Why the Yankees Will Go Nowhere in 2012 Without a Productive Alex Rodriguez
July 26, 2012 · Stephen Skinner · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
There’s no one that divides the passions of a fanbase more than Alex Rodriguez does with New York Yankees faithful, yet there may be no one more critical to their team’s success.
Rodriguez has been a lightning rod since joining the Yankees in 2004. The 10-year, $275 million contract he signed in 2007 created high expectations for the former Mariner/Ranger and polarized New York fans.
In his first six seasons in pinstripes, he seemingly lived up to the high bar set with his contract as the shortstop-turned-third baseman averaged 38 HR and 120 RBI while winning the MVP award twice.
Since 2011, age and injuries have caught up to the high-paid superstar as he has managed to only appear in 193 of 324 regular season games (roughly just 60 percent of the last season and a half). That has only added fodder to a growing mass of cynical Yankees fans.
On Tuesday the team lost Rodriguez for an extended period of time when he was hit by an 88 mph changeup from Felix Hernandez of the Mariners. It resulted in a non-displaced fracture of his left hand and only added to the Yankees injury woes of 2012.
It couldn’t have happened at a worse moment for “A-Rod” as he was in the midst of a West Coast swing where it appeared he had finally “hit his groove”. He had been 9-for-23 on the trip (.391 average), and had rebounded from a rough June that saw him hit just .232 by hitting .315 for the month of July.
Perhaps more importantly, it looked like Rodriguez had regained his power stroke by raising his slugging percentage 30 points during the month.
In spite of what his critics may believe, “A-Rod” has become a necessity to the success of the Yankees, and without his presence in their lineup the club is destined to another disappointing ending to a season.
Hitting third in the order the majority of the time, Rodriguez has a .320 average from that spot, and he provides valuable protection for the second hitter. The results are noteworthy as the hitters immediately in front of him have combined for 28 HR this season—the most from any part of the New York Yankees’ order.
Against American League rivals (and potential playoff opponents) Detroit, Texas, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, and Boston, Rodriguez has hit a solid .285 and clubbed seven of his 15 HR. If the Yankees can weather their rash of injuries to play in October, the success “A-Rod” has shown against the other contenders will be necessary for a run to the pennant.
Without Alex in the lineup, the Yankees must now play a “matchup” game at the hot corner with Eric Chavez getting the majority of the starts. While Chavez is a good fielder and a better than average hitter, he is injury prone and lacks the ability to solely carry a team in the way Rodriguez can when he is “hot”.
Without him in the lineup the order lacks some of the intimidating “punch” at its heart, and players are shifted to spots that they are either unaccustomed to (Granderson hitting fifth for example), or do not belong.
In the short term the Yankees may experience success without Alex Rodriguez in their lineup, but in the long run the season can never realize its full potential.
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