NewsWith A-Rod's new approach, new hardware
Trying to 'simplify,' three-time MVP vital to Yankees' title run
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By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
11/07/09 1:50 PM EST
NEW YORK -- The individual accomplishments are there to consider, to pore over and savor, and still, Alex Rodriguez won't take the bait. Two days after the most dominant postseason of his life ended with a World Series title, Rodriguez attempted to reflect -- every which way but inward, of course.
"It'll probably take two or three [days] to really think about what we accomplished here as a team," Rodriguez said after the Yankees' ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Friday.
As far as individual accomplishments go, Rodriguez will allow others to do the talking. And that makes sense, because his numbers in the World Series -- a .417 average, one home run, six RBIs and five runs scored in Games 3 through 6 -- were among the finest on the team. His contributions in the first two rounds of the playoffs were even greater.
But Rodriguez also constructed a fine regular season in 2009. And in '08. And '07 and '06. His proficiency in putting up gaudy statistics has been well known for years in the Majors, almost as popular a topic of discussion as his misfortunes in the postseason.
Yet Yankees captain Derek Jeter has endured poor postseason series at times, and no one has harped on it because of the team successes he has had. Rodriguez never enjoyed that benefit, driving in one run over his previous three postseasons combined, while the Yankees bowed out in the first round of all three.
In many ways, Rodriguez's career has been measured by those shortcomings. But no longer.
Rodriguez finally has his ring.
"It's a difficult process, that's for sure," Rodriguez said. "But we had a great team. I wish we could continue to just show up and play for no reason. No umpires, no scorers. Just show up and have fun, like a softball league."
Now, when critics discuss Rodriguez, they must talk about his World Series title in addition to his 583 career home runs. They must consider his ring along with his three American League Most Valuable Player Awards.
Previously having played in more regular-season games without reaching the World Series than all but one active player, Ken Griffey Jr., Rodriguez has suddenly become just another champion baseball player. And a rather successful one, at that.
A-ROD GETS HIS RING
| Series | AB | H | R | HR | RBIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALDS | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| ALCS | 21 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| WS | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Totals | 52 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 18 |
Rodriguez, though, will not be the one to bring up the subject. Much of his success this season has come, he said, thanks in large part to the change in his demeanor. That includes a reluctance to spend much time talking about his status, his statistics or his life.
"I'm proud of the fact that I stayed with the plan," Rodriguez said. "I'm a baseball player. The goal was to come in and simplify things this year, and I've done that. I think it's a formula that worked this year, and it will work in the future. Winning is the only goal, and I've never experienced such an amazing feeling."
And with eight years remaining on his contract, Rodriguez knows, he should have quite a few more opportunities to win. The futures for Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon and World Series MVP Hideki Matsui may remain cloudy, but the core of the Yankees should return intact for 2010.
"That's the reality of our game," Rodriguez said. "You hope obviously that as many guys come back as possible, and that's why you have to savor things. This is a very special group of guys, and I think [manager Joe] Girardi for me is the most valuable player of our team."
Many might give that title to Rodriguez instead. Despite missing more than a month of the regular season recovering from right hip surgery -- and despite playing under the shadow of his Spring Training admission to steroid use -- Rodriguez still managed to hit .286 with 30 homers and 100 RBIs. Once he returned from his surgery, he never became the distraction that he was in recent years.
He just played. And produced. And for the first time in his career, Rodriguez also won.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
