Maybe 3 HRs in two games against Tampa isn't grounds for ending the MVP conversation, particularly on a night when potential vote-stealer Manny Ramirez comes up with 2 HRs of his own... but barring a major collapse by the Sox (not just losing the division, but losing it spectacularly) the MVP race has to be over. No one among Papi's primary competition (A-Scrod, Manny, Vlad) is having his best-ever season, as Papi is, nor is any of them having a better September than Papi. Additionally, he has raised himself into Bonds Territory with his late-season power numbers... as if Ortiz wasn't already the best clutch hitter in Red Sox history, now his heroics are comparable to Barry Bonds'. This race was up for grabs on September 1st, and Papi has grabbed harder than anyone since then. He has separated himself from the pack... he's not simply a great player having a great season, he's making himself memorable when it matters the most.
On that subject, for all that A-Rod is the most complete hitter in baseball, isn't it interesting that the "don't pitch to THIS guy" thing has never happened to him? It's not like he doesn't hit clutch HRs... shouldn't the most complete hitter in baseball strike fear into pitchers' hearts? Could it be that his increased prowess while the Yankees are already winning has diluted the fear factor? Pitchers absolutely lose their shit at the sight of David Ortiz or Barry Bonds; A-Rod is a better hitter than both of them. But they've hit so many game-deciding HRs in the late innings that people can't even remember the other ones... A-Rod, meanwhile, is better known for his 10 RBI game (a game the Yankees won by eight) than for being a game-changer. Maybe he'll overcome the stigma in time, but I don't think he will... it's just not his style. But I do think the rumblings about A-Rod's ineffectiveness will reach DEFCON 2 if he doesn't take the pennant all by himself this season. If they miss the playoffs, after the pitching they've gotten from Small Wang and Chacon, A-Rod will spend more time dodging criticism than hitting balls.
On that subject, for all that A-Rod is the most complete hitter in baseball, isn't it interesting that the "don't pitch to THIS guy" thing has never happened to him? It's not like he doesn't hit clutch HRs... shouldn't the most complete hitter in baseball strike fear into pitchers' hearts? Could it be that his increased prowess while the Yankees are already winning has diluted the fear factor? Pitchers absolutely lose their shit at the sight of David Ortiz or Barry Bonds; A-Rod is a better hitter than both of them. But they've hit so many game-deciding HRs in the late innings that people can't even remember the other ones... A-Rod, meanwhile, is better known for his 10 RBI game (a game the Yankees won by eight) than for being a game-changer. Maybe he'll overcome the stigma in time, but I don't think he will... it's just not his style. But I do think the rumblings about A-Rod's ineffectiveness will reach DEFCON 2 if he doesn't take the pennant all by himself this season. If they miss the playoffs, after the pitching they've gotten from Small Wang and Chacon, A-Rod will spend more time dodging criticism than hitting balls.
posted by Jeff at
2:55 PM
2 Comments:
Agreed. 1.288 OPS, .836 slugging in september. Plus, for the old-school stat types, his season BA is finally above .300.
For the record, ARod's September OPS is .998, .586 slugging... very nice, but you're right... Ortiz is living in Bonds country right now (it's a big country).
Game over.
Nice Small Wang reference, too.
By
Alex, at 5:01 PM
Small Wang... Big Unit.
By
Jeff, at 11:05 PM
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