I am not a Yankee or Boston fan, although I do think it is good for baseball when they are both contending and in the post season. I have read this entire thread and some people amaze me.
barlow1802.... .460 is average in HS???? That is hilarious. I will leave that at that. And in the Majors, DHs are always in the cage hitting off tees while the rest of the team is playing D. So there is no reason they shouldn't be loose. And if they cant concentrate on 1 thing, hitting, they should be playing slow pitch softball.
IMO, everyone here makes a good argument except for people who say A-rod chokes. here are his post season #through 2004 (my site doesn't have 2005 included yet)
Coming into this post season, in 26 games A Rod was 34 for 103 (.330) with 6 HR, 16 RBI, 9 BB and 17 Runs scored.
Choke??? Are you serious? The numbers talk.
And Sloopy, here are some of his numbers vs some pretty good pitching.
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Tim Hudson</TD><TD class=sortcell>37</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>.351</TD><TD>.385</TD><TD>.649</TD><TD>1.033</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
David Wells</TD><TD class=sortcell>71</TD><TD>24</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>.338</TD><TD>.365</TD><TD>.746</TD><TD>1.111</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Tim Wakefield</TD><TD class=sortcell>56</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>.250</TD><TD>.323</TD><TD>.464</TD><TD>.787</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Arthur Rhodes</TD><TD class=sortcell>21</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.429</TD><TD>.429</TD><TD>.762</TD><TD>1.190</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
C.C. Sabathia</TD><TD class=sortcell>17</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>.412</TD><TD>.474</TD><TD>.588</TD><TD>1.062</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Jake Westbrook</TD><TD class=sortcell>16</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>.250</TD><TD>.333</TD><TD>.250</TD><TD>.583</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Bob Howry</TD><TD class=sortcell>15</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>.133</TD><TD>.188</TD><TD>.333</TD><TD>.521</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Bob Wickman</TD><TD class=sortcell>13</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>.385</TD><TD>.429</TD><TD>.615</TD><TD>1.044</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Scott Elarton</TD><TD class=sortcell>12</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD>1.250</TD><TD>1.750</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Kevin Millwood</TD><TD class=sortcell>8</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD>.556</TD><TD>.875</TD><TD>1.431</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Mark Mulder</TD><TD class=sortcell>50</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>.300</TD><TD>.386</TD><TD>.440</TD><TD>.826</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Jeff Suppan</TD><TD class=sortcell>30</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.433</TD><TD>.528</TD><TD>1.067</TD><TD>1.594</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Chris Carpenter</TD><TD class=sortcell>24</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.250</TD><TD>.471</TD><TD>.625</TD><TD>1.096</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Esteban Loaiza</TD><TD class=sortcell>23</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.522</TD><TD>.542</TD><TD>1.261</TD><TD>1.803</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Ryan Drese</TD><TD class=sortcell>13</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>.462</TD><TD>.462</TD><TD>.462</TD><TD>.923</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Livan Hernandez</TD><TD class=sortcell>10</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.600</TD><TD>.667</TD><TD>1.200</TD><TD>1.867</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
John Wasdin</TD><TD class=sortcell>23</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>.348</TD><TD>.360</TD><TD>.913</TD><TD>1.273</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Kenny Rogers</TD><TD class=sortcell>19</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>.526</TD><TD>.625</TD><TD>1.421</TD><TD>2.046</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Jarrod Washburn</TD><TD class=sortcell>33</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>.364</TD><TD>.432</TD><TD>.818</TD><TD>1.251</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
John Lackey</TD><TD class=sortcell>29</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>.276</TD><TD>.344</TD><TD>.690</TD><TD>1.033</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Kelvim Escobar</TD><TD class=sortcell>21</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>.429</TD><TD>.500</TD><TD>.857</TD><TD>1.357</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>
Scot Shields</TD><TD class=sortcell>18</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>.333</TD><TD>.400</TD><TD>.444</TD><TD>.844</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Esteban Yan</TD><TD class=sortcell>15</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>.400</TD><TD>.438</TD><TD>1.133</TD><TD>1.571</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130>OPPOSING PITCHER</TD><TD width=35>
AB</TD><TD width=35>
H</TD><TD width=35>
2B</TD><TD width=35>
3B</TD><TD width=35>
HR</TD><TD width=35>
RBI</TD><TD width=35>
BB</TD><TD width=35>
SO</TD><TD width=50>
BA</TD><TD width=50>
OBP</TD><TD width=50>
SLG</TD><TD width=50>
OPS</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>
Roger Clemens</TD><TD class=sortcell>53</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>.377</TD><TD>.400</TD><TD>.604</TD><TD>1.004
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
not exactly bottom of the barrel, and still pretty good numbers.
As far as the MVP goes, I have a hard time justifying giving the award to somebody who is only involved in 3-5 of 54 outs a game.
I think it has to be Alex Rodriguez, an everyday player.
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left></TD><TD class=sortcell></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left width=130></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left></TD><TD class=sortcell></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left></TD><TD class=sortcell></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR class=colhead align=right><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=35></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD><TD width=50></TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left></TD><TD class=sortcell>
</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</PRE>