Alex Rodriguez’s ALDS Struggles Continue

While there are many different reasons why the New York Yankees currently find themselves on the brink of elimination, Alex Rodriguez is again gaining National attention for his infamously bad play in October.  Rodriguez has yet to collect a hit during the first round of the 2011 playoffs, going 0-10 over the first three games of the ALDS.

Rodriguez has often been criticized for failing to step up when the lights are at their brightest.  Since joining the Yankees in 2004, Rodriguez has played in 11 playoff series.  Over that span, A-Rod has hit .261 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI’s in 188 at bats.

These are certainly respectable numbers, but you also have to take into account that this is a three-time MVP, a $275 million man.  For these reasons, the expectations placed on Rodriguez are a bit higher than most.

A-Rod seemed to have put a lot of this criticism behind in during the 2009 postseason.  That year, Rodriguez and the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, claiming the franchise’s 27^th World Series title.

On the way to his first ring, Rodriguez was phenomenal.  A-Rod posted OPS’s of 1.500, 1.519 and .973 over the three playoff series, accounting for six home runs, five doubles and 18 RBI’s that postseason.

But, in 2010, Rodriguez was unable to duplicate his previous success, only going 7-32 before the Yankees were bounced by the Texas Rangers.  Now, this season, Rodriguez’s woeful playoff production continues, as A-Rod is 0-10 with three strikeouts.

If you take out Rodriguez’s prolific 2009 postseason, his playoff batting average drops to .221.

It doesn’t matter how many A-Bombs Rodriguez hits during the regular season, if he can’t get it done come October, Rodriguez will always have this un-clutch cloud hanging over his head.  The Yankees hope Rodriguez can get out of his funk tonight as they try to keep their season alive and send the series back to New York.

For more on the Yankees, be sure to check out Yanks Go Yard.