrenner called him Mr May, as he did Winfield under similar circumstances?

[legend]

that A-Rod used to absolutely kill the Yankees. They could never get him out, whether with Seattle or Texas. I would like to see him quiet his critics, but until he does he will be singled out. Of the four major sports, baseball is the one where players that are not clutch stand out the most.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

When your a Yankee, you are judged by what you do in October - not in June. In that light, A-Rod has failed as a Yankee.

Sure, A-Rod is a great player. But many of his stats are compiled in meaningless blowouts.

In the 2004 post-season, he disappeared at the end of the Red Sox series including that play at 1st base when he knocked the ball out of Arroyo's hands. Last year against the Angels, HE HIT .133, NO HOMERS, NO RBI'S! And then ironically, a few weeks later he won the MVP. I'm surprised he even showed up to receive his award. I thought he might be ashamed.

That' s why when you ask any Yankee fan who they want at the plate in a big spot in the playoffs: Derek Jeter or A-Rod, 90% will say Jeter. I don't care if Jeter hits .220 in the regular season. In the post season, he always comes up big.

A-Rod is the opposite. But he can change that portrayal of himself. All he has to do is carry the team on his back to a championship. Hey - he wanted to come here, now he has to live with the consequences.

Utterly amazing...this from a crowd I could not pull out of a "who's the best hitter in baseball, A-Rod or Pujols" discussion no matter how hard I tried...and suddenly the name Ortiz pops in there, and A-Rod is over-rated... ...are you sure this is the same board?...Brotherlyshove I could have used that kind of thinking about a week ago...so are we now saying that maybe...just maybe...there may be a third candidate in the who is the best hitter discussion? ...be still my heart, for there is hope

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Rodriguez definitely hasn't been clutch in the postseason with the Yankees. But, on the other hand, neither has the entire Yankees team. I mean, when you're up 3-0 over the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS, then you don't even need clutch.

That, and it's been how long since the Yankees "team" has won a WS?

[legend]

History, when it gets far enough away from a player like Rodriguez, will judge him solely on his numbers. The Hall of Fame is full of guys like him- Wade Boggs jumps out at me, players that compile great numbers but don't produce in the big spots. Boggs biggest moment was a walk against the Braves in 1996! Until he does carry a team to a title, or at least contribute to a championship, Rodriguez will be thought of as a choke. I have never seen a player, one that is supposed to be perhaps the best in the game, swing and miss as much as he does! I am a fervent Yankee fan, and hope he comes thru this year.

[MVB]

Oh not again!!! *groans* This whole "A-Rod is overrated" thing is stupid! He's probably the second best hitter on the face of the earth... he hits around 50 home runs, hits 130-150 RBIs, scores 200+ runs, and steals approximately 20 bases! How can he possibly be "overrated"?????

Yes, he isn't a clutch hitter.... but no one ever said he was! The media portrays him as a SLUGGER, RUN PRODUCER, and GOLD GLOVER! And that is exactly what he is!! Rodriguez drives in the runs.... Jeter does the clutch hitting...

A-Rod has won 2 MVP awards and 2 Gold Gloves... He has been an All-Star representative multiple times...

How could he be overrated????

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by MVB

Oh not again!!! *groans* This whole "A-Rod is overrated" thing is stupid! He's probably the second best hitter on the face of the earth... he hits around 50 home runs, hits 130-150 RBIs, scores 200+ runs, and steals approximately 20 bases! How can he possibly be "overrated"?????

Yes, he isn't a clutch hitter.... but no one ever said he was! The media portrays him as a SLUGGER, RUN PRODUCER, and GOLD GLOVER! And that is exactly what he is!! Rodriguez drives in the runs.... Jeter does the clutch hitting...

A-Rod has won 2 MVP awards and 2 Gold Gloves... He has been an All-Star representative multiple times...

How could he be overrated????

MVB, they mean "overrated," as in they wish he played for their team... ...Its called A-Rod envy...

[MVB]

I see... Now that, I can understand.

[Grozny]

Sounds like some of you enjoy drinking haterade, especially when it comes to A-Rod. So, one is "overrated" if they fail to keep their season form in the playoffs, yes? Say hello to the most overrated player in the history of baseball then.



Oh, that's right. I said it! "Say Hey" Willie Mays was overrated x 10. I mean, the guy no where near clutch. Let's look at the stats, shall we?

Mays: 25 post season games, .247 BA, 6 extra base hits, 1 HR! Yes, one lousy, pathetic, useless HR.

Rodriguez: 31 post season games, .305 BA, 15 extra base hits, 6 HR's.

Yes, bring up the fact that these days players not only play more games in the post season (or potentially) but they do play "weaker" teams; therefore, the stats may be a bit inflated. Still, would you not take Mays because he wasn't "clutch" enough? I thought so

If some of you mean that A-Rod is over hyped then welcome to the new age in sports where even the water boy's prom date is over hyped.

Thanks for playing though.

[ThePundit]

MVP: I'm a Yankee fan but be fair: A-Rod tends to pile on stats when they don't count. He had ZERO RBI's against the Angels in the playoffs.

Compare that to Jeter, who puts up no where near the numbers that A-Rod does in the regular season but comes through when the games count in October.

Let me ask you this: One at bat: Life on the line in the playoffs: Who do you want at the plate? A-Rod or Jeter? The fact that you can even think about something like that gives you an idea of why so many people think A-Rod is "overrated."

[MVB]

You are using the wrong word! A-Rod is not clutch... And on that, I agree with you. Game on the line, I'd choose Jeter. But you are using the term overrated... A-Rod is rated by the media as a slugger and run-producer... That is what he is. If someone said: "A-Rod is the best clutch-hitter in baseball", then THAT would be overrating him.

[Lefty Noob]

Interesting debate. Certainly, A-Rod is overhyped. The kid can flat out play, but he is not a clutch player. The same has been said about Bonds throughout his career, as well as many other great players. But as MVB points out, technically, that's not what being overrated is all about. Overrated is all show, no go -- the kind a guy that the media falls in love with even though he's a player with obvious flaws. When I think of overrated players, I think of guys like Mike Piazza, who basically is a one-dimensional presence on a baseball team and a serious defensive liability. Definitely Piazza fits more in the "overrated" category than A-Rod, don't you think?