Not only is Alex Rodriguez getting swamped in the AL All-Star balloting by the Rays’ Evan Longoria, if you go by the on-field numbers, A-Rod isn’t even the best third baseman in New York these days.
That honor belongs to the Mets’ David Wright. A-Rod’s sore groin/hip flexor tendinitis isn’t the only issue right now for the Yankees’ third baseman.
It’s time for A-Rod to step it up in a big way. Rodriguez needs a “Look At Me” Subway Series this weekend at Yankee Stadium to get his season going, especially after the Yankees last night had another night when the offense didn’t show up in an ugly 7-1 loss to the Phillies.
A-Rod always has been Wright’s biggest fan, but now Wright has better numbers than Rodriguez. A-Rod has looked, in a word, ordinary. His only hit last night was a sixth-inning single. He’s still searching for that explosiveness in his bat, explosiveness that is generated from his back hip.
Rodriguez has only eight home runs; 79 players have hit more. Wright owns 12. Wright is hitting .289. Rodriguez is batting .290, but Wright’s 53 RBIs lead the NL, while A-Rod has 44 RBIs on a club that has scored a major league best 367 runs. The Mets have scored 304 runs.
Wright also has a better slugging percentage, .519 to Rodriguez’s .481. He has 123 total bases to Rodriguez’s 111. A-Rod has struck out 39 times while Wright owns 78 Ks.
Although Wright has made eight errors to Rodriguez’s five, he has covered more ground this year than A-Rod, especially going to his right. A-Rod is not moving nearly as well around the bag.
Wright, 27, is out-shining A-Rod who will turn 35 next month.
Rodriguez has the opportunity to take back his New York crown, but it’s going to take a much stronger performance. All you need to know about A-Rod’s hip is that in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to the Phillies, he doubled and slid head-first into second when there was no play on him.
That move tells you he is being super cautious with the hip.
“He’s just not the same A-Rod,” said one scout at last night’s game. “He doesn’t have that explosiveness.”
Rodriguez is in 600 home-run territory and needs to make sure he does not have any more hip problems. It’s smart to be cautious.
He was the designated hitter again last night but expects to return to third tonight.
A-Rod loves to be the star of the show. It’s his nature. This is what motivates him.
He is chasing 600, but he’s also chasing himself.
So far he hasn’t matched up to Wright. Rodriguez has to come up with some big hits, some big-time explosiveness in his bat.
This is a good weekend for A-Rod to start hitting like A-Rod.