The game isn't supposed to be this easy. You aren't supposed to have streaks like this, even if you are Alex Rodríguez, the best player in baseball.
A-Rod's struggles in New York have been well documented, and it was only six months ago that every baseball expert in America -- and I mean every single one -- was dead certain that his time in New York had come to an end. (You probably could've gotten pretty good odds at an online sportsbook.) After another abysmal October capped off by the humiliation of being dropped to the eighth spot in the order for the Yankees' final game, it looked like Rodríguez would be traded. Even though he had won the MVP in 2005, he had failed when it counted. GM Brian Cashman didn't seem to have any choice. Like Jack Clark, Rickey Henderson, and Dave Winfield before him, Rodríguez seemed destined for the trading block, sure to bring nothing but flotsam and jetsam in return.
Thankfully, Cashman knew better.
What we're seeing now, quite simply, is the best player of our generation performing at the absolute peak of his abilities, so pay attention. In case you've been distracted by the close of the NBA season or the latest round of American Idol elimations, here's a quick synopsis of what A-Rod's done so far:
• 10 HRs and 26 RBI in 14 games
• More home runs than eight other teams
• Basehits in all 14 games
• Extra base hits in 13 of 14 games
• Two walk-off home runs
Those numbers, though, don't tell you the most important part of the story. Alex Rodríguez is having fun again. His home run have all been no-doubters, allowing him to break into this home run trot before leaving the batter's box. It's the same each time: as the ball rockets into the stands, he flips his bat in the air and looks into the dugout, smiling with joy. Following his one-handed blast on Wednesday night, he was seen doubled over in laughter at the ribbing he was getting from the rest of the guys, the batboy included. As unlikely as it seemed six months ago -- or even six weeks ago -- A-Rod is one of the boys.
The interesting thing about his streak, though, is that as flaming hot as Rodríguez has been, he's still seeing pitches to hit. Take Thursday, for instance. Even though his advance scouts must've told him A-Rod's been pounding everything, and even though he had seen it with his own eyes during the first two games of the series, Cleveland manager Eric Wedge still chose to pitch to him in the ninth inning with the winning runs on base and first base open. The results were predictable. Another A-Rod walk-off blast.
Rest assured, though, that there are whispers. What happens when things get serious? Rodríguez might be able to carry a team in April, but what about September and October when (excuse me for this...) Yankees earn their stripes? We'll start getting some answers this weekend when the team makes its first trip to Fenway Park and A-Rod digs in against Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, and Daisuke Matsuzaka. (Needless to say, my TiVo is already set.)
Expect big things.
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