A-Rod Beloved by all of NY
Alex Rodriguez deserves some due.
I heard on the radio this morning that he hit his 10th HR of the month and with 11 games left in the month needs 4 to tie Albert Pujols' record from last year for April HR. A-Rod already has the American League record in hand for April. In Jim Rice's best year (1978) he hit 13 in the month of May. I remember watching the games and checking the paper when I couldn't see the games on tv, every day (it seemed) Rice was hitting one out. It is a magical month for a player to hit 10 or more. Of course it has been diluted by those allegedely taking steroids but when you have a player that you believe is clean (like A-Rod) it takes on a special feeling.
New York fans are loving it and all seems well in the Bronx with A-Rod and the fans. This will only continue if he continues to hit walk-off homers and delight the fans. So he either will hit 70 HR this year, keep being the hero and will become the official darling of NY or he will come back to earth, have a monster year with 50+ HR and get criticized for not being clutch when it counts.
Very tough spot to be in. No win for him. When the trade thing was going on with Texas/Boston/NY a few years back, I would have made the trade for him (Sox) in a heartbeat. Perhaps he will be the new face of the lifetime loser (move Ernie Banks down on the list) and never win a world series but to have his ability in the lineup every day was something that EVERY team should want.
All this love coming from a Boston fan may seem displaced. I assure you, with the first head to head matchup this weekend, I hope the top 3 starters for the Sox blow him away and he goes on a 2-15 kind of weekend.
Series Preview:
Friday - Pettitte vs Schilling
On paper this appears to be the most compelling matchup of pitchers as the Yankees march two rookies out there on Saturday and Sunday. It doesn't always work the way it is supposed to so I expect both pitchers to be gone by the 5th and have a slugfest in the opener. Yankees win game one 8-6.
Saturday - Karstens vs Beckett
Again on paper this should be a big day for the Sox. Beckett has started off unhittable and as long as he does what he is capable of the Sox should win this one. It seems that teams I root for (Sox/Braves) always have trouble with pitchers they are seeing for the first time. I hope that trend does not continue and they get off on Karstens early and often. Sox win 7-2.
Sunday - Chase Wright vs Matsuzaka
ESPN game of the week or Sunday night baseball or whatever it is called now. Another Yankee call up to fill in for injuries. Should allow the Sox to put some runs up but you never know. Dice K has pitched well enough to be 3-0 yet sits at 1-2 right now. His run support hasn't been great so far and this will be the first time facing the Yankees. He will be geeked up but overall I think he will do fine Sunday. Sox 5-3 winners.
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