Big Bats, Bigger Stage

Since the sixth inning of the Yankees’ regular season game against the Tampa Rays, when Alex Rodriguez hit two home runs and drove in seven RBI to bring his season total to 30 home runs and 100 RBI, respectively, I’ve been texting my friends every time A-Rod hits one out or drives in another run. It’s starting to get expensive.

So far in the postseason, A-Rod has five homers and 11 RBI. With three more hits last night, including a monster home run into the left field bleachers, Rodriguez is now batting .407 in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The man is on fire.

Believe it or not, though, A-Rod is, arguably, only the second best player of the 2009 postseason. Ryan Howard’s driven in an amazing 14 runs in eight games, more RBI than he had in 17 playoff games over the past two years. Although he’s only homered twice, compared to A-Rod’s five, Howard does have four doubles and triple, while batting a cool .379, with seven runs scored.

This after a regular season in which he launched 45 home runs, drove in 141, while batting .279, his highest average since 2006, when he hit .313 on way to picking up the National League Most Valuable Player award.

Both Rodriguez and Howard are putting on a display, matching Lou Gehrig’s postseason record of driving in at least one RBI in eight straight playoff games. Not too shabby, that.

If the Yankees meet the Phillies in the World Series, a match up that suddenly seems inevitable, Major League Baseball will get to showcase, on its biggest stage, two of the sports biggest-- and most prolific-- sluggers.

I think even a Red Sox fan can get behind that. 

(Originally posted here) 

BEN:

No arguments here. As I previously mentioned, A-Rod's previous postseason numbers are actually not that bad. He had two abysmal playoff series in a row, then a subpar one, but on the whole has an OPS very close to what he's always had in the regular season. (It's interesting to note, too, that is also true of David Ortiz and Derek Jeter).

I will say that I think consecutive playoff games with an RBI is sort of a weird stat, especially considering that A-Rod's streak includes Game 4 of the 2007 ALDS, but there's no question that he and Howard are absolutely murdering the ball.

Here's a little debate for you Yankee-lovers: when your team wins the ALCS tomorrow night, will you give the series MVP to A-Rod or CC Sabathia? I might actually argue the latter, who has more or less singlehandedly delivered 3 of the team's 6 postseason wins so far. Speaking of shaking off playoff demons, jeez.

(By the way, a tip of the cap to those members of my family in the Cleveland Indians organization, who have provided the likely Game 1 starters for this year's World Series. If only the Tribe had the money to hold onto them, these two would be the best thing since Schilling and Johnson.)

The Phillies are the only team in baseball with a lineup that stacks up against the Yankees. It's too bad their bullpen is such a mess, or this one might be a series.

MILES:

I have absolutely no problem with a co-MVP, although I think A-Rod will win the award if he has a big game tonight or, if necessary, in Games 6 and 7. 

I'd also like to add a caveat to my A-Rod/Howard comparison. It's since come to my attention that Howard, unlike A-Rod, doesn't handle left-handed pitching. Like at all. Against lefties, Howard's only batting .207, with 6 home runs, compared to his .319 average and 39 homers against righties. Further, his OPS is 433 points lower when facing lefties. Mr. Howard, let me introduce you to Mr. Sabathia, Mr. Pettitte and Mr. Coke.

BEN:

Yeah but being hot means being hot. Howard had big hits in the NLCS against Clayton Kershaw and Randy Wolf, the best and only lefties the Dodgers threw at him. He also drew a walk against their lefty reliever, George Sherrill. Your biggest concern should be whether Girardi will overmanage his bullpen for these situational matchups.

MILES:

Point taken. Although it is nice to know there is a way to, at least theoretically, pitch him. As for Girardi, I really think he's just messing with New Yorkers. He wants to give us all agita.