Grading, Analyzing Alex Rodriguez’s Spring Training on Brink of Opening Day
April 2, 2015 · Jason Catania · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
A number of hot topics have since taken over Major League Baseball’s headlines more recently, including Kris Bryant’s demotion, Josh Hamilton’s relapse, season-ending injuries to Yu Darvish, Zack Wheeler and Marcus Stroman and Pete Rose’s appeal for reinstatement.
But for a moment, think back to the very start of spring training. What was the story everyone couldn’t get enough of?
That’s right: The return to baseball of the ever-polarizing Alex Rodriguez in the aftermath of his season-long suspension.
Well, it’s time to catch up with Rodriguez, his performance this February and March and his role with the New York Yankees now that the regular season is about to start.
One of the things Rodriguez did while serving out his season-long suspension last year was go back to school and take classes at the University of Miami, as reported by J.R. Moehringer in ESPN The Magazine. Hey, he even apparently scored a 44 on his first test before bringing his grade up to a B within a few weeks.
In the spirit of that, let’s hand out some more grades for Rodriguez based on his spring training showing.
Offense
To the shock of many, including the Yankees decision-makers themselves, not only has this aspect of his game not been a problem, Rodriguez actually has a case as being—get this—the club’s most productive hitter of the exhibition season.
To wit, Rodriguez has gone 12-for-39, which computes to a .308 average, and he is tied with Chase Headley for the team lead with three homers.
On top of that, Rodriguez has registered a very robust .426 on-base percentage on the strength of eight walks (tied for second), and his .564 slugging percentage is fourth-best among all Yankees with at least 30 plate appearances.
Then there’s the fact that Rodriguez, who struggled mightily at times to catch up to fastballs the last time he played competitively in the second half of 2013, has struck out only eight times in his 47 trips (17 percent).
It should be noted, too, that Rodriguez has been facing a number of major league pitchers, as well as those with experience in the high minors—his opponent quality score, per Baseball-Reference.com, suggests as much—so it’s not like he’s just feasting on low-level arms.
The approach, plate discipline and ability to work counts in order to find pitches to drive—all of it has been there so far.
“Overall for me, the more pitches I get, the more at-bats I get, the better,” Rodriguez told Jack Curry of YES Network in mid-March.
In other words, Rodriguez has made an effort to make the most out of his time in the batter’s box, understanding that finding his rhythm and timing again was going to be the biggest challenge after a year away from the game.
Considering that Rodriguez’s bat is what is going to determine his playing time going forward—not to mention how badly the lefty-heavy Yankees lineup needs capable right-handed hitters—all of the above is a very good sign that he can contribute in 2015.
Grade: A-
Defense
In many ways, it’s unfair to evaluate or (especially) grade Rodriguez on his work in the field because he’s spent most of his time playing designated hitter.
In fact, he has logged all of 24 innings on defense, seeing most of his limited action at third base, his usual position, where he has looked decent enough. Rodriguez has handled only eight chances total, but he’s done so cleanly.
That said, Rodriguez’s range at third can best be described as step-and-a-dive at this stage of his career, 20 years in. He always has had good hands and a strong arm, though, so he’ll make the play when he gets to the ball on the rare occasions he’s asked to play the hot corner.
There’s also been a new development here, as Rodriguez has seen some action at first base, where he made his initial appearance Sunday. The position is entirely new to him, as Rodriguez hasn’t played anything other than shortstop and third base in his professional career.
Asked to assess his defensive performance this spring, Rodriguez told Curry, “I think I’ve done OK. That’s a slower process for me. My job is to work really hard and be prepared, that way when [third baseman] Chase [Headley] and [first baseman] Mark [Teixeira] need a blow, Joe feels confident going to me.”
If nothing else, Rodriguez showed he can don a glove and play first.
“Fielding ground balls, I’m not worried about that. Really, I’m not,” manager Joe Girardi said, via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, about Rodriguez’s initial test at first base. “Catching the ball, I’m not worried about that. I’d think he’d be pretty good around the bag, even scooping, because you get a lot of those hot shots at first base [that you also get at third base].”
Rodriguez won’t bring much, if any, defensive value or versatility to the Yankees, but he at least can play in the field on occasion, which counts for something. And he gets extra credit for trying to learn a new position on the fly.
Grade: C+
Running
Look, the man is 39 years old—he’ll be 40 in July—and he’s operating (no pun intended) on not one but two surgically repaired hips.
In other words, how do you think Rodriguez’s running is going to go?
On one hand, he hasn’t attempted a stolen base (nor should he, really). But on the other, he hasn’t grounded into any double plays, either.
Don’t count on too many first-to-thirds on singles or instances where he scores from first on a double. But Rodriguez can get down the line, and baserunning savvy and know-how isn’t the sort of skill that just goes bye-bye. He just will have to learn and know his limits rather than push them.
Grade: C
Makeup
This one doesn’t necessarily factor in on the field of play as much as the other three areas. But makeup is a particularly big aspect for Rodriguez, even more so coming off all of the—let’s call it what it is—cheating, lying and denying, aggressive attacking he did for much of 2013 while under investigation for the Biogenesis scandal and then after the initial 211-game suspension (later reduced to just the 2014 season) was announced.
Things actually didn’t start off all that well for Rodriguez, who initially chose to present a handwritten letter of apology rather than face the press in person.
He then reportedly angered some higher-ups in the Yankees organization by coming to camp a few days earlier than the club was expecting (which, to be fair, isn’t exactly a bad thing).
Upon meeting with the media at the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa Bay, Rodriguez also didn’t get into specifics when it came to what he had done and why he was sorry. He did, however, have a legitimate question-and-answer session and didn’t say anything outlandish or regrettable. Baby steps.
And give Rodriguez credit for keeping his head down, working hard and trying to get past what was a very ugly suspension and situation over the better part of the past two years.
And for what it’s worth, he earned praise from—and had the ear of—two of the Yankees’ best prospects, outfielder Aaron Judge and first baseman Greg Bird, for his role as a teacher/mentor always ready and willing to share information and insight.
“At lunch the other day,” Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com wrote in mid-March, “A-Rod said he sat with Bird and Judge talking about the game. The youngsters asked more questions and listened.”
“I’m really just enjoying every moment like I’m a rookie again,” Rodriguez said to Curry.
Grade: B
Overall
Admittedly, the bottom line is that Rodriguez has looked a heck of a lot better than most anyone justifiably could have expected when spring training began six weeks ago. That alone earns him a little bit of a bonus, as does the fact that Rodriguez has—for once—done a good job of keeping the focus about him not only to a minimum, especially lately, but also on the field instead of off it.
Grade: B
If you’re feeling generous and want to grade on a curve, considering Rodriguez’s age, injury history and full-year suspension—not to mention, how he’s fared amid all of the criticism and negative attention—then a B-plus wouldn’t be out of the question.
Either way, the main takeaway is this: A-Rod passed.
Statistics are accurate through Wednesday, April 1, and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter:@JayCat11
Read more New York Yankees news on BleacherReport.com
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
