S-cks
A Rod.
Posted on 10/07/2006 10:50:36 PM PDT by Red Steel
DETROIT (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez had big black marks under his eyes. Nothing will deflect the glare of another postseason bust for A-Rod and the New York Yankees.
Just like last year, Rodriguez was AWOL when the Yankees needed him most, going 1-for-14 with no RBI as the Yankees were eliminated in four games by the Detroit Tigers, the second straight first-round exit for New York.
"You kind of get tired of giving the other team credit," Rodriguez said in a somber Yankees clubhouse. "At some point, you just have to look in the mirror and say, 'I sucked.'"
The postseason left all the of Yankees with black eyes, a humiliating performance that might cause owner George Steinbrenner to order a shakeup of his $200 million All-Stars following their sixth straight season without a World Series title.
"We haven't gotten the job done," captain Derek Jeter said. "What happened the last few years has no bearing on this season. This season we didn't get the job done."
Manager Joe Torre's team won its ninth straight AL East title but showed little after winning Game 1 of this series.
"It's surprising more than disappointing," Torre said.
Rodriguez, baseball's $252 million man, was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the first time in a decade for Saturday's 8-3 season-ending loss.
He was hitless in his final 12 at-bats, dropping to 4-for-41 (.098) with no RBIs in his last 12 postseason games. He made 24 errors during the regular season, tops among AL third baseman, and his third-inning error on Magglio Ordonez's routine grounder Saturday allowed the Tigers to add another run to what already was a 3-0 lead.
"I can't talk about the rest of the lineup," Rodriguez said. "I just know that I could have done better. I have no one to blame but myself."
Booed frequently during the regular season at Yankee Stadium, the two-time AL MVP might have worn out his welcome in Bronx after three unsuccessful years.
"This was probably the toughest year of my career," he said. "I stunk. The fans booed. I stunk more, and they booed more. It got pretty ugly."
The Yankees are responsible for $67 million over the final four seasons of his record contract and could explore a deal, especially for the younger pitching they crave.
"My commitment is 100 percent. Unconditional," he said. "I want to be a Yankee. I don't want to go anywhere, and I can't be more clear. I hope they don't want to trade me, because I don't want to go anywhere."
Rodriguez would have to waive his no-trade clause for the Yankees to make a deal.
"I mean, if they're dying to get rid of me," he said when asked whether he would consider it. "I hope not. I mean, I'm 100 percent committed to being a Yankee and that's the only place I want to play. & I believe I can be part of the solution here. I've had success in New York -- in the regular season. I have to find it in the postseason."
His wasn't the only disappearing act during a series that could have been the final Yankees appearances for Bernie Williams, Mike Mussina and Gary Sheffield, all eligible for free agency.
Jeter (8-for-16) and Jorge Posada (7-for-14) each batted .500. The rest of the Yankees hit .173 (18-for-104).
"I'm stunned. This team fooled me to some degree," general manager Brian Cashman said. "This is a tough one because this team was capable of a lot, at least I thought."
Williams was 0-for-3 in the series and didn't play Saturday. He wasn't sure whether this was his last day in pinstripes.
"I am wondering that as well. I don't really know what's going to happen," he said. "I'm going to just enjoy my offseason and hopefully make a decision at some time, at that point."
New York didn't get a baserunner until the sixth inning Saturday and managed just six hits. The vaunted offense, a modern-day Murderer's Row, was held scoreless in 20 straight innings from the middle of Game 2 until late in Game 4 -- their longest scoreless streak at any point since they went 21 straight innings without a run in the 2000 playoffs.
"We're very frustrated," said Johnny Damon, who hit .235 (4-for-17) in his first postseason with the Yankees. "We were expecting to win a world championship when we showed up to spring training. A couple of days ago we were even talking about how great our offense was rolling, right after that first game. And three days later, it's gone."
Sheffield, unhappy he was benched in Game 3, was 0-for-4 Sunday and 1-for-12 in the series. Jason Giambi, who sat out Game 4, was 1-for-8 and Robinson Cano 2-for-15.
When the Yankees needed a big outing from a starting staff that has been shaky at best, Jaret Wright allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings, too big a hole for them to climb out of. Randy Johnson, who turns 44 next season, and Mussina, who will be 38, both lost their postseason starts.
Carl Pavano hasn't even pitched for the Yankees since June 2005, a permanent member of the disabled list with shoulder, elbow, buttocks, back and rib injuries.
A team that looked so mighty four days earlier is headed to an uneasy offseason, all its weaknesses exposed in a shocking three-game wipeout against a team enjoying its first winning season since 1993.
"We got outpitched. We got outplayed," Posada said.
Jeter didn't want to talk about possible changes but acknowledged that 2006 will go down as a failed season for the Yankees.
"Yeah. We didn't win. What, are you going to go celebrate because you won a division title? No, we're here to win championships, that's our focus every year."
After all the concern about Mariano Rivera's tender arm, he didn't even get to pitch after the opener.
"Tough to be sitting in the bullpen and watch the team just fall like that. ... Helpless. Can't do nothing against that," he said. "It's not supposed to happen like. But unfortunately, it's happened."
Sorry, boys but Detroit is a steamroller.
The "annoited" coastal teams are going to be crushed!
S-cks
A Rod.
Best line A-hole ever gave.
last year, when A-Rod failed during a 9th inning comeback attempt by the Yanks--eliminated by the Angels:
"...and he hits into a double play! Oh my God! A-Rod is a DOG! He's a DOG with FLEAS!"--Fox Sports Radio's JT The Brick,
a huge Yankee fan, describing it on his show. JT renewed
the "dog with fleas" talk the other night
(song: "Lucille" by the OTHER Kenny Rogers)
You picked a fine time to flame out, A-Rod
$200 million and we stink, oh, my God...
You can't get clutch hits
Your fielding ain't worth (bleep!)
We met the Tigers, and got clawed...
You're on your way out of town, hey, A-Rod...
All the Yanks were subpar, even the "Ultra-clutch" Jeter after a monster game 1. I hope the Yanks are dumb enough to led A-Rod go, because every other team out there is itching to get him.
Gay-Rod and sucked in the same sentence. Has a nice ring to it.
He was quoting Congressman Foley.
As a Mets fan, I have to say that this has been the sweetest weekend I've had in years.
At that price, were I a Yankee fan, I'd say they're welcome to him.
He has the skillset of a champion and the mentality of a spoiled 6 year old.
The Texas Rangers still pay $10 million of his salary, I believe. Steinbrenner got him on the "cheap."
A 6 year old mentality would put him on the mark of the rest of the Yankees organization--they always expect to get their way.
Jeter is damn good ballplayer who gives his all and never makes excuses, don't lump him in with A-Fraud.
The Redsox get the last laugh here after "losing" K-Rod to the yanks - now the yanks are cursed. The curse of the Bambino is now the curse of the guy from puerto rico
The Tigers better not even think about it, he is clubhouse poison.
I think the best place for him is back in Seattle, I think they would gladly take him back, at a reduced contract.
Alex Rodriguez is Dominican.
Some of the obnoxious stuff he's said in NYC - very self-involved comments about his own heritage, skills, looks, etc. indicate a narcissistic personality almost entirely unsuited for team athletics.
The curse of the Bambino is now the curse of the dominican
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