A-Rod’s Clutch Stats Beg For Nady To Bat 5th?
I’ve pulled together the following BA/OBP/SLG stats for Alex Rodriguez, as a Yankee, in “clutch” situations, via Baseball-Reference.com, with the 2008 stats being through yesterday’s game:
PA BA OBP SLG YEAR 2 outs, RISP 61 .227 .443 .432 2008 2 outs, RISP 105 .318 .448 .776 2007 2 outs, RISP 109 .313 .495 .475 2006 2 outs, RISP 105 .302 .429 .512 2005 2 outs, RISP 78 .206 .308 .456 2004 PA BA OBP SLG YEAR Late & Close 54 .222 .352 .356 2008 Late & Close 82 .357 .439 .686 2007 Late & Close 89 .237 .326 .368 2006 Late & Close 91 .293 .418 .520 2005 Late & Close 92 .275 .359 .438 2004 PA BA OBP SLG YEAR Tie Game 128 .264 .359 .464 2008 Tie Game 198 .276 .399 .577 2007 Tie Game 180 .227 .350 .440 2006 Tie Game 174 .336 .448 .706 2005 Tie Game 193 .270 .415 .474 2004 PA BA OBP SLG YEAR Within 1 R 216 .280 .384 .473 2008 Within 1 R 344 .316 .419 .684 2007 Within 1 R 330 .267 .382 .469 2006 Within 1 R 333 .330 .441 .659 2005 Within 1 R 356 .300 .404 .545 2004 PA BA OBP SLG YEAR Within 2 R 274 .294 .398 .498 2008 Within 2 R 447 .332 .436 .698 2007 Within 2 R 451 .261 .375 .455 2006 Within 2 R 452 .316 .431 .591 2005 Within 2 R 465 .298 .385 .510 2004 PA BA OBP SLG YEAR Within 3 R 312 .306 .397 .541 2008 Within 3 R 529 .332 .437 .666 2007 Within 3 R 523 .269 .377 .479 2006 Within 3 R 533 .319 .424 .607 2005 Within 3 R 551 .289 .383 .512 2004
As you can see, when it comes to batting with RISP and 2 outs, as a Yankee, A-Rod is usually a .300 hitter – sans this season and his first year (2004) in New York. But, whereas Alex was a poor hitter with RISP and 2 outs in 2004, this season Rodriguez has a high OBP with RISP and 2 outs. That says something about his ability to not go outside the strike-zone…and about the person batting behind him in the line-up.
In terms of “Late & Close” situations, Alex stinks there this season. But, then again, outside of his Yankees MVP seasons of 2005 and 2007, he’s never been outstanding in this department.
The other splits shown here, in terms of game score, are unremarkable in the sense that there’s not much swing…outside of A-Rod showing tremendous power during his Yankee MVP seasons when the score was “Within 3 Runs.”
Since Jason Giambi bats fifth for the Yankees, most of the time, maybe that’s the key in terms of Alex getting more hits this season with RISP and 2 outs?
In 60 PA this season, to date, with RISP and 2 outs, the “Big G” has the following BA/OBP/SLG line: .191/.367/.277 – So, basically, in these spots, Giambi walks or does nothing.
I know that it’s hard to put to back-to-back right-hanged batters in the middle of your line-up. But, still, when you look at these stats, you have to wonder if it makes sense to bat Xavier Nady after A-Rod in the line-up…at least while Giambi is not swinging a big stick.
Haha, listening to Max Kellerman this morning? Same exact discussion on that show.
Cano 5th, Nady 6th? Maybe Cano will remain hot/ perform better with hitters behind him. When Cano is good he is the 2nd best hitter on the team. But him in a spot he is less likely to see garbage, it may only help him and Alex.
I know that it’s hard to put to back-to-back right-hanged batters in the middle of your line-up.
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It’s been done before; Alex Rodriguez & Edgar Martinez (3-4) in Seattle.
phishie – actually, I had no idea…then again, maybe Max is reading WW?
Good point Raf. Ruth and Gehrig were both LHB…and they batted BTB. When you’re good…you’re good.
Alex just needs to shorten his swing in those spots. Too often his swing becomes of the home run variety which leads to failure.
Hideki Matsui was so crucial for things like this. You could put him anyway and he would hit in big spots.
Max Kellerman clearly reads WW and saw my comment on Sunday’s game post that me and Steve want Nady 5th j/k
I think they should do it because Giambi has been awful lately and if Nady and A-Rod are both hitting .330 then it’s not going to matter much if they righty/righty back to back.
I guess the only issue would be Giambi and Cano back to back at 6 and 7 but you could always bat Pudge ahead of Cano or pinch hit Sexson or Betitmet for Giambi when a lefty comes in.
has anyone ever thought about maybe pitchers are really buckeling down because its alex rodriguez up at bat in a big spot? I really doubt pitchers pitch a-rod the same way in big spots as they would any other hitter.
“buckeling down” and yet walking him 22% of the time?
thats just a case of walking someone when you don’t want to get beat by the best hitter in the game
I thought that was the point of the post…
If someone behind him in the line-up was hitting, teams would be forced to throw to him…
I thought that was the point of the post…
If someone behind him in the line-up was hitting, teams would be forced to throw to him…
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Bonds still put up numbers despite having no one in the lineup to protect him.
I believe it has been more or less proven that protection is a myth.
[...] Rodriguez? He’s not having a season like he did last year. But, then again, he’s not in his option year again, is he? [wink] Still, he’s not terrible either – and would do better given some protection in the line-up. [...]