A-Rod

[redtodd 7]

Man, can this guy not handle pressure? He has been sitting on 500 HR's all week and can rise up for it. His team tonight scored 16 tonight and he went 0-5.

 

If he was at 476 HR's, he would have no problem, but once the spotlight goes on him and everyone is watching, he chokes.

[Yer mom 2]

Dude, he hit 3 to the warning track tonight, its only been like 14 at bats since 499

[TommyGavin 790]

Man, can this guy not handle pressure? He has been sitting on 500 HR's all week and can rise up for it. His team tonight scored 16 tonight and he went 0-5.

 

If he was at 476 HR's, he would have no problem, but once the spotlight goes on him and everyone is watching, he chokes.

 

 

8 HRs as a team but 0 for GheyRod

[GettnHuge 2]

ya he sux

[NewbieJr 541]

Although I am a big ARod fan, redtodd is absolutely correct.

 

ARod has never been big in presure situations. Whether it be a big moment for his team or big for him, personally.

 

The Yankees are playing well, so he isn't costing them games, but since he's standing on 499, it is a pressure situation, for him, and...as always... he is wilting under the pressure.

 

Before his career is over, he is going to have the best statistics in major league history. However, until he finds a way to get tough when the going gets tough, he will never really be considered baseball's best-ever player. He may not even make the top ten.

[Franknbeans 46]

Wait until September when his whole game goes in the tank

[Sho Nuff 720]

Although I am a big ARod fan, redtodd is absolutely correct.

 

ARod has never been big in presure situations. Whether it be a big moment for his team or big for him, personally.

 

The Yankees are playing well, so he isn't costing them games, but since he's standing on 499, it is a pressure situation, for him, and...as always... he is wilting under the pressure.

 

Before his career is over, he is going to have the best statistics in major league history. However, until he finds a way to get tough when the going gets tough, he will never really be considered baseball's best-ever player. He may not even make the top ten.

 

Umm...how many 9th inning HRs does he have this year or game winning or go ahead RBIs?

 

It has not even been that long since 499.

[NewbieJr 541]

Umm...how many 9th inning HRs does he have this year or game winning or go ahead RBIs?

 

It has not even been that long since 499.

He doesn't even have a base hit since 499.

 

Read my post history on ARod. I'm a huge supporter, but it's more than a coincidence that he wilts everytime the heat is on. He needs to overcome that shortcoming.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Wow...a guy has never gone 5 games without a HR or a hit before.

 

And he has walked 6 times.

 

Bonds has gone 3 games with only 1 hit since 754...

 

So what?

[NewbieJr 541]

Wow...a guy has never gone 5 games without a HR or a hit before.

 

And he has walked 6 times.

 

Bonds has gone 3 games with only 1 hit since 754...

 

So what?

You're missing the point (and obviously haven't follwed ARod's history)

ARod is not "a guy". He is baseball's best hitter. He has been absolutely ON FIRE this season. Especially in July. Suddenly, he gets to HR 499 and he magically becomes Richie Sexson. This isn't a one-time thing. It is his career tendency.

 

He'll be just fine. Eventually, he'll get a hold of one and all will be well in his world again. He will no longer need to press and he won't be up there over-analysizing things in his head. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up catching fire again in August.

But until that happens, he will be gripping the bat a little bit tighter with each at bat. His ears will pick up every fan who yells out the word "choker", and he will grow more and more anxious with each at bat. History tells us so.

[Sho Nuff 720]

You're missing the point (and obviously haven't follwed ARod's history)

ARod is not "a guy". He is baseball's best hitter. He has been absolutely ON FIRE this season. Especially in July. Suddenly, he gets to HR 499 and he magically becomes Richie Sexson. This isn't a one-time thing. It is his career tendency.

 

He'll be just fine. Eventually, he'll get a hold of one and all will be well in his world again. He will no longer need to press and he won't be up there over-analysizing things in his head. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up catching fire again in August.

But until that happens, he will be gripping the bat a little bit tighter with each at bat. His ears will pick up every fan who yells out the word "choker", and he will grow more and more anxious with each at bat. History tells us so.

 

I know his history in the postseason.

And know that this season he has been very good, even late.

But don't give me this suddenly he sucks thing.

Its been 5 games.

He had a 12 game stretch with 0 HRs and another stretch or two of several games without a HR and only scattering a few hits.

And he has walked 6 times.

 

I don't think it as much of a pressure thing...but he is going out trying to go yard rather than just relaxing and taking the hits that he was taking in the past. Which is why you are seeing more fly balls and warning track shots out of him.

 

Anyone calling him a choker for the past 5 games is a complete moron who knows nothing about baseball.

 

There are plenty of things to get on him for...this stretch is not one of them.

[KSB2424 3,148]

I know his history in the postseason.

And know that this season he has been very good, even late.

But don't give me this suddenly he sucks thing.

Its been 5 games.

He had a 12 game stretch with 0 HRs and another stretch or two of several games without a HR and only scattering a few hits.

And he has walked 6 times.

 

I don't think it as much of a pressure thing...but he is going out trying to go yard rather than just relaxing and taking the hits that he was taking in the past. Which is why you are seeing more fly balls and warning track shots out of him.

 

Anyone calling him a choker for the past 5 games is a complete moron who knows nothing about baseball.

 

There are plenty of things to get on him for...this stretch is not one of them.

Do you even read the posts? No one is saying ARod sucks. They are merely stating that as in the past, Arod has a tendency to not preform well under pressure. It is not just the fact that he is 0-17 since HR 499, but if you watched any of the game yesterday it was painfully obvious that he was pressing. His whole demeanor changes in pressure situations. It is simply an observation that is validated by his own performance (stats).

 

Why is it that everytime I read your posts I end up doing this?

[Sho Nuff 720]

Do you even read the posts? No one is saying ARod sucks. They are merely stating that as in the past, Arod has a tendency to not preform well under pressure. It is not just the fact that he is 0-17 since HR 499, but if you watched any of the game yesterday it was painfully obvious that he was pressing. His whole demeanor changes in pressure situations. It is simply an observation that is validated by his own performance (stats).

 

Why is it that everytime I read your posts I end up doing this?

 

 

He is pressing to hit a HR...nobody is doubting that. And that is the thing I am saying...if you would read my post. When he starts just going up there like he does any other at bat...he would be fine. Its not the "pressure" of hitting that HR...its that he is trying to hit that HR rather than going into an at bat looking to get a hit or something else. He is just looking for the HR...which is not his normal approach to an at bat.

 

And where do I claim that anyone said he sucks? Oh wait...I didn't.

 

And as I have said...he has performed in pressure situations this season. And this is not the first time the guy has had a bad stretch in his career...many times before without something like 500 sitting there in front of him.

[p.man 7]

I'm sure that anyone would press the same way he is in this type of situation.

 

You know you need 1 more hr, so it's in the back of your mind everytime you come to the plate.

He'll do it soon enough.

 

I'll tell you one thing though...It hasn't affected his fielding one bit. He's having a Gold Glove season at 3rd.

[RicemanX 20]

Did you hear his interview on sportscenter?

 

"I've never seen so many flashing cameras when I'm batting."

[redtodd 7]

Went 0-4 tonight. He is now under .300 hitting.

 

What was that about pressure?

[t.j 35]

8 HRs as a team but 0 for GheyRod

 

And he had what, 1/9th of the team's at-bats? God, he sucks.

[t.j 35]

You're missing the point (and obviously haven't follwed ARod's history)

ARod is not "a guy". He is baseball's best hitter. He has been absolutely ON FIRE this season. Especially in July.

 

Wrong!!!! He was much better in April and June than he was in July. He hit .206 in July with 7 HRs (1/5th of his season total). I guess that's on fire... for a Newbie.

[NewbieJr 541]

Wrong!!!! He was much better in April and June than he was in July. He hit .206 in July with 7 HRs (1/5th of his season total). I guess that's on fire... for a Newbie.

Yeah. Poor choice of words. He's been hot all year (with the exception of May). July numbers are scewed a bit because of the 0-15 after 499.

Other than that, I stand by every word in this thread.

In fact, last night's 0-4 further proves it.

[p.man 7]

It's only natural for someone to press while knowing that a milestone/history is about to happen for them.

Plus its a Hr that he knows will put him in the HOF.

 

The changing of the ball every time...All of the flashes going off on every pitch...

I think it could and has played a roll into why he hasn't hit it yet, and why he's 0-21 since hitting #499.

 

He has been putting the ball in play. Its not like he's striking out all the time.

It will happen soon enough.

 

Thats just my feeling.

[NewbieJr 541]

He has been putting the ball in play. Its not like he's striking out all the time.

It will happen soon enough.

 

Thats just my feeling.

I agree. He'll hit #500 and then the pressure will be off and he'll go on one of his 7 HRs in 10 games streaks. That's been ARod his entire career. He's one of the best hitters the game has ever seen, but he's very fragile, mentally.

 

I'm hoping he ends the season with close to 60.

[Vince44 205]

I think if A-rod played in the NBA he would be the classic example of a guy who wants NO part of the ball when you are down 2 with 15 seconds left.

[pingpong 0]

Did you hear his interview on sportscenter?

 

"I've never seen so many flashing cameras when I'm batting."

I was at the game in Baltimore last Friday night, and he has a point there. The amount of flash bulbs going off on every pitch was unbelievable. That should not be his excuse, because Jeter faces quite a few every pitch as well, but it was certainly noticeable.

[KSB2424 3,148]

I think if A-rod played in the NBA he would be the classic example of a guy who wants NO part of the ball when you are down 2 with 15 seconds left.

I agree, some athletes rise to the occasion in pressure situations and some athletes let the pressure situation get to them. It's in their DNA. Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan ect. All seem to thrive when the heat is on.

 

You really see the "choke" (for lack of a better term) in golf. Greg Norman and Phil Mickelson rarely met a 18th green that they didn't want to throw up on. You can almost see it in their persona when they are in these situations. I get the same feeling while watching ARod.

[Sho Nuff 720]

I still disagree in this instance.

 

Its not like he is up with the pressure on trying to just get a hit in this case.

 

It seems every at bat he is looking to go deep (not his normal strategy).

 

Rather than taking each at bat and seeing what the pitcher gives you and driving a ball...every swing is for the fence. And thats not what hitters really want to do.

I think the number of fly balls is helping to support this contention of mine.

 

Yes...there is more pressure on this HR...but there is probably a combo of things...swinging for the fence rather than his normal tendencies in an at bat...being pitched very carefully (who really wants to give up #500?) and so on. So he, like Bonds, is pressing a bit. Hell, the other night Bonds was flying out in the infield.

[NewbieJr 541]

Yes...there is more pressure on this HR...but there is probably a combo of things...swinging for the fence rather than his normal tendencies in an at bat...being pitched very carefully (who really wants to give up #500?) and so on. So he, like Bonds, is pressing a bit. Hell, the other night Bonds was flying out in the infield.

Yeah, but Bonds is a 43 yera-old who's well past his prime. ARod is smack-dab in teh middle of one of the best statistical seasons in major league history. Suddenly, he's at 499 HRs and he goes 0-21.

 

We can blame it on teh camera flashes, the pitchers trying harder, or ARod swinging for the fences, but however you want to slice it...it is still another example of ARod putting up freakish numbers and then not coming through when the pressure is on.

[NewbieJr 541]

0-1 WITH A GROUNDOUT.

 

Come on, dude. It's not the playoffs. Crank one already! At least get a hit, so that you can stop obsessing about it.

 

How are you going to break Bonds' record if you get hung up everytime you approach a milestone?

[KSB2424 3,148]

I honestly think if ARod came to bat in game 7 of the World Series with men on second and third, down one run, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, he would actually pass out in the batters box. I can see this happening.

[Sho Nuff 720]

Hey...he got a hit.

[redtodd 7]

I honestly think if ARod came to bat in game 7 of the World Series with men on second and third, down one run, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, he would actually pass out in the batters box. I can see this happening.

 

Fortunately, that scenario will never come to be.

[NewbieJr 541]

Hey...he got a hit.

Describe it, please.

Was it solid?

[Sho Nuff 720]

Describe it, please.

Was it solid?

 

Was not watching...just saw online that he was up with 1 out, guy on 1st and 3rd. Singled and drove in a run.

 

I don't want him doing much this week, Im playing against him in fantasy ball.

[Yer mom 2]

I havent read any of this so I apologize if it has been mentioned, but regarding pressure...

 

A-Rod came into this season with probably more pressure on him than any other player in MLB history based on salary, expectations, and the fact he plays in New York.

 

Just curious....hows he doing?

[NewbieJr 541]

I havent read any of this so I apologize if it has been mentioned, but regarding pressure...

 

A-Rod came into this season with probably more pressure on him than any other player in MLB history based on salary, expectations, and the fact he plays in New York.

 

Just curious....hows he doing?

He's been having a great year, as he always does. He needs to do something in the playoffs before he ever shakes off the 'choker' label. As of now, he is known as a great regular season player.

His performance since HR 499 is doing nothing to help that reputation.