Why would anyone think Alex Rodriguez isn important to the teams offense?
Without Rodriguez manning the hot corner, the Yankees have the second-worst production at the position in all of baseball. With slash stats of .183/.227/.282, how could any team be below the Yankees? Seattle and Adrian Beltre have the answer. Rodriguez’s OPS of .965 would place him third, behind the Tigers and the Rays. Of course, that is a season line, from a down year, no less, and the Rays’ and Tigers’ numbers are bound to go down. The difference between Rodriguez and Berroa and Pena is vast enough to make a difference over the course of the month. Anyone watching the games can see how different the lineup feels without the slugger in it. Pena and Berroa may be easier to root for, but they’re not helping the team win. In fact, they’re killing it. May 8 or May 15 or whenever Rodriguez returns cannot come soon enough. Why are the Yankees content with their center-field situation? In Friday night’s loss to Boston, Girardi removed Nick Swisher for Brett Gardner for defensive purposes. O
