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Business as usual A-Rod, I-Rod carry on without 'superstar' protection
Posted: Thursday June 01, 2000 08:21 AM
Every year we hear about a guy who's supposed to have an "off year" because the big name behind him in the batting order isn't around anymore. This season, two young stars are proving just how overemphasized the idea of protection can be. It doesn't take superstars to protect another superstar -- it just takes consistent hitters. Nobody is proving that better than Ivan Rodriguez. Juan Gonzalez isn't around anymore, but Rafael Palmiero is protection enough to help Pudge crank out what could be his best season.
Last year's big numbers were good enough for an MVP, but Rodriguez is far ahead of the pace he set in 1999. He's nearly doubled his home run total from the first two months of last year and his .726 slugging percentage would be the highest ever for a catcher. Alex Rodriguez doesn't have Griffey to help carry the load in Seattle, so teams are trying to pitch around him more often. But that strategy is not woring. A-Rod is on pace to nearly double his career high of 59 walks, and when he does get a pitch to hit, he isn't wasting it. Rodriguez ranks among the top 10 in the American League in average, slugging, home runs, RBI, and walks -- and he's first in runs and on-base percentage. And so, even without their enforcers in the lineup Alex and Ivan Rodriguez may finish neck and neck for AL MVP.
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