2006-11-10

Post Season Blues Revisited: Yankees Take Note

The uneasy existence between the New York Yankees and Alex Rodriquez has been a topic of discussion among New Yorkers. Much has been said and it is now time to consider some hard truths. Baseball is a game of statistics and why not use stats to make a point?

One of the biggest knocks against Rodriquez (and Barry Bonds for that matter) is his post season performance. True, it may not be up to par with the standards Rodriquez plays by but is it really that bad?

The comparison to Derek Jeter is too easy. Forget that. Let's dip into history. Let's say, oh I don't know, the 1960s. Hmm, but which two players to compare? I got it! Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Two of that era's greatest icons.

Dive shall we straight into the postseason?

First up Mays. Say Hey played in six post seasons and 25 games. His career numbers are:

.247 BA; .323 OBP; .337 SLG; all in 89 AB. This included a .182 BA in 1951 and a mediocre .250 in 1962. Mays hit one HR in his post season career.

Next, Muscles Mantle: .257 BA; .374 OBP; .535 SLG; and 18 HR in 230 AB. Mantle had more chances on better teams playing in 12 post seasons and 65 games.

Check out these numbers: Mantle hit .200 in 1951, .208 in 1953, .200 in 1955, .167 in 1961, .120 in 1962 and .133 in 1963.

Ok? I know stats don't take into consideration so many things but I am not comparing players from different eras to see who was better. I'm just bringing to light the numbers as they were.

A-Rod: .280 BA; .362 OBP; .485 SLG; and 6 HR in 132 AB. A-Rod played in 9 post seasons and 35 games.

Barry "Sell My" Bonds: .245 BA; .433 OBP; .503 SLG; and 9 HR in 151 AB. Bonds played in 9 postseasons and 48 games. I just noticed something. Bonds doesn't have a nickname. In a sport where nicknames are almost a rite of passage it's interesting to note he doesn't have one. How about Secure or Triple AAA? Get it? Bonds...bah. So I gave him one. "Sell My" as in to unload assets given his reputation - no? Fine. Be like that.

Back to the numbers. Not so bad, huh? Perspective is everything.

Two are revered legends. Two are not. Social and psychological circumstances notwithstanding, life is funny that way.

Note: Does not include 2007 stats.

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