[轉錄] AS A-ROD GOES, SO GO BOMBERS

看板A-Rod作者veronica4 (Veronica)時間18年前 (2006/04/18 20:44)推噓1(1推 0噓 0→)

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http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/62622.htm By GEORGE KING April 18, 2006 -- TORONTO - George Steinbrenner can't be happy with his Yankees' pedestrian 6-6 record. However, The Boss digs Alex Rodriguez' accountability. Twice in Minneapolis, A-Rod said he had to elevate his game in order for the Yankees' lineup to be consistent. "Not taking anything away from my teammates, but I just found when I am swinging the bat really well, the boys roll," Rodriguez said. "Over the past year or two when I am swinging the bat well we usually do really well. When I don't, it's like a contagious thing." At home in Tampa, Steinbrenner appreciated A-Rod's comments. "That's good, it's good that he has fit in well with the team and is comfortable and shouldering leadership responsibilities," The Boss said yesterday through spokesman Howard Rubenstein. Rodriguez and the Yankees open a two-game series against the Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre. Through a dozen games, the numbers back up Rodriguez, who is hitting .298 with three homers and nine RBIs. In the clutch, he is at .278 (5-for-18). In the six victories, Rodriguez is batting .458 (11-for-24) with three homers and eight RBIs. With runners in scoring position he is at .375 (3-for-8) with two homers and seven RBIs. During those six wins the Yankees have plated 64 runs, an average of 10.7. In the six defeats, Rodriguez is 3-for-23 (.130) with no homers and one RBI. In the clutch he is 2-for-10 (.200), searching for his first homer and has one RBI. The Yankees have scored 31 runs, an average 5.2, in the six losses. Following Saturday night's crushing 6-5 loss to the Twins in which Rodriguez gave the Yankees a one-run lead with an RBI single in the seventh, he said there was room for improvement. "I need to swing the bat better, I need to elevate my game," said A-Rod. "I am the one guy to blame for what has been happening." On Sunday, Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and two RBIs in a 9-3 victory. Rodriguez said being hard on himself "has made me who I am," but added, "at the same time it hurts me because I expect so much of myself." With the expectations come hours spent in the batting cage with hitting instructor Don Mattingly and coach Rob Thomson. "[A-Rod] takes more swings than anybody," said Mattingly, a cage rat as a player. "It's not ridiculous, he has a program. But for the most part he doesn't overdo it." Prior to Sunday's game, Rodriguez was fighting a 3-for-17 (.176) slide during the previous five games and was 1-for-5 (.200) in the clutch. That meant an early Easter trip to the Metrodome cage with Thomson, who throws, and Mattingly, who observes. "I am looking for my timing, I am 6-foot-3 and it takes a lot to get my timing right and get my front leg down," said A-Rod. Rodriguez isn't the beginning and end of the Yankees' lineup. Jason Giambi leads the team in batting (.344), homers (4) and on-base percentage (.543) and is second in RBIs (11). Derek Jeter is batting .340 with a team-high 12 RBIs. Johnny Damon is hitting .340. Robinson Cano is at .333, Hideki Matsui is hitting .311 and Gary Sheffield has 11 RBIs. Yet, the numbers don't lie: When A-Rod rocks, the Yankees roll. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.229.5.70