CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez Lead Way for New York Yankees
March 20, 2011 · Larry Barnes · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
There was good news all over the place on Sunday afternoon, as the New York Yankees hammered the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1, in Grapefruit League action.
Start with the starter, Yankee ace CC Sabathia, who looked in midseason form. During his time on the bump, Sabathia allowed only one run (on a solo homer to Jimmy Rollins) on six hits and one walk, while striking out five.
That proved plenty good enough for the Bombers’ offense, which scored early and often en route to an 8-1 drubbing of the team many consider the heavy favorites to win the World Series this season.
Speaking of offense, what more can be said about the spring Alex Rodriguez is having? The third baseman homered for the fifth time this spring, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. A-Rod has hit safely in every game in which he’s played this spring.
More important than the raw numbers is the WAY Rodriguez is finding his success, with Sunday’s home run was a perfect example. ARod’s bomb came on an inside fastball—a pitch that has consistently beaten Rodriguez for at least the last two years.
One of the clearest signs you’ll find with Rodriguez is whether or not that inside fastball beats him consistently. When ARod is physically able to turn on that pitch and drive it with authority, he’s on his way to a big year.
Several months ago, Rodriguez was finally given the green light to, for the first time since hip surgery two years ago, go full out with his offseason exercise program. As a result, he dropped weight and body fat this winter, and he’s not getting consistently beaten by the inside fastball anymore.
Also of note for the Yankees‘ bats today was Mark Teixeira, who homered just in front of A-Rod’s blast, and Eric Chavez, who pounded an RBI double off the wall in right-center field today. Chavez is raking the ball this spring (.371). If he stays healthy (always a question with him), the Yankees may have struck gold.
The good news for the Yankees didn’t stop there. Boone Logan, pitching in a game for the first time since being shut down with “back spasms,” pitched a perfect inning today, striking out the side in the ninth. Setup man Rafael Soriano kept his perfect spring ERA intact as well, working a perfect eighth inning.
Courtesy of Yankees ‘n More
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