The Yankees came in streaking, overcoming a 21-29 start to win the AL wild card. But they were done in by poor pitching, an insect invasion and the latest October vanishing act by Alex Rodriguez, whose bat was quiet until a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Alex Rodriguez ALDS: 4/15, 1 HR, 2 BB, 0 GIDP
Derek Jeter ALDS: 3/17, 0 HR, 0 XBH, 0 BB, 3 GIDP
October. Vanish. Ing. Ac. T.
Just for the heck of it:
Jorge Posada ALDS: 2/15, 2 BB
Hideki Matsui ALDS: 2/11, 5 BB
How about this alternate universe storyline:
Alex Rodriguez started the series 0 for 6 in the first two games in Cleveland, but when the chips were down and his team needed him most, he dug down deep and bounced back with four hits in Games 3 and 4, including a gargantuan home run Monday night that drew his team within striking distance. Despite these herculean efforts from the best player in the game, the Yankees could not overcome a late, dramatic GIDP by series goat Derek Jeter, his third of the series in only seventeen at bats. Jeter, a reliable on base presence in the two hole during the regular season, looked uncomfortable all series long, never getting into a groove and finishing with a 0.176 OBP with no walks in the series.
** EDIT **
New version: good job, AP. They've added a section about A-Rod's home run and even a sentence about Jeter's GIDPs! Congrats.
Labels: a-rod, derek jeter
