2007-04-18 10:49:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
The reason for A-Rod's latest "success" has nothing to do with pressure or lack there of. Nothing has changed about his situation in New York that would make him relax and start hitting. They still cheer him with he hits well and still boo him when he doesn't. And all of the questions will still be there in October.
The reason is physical. He made some slight adjustments to his swing in the off season. The main adjustment being the spreading of his feet. If you look at any of the game footage from last year compared to this year, you'll notice that he was standing much taller at the plate last year. The spreading of his feet has given him a little bit better balance at the plate and has helped him stay back longer on pitches. Also he had gotten into the bad habit of pulling out his front hip at the start of his swing, it had gotten really bad last year toward playoff time. But now he has corrected it. This has allowed him to stay in on outside and offspead pitches better, which has also allowed him to start hitting the ball to opposite field more (which at Yankee Stadium is a good thing).
These two slight adjustments helped him to get off to a good start, and now it's just a matter of success building on success. As soon as he hit that 2 run HR in the first game of the season against Tampa you could see his confidence rise, then after the walk-off grand slam against the O's it went through the roof. He hasn't had this level of confidence at the plate in a long time, you can see it every time he comes to the plate now...dude knows he's gonna get a hit.
So there you have it. Slight mechanical adjustments coupled with success (plus the unbelievable amount of talent he already had), equals new and improved A-Rod. Now let's see if he can keep it up near October.
2007-04-18 14:13:05 · answer #1 · answered by The_Natural 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nacnud welcome back miss ya,I'm a little shocked that you feel Arods home runs are Useless considering the fact that we need all the runs we can get since all our pitchers are on the DL! What Arod accomplished in these past 3 weeks would take another player 3 months to accomplish,Not for nothing but Jeter is playing terrible!! The key to Arods success is the fact that,if he wants to leave ny at the end of the yr he HAS to play better so the offers come in,And he's much more relaxed! Now maybe it's Jeter's turn to relax! And come through in a cluch! Arod's not GOD!
2007-04-18 18:18:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd say the key is that he's a hard worker who is blessed with unbelievable talent.
The guy had one off year, and it's like he gets written off. Never mind the MVP he won two years ago, or the monster career he's had - 2000 hits and 450 homers by age 30. And his off year, by the way, would be a career year for many players (.290, 35 homers).
He's not a guy who just found his stroke. He's just a future HOFer who's on the rebound from a season that didn't measure up to his previous monster years.
2007-04-18 17:54:38 · answer #3 · answered by Craig S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A-rod has always had success. Its just that he is playing forthe toughest fans in any sport. Look at his first game error in 1st inning then struck out first at bat. Hear all the boo's? Then he hits a homer and everyone is on his dick. They need to just let him play and got off his back.. He will play much better!! I am a Yankees fan btw.
2007-04-18 17:55:46 · answer #4 · answered by Martino78 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Success? What success? Mr. April is still hitting meaningless home-runs (except for the game-winning GS) It seems like he has to "pop-up" twice with the bases loaded before he hits a homerun AFTER the Yankees have already taken the lead. He will never be considered successful in Ny until he does something in October. Until then, he is just Mr. April.
Thanx A-rod_1, I know arod's having a great year and I know he can be a big part of this championship year, but he still has to do it. Jeter too.
2007-04-18 18:00:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
I'd say that him being more physically talented than any other player in the game might have something to do with it.
But lets face it the stays in shape, stay out of trouble, keeps his mouth shut, work hard, is a team player (he was better defensively than Jeter, or anyone else, when traded, moved to 3rd without a word), and come to the park, everyday to play ball.
2007-04-18 20:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by H.E. G 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well, a sunday new york post article had said that he was spraying the ball around more often. last year, only 37.1% of his homers went to center and right, meaning he was pulling the ball more often. that was the lowest showing since 97 when he hit only 23 homers. when he had more than 40% of his homers going to center and right, he'd hit 40 homers. currently, 50% of his homers were going to center and right. he's starting to take advantage of the short right field pouch at yankee stadium.
2007-04-18 19:13:36 · answer #7 · answered by yankees_rule168 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the pressure is off of him from being in the city for 3 years and hes just back to his old self but hes always had success but fans expected more of him escpecially in clutch situations which he was not good at but he still had almost 40 homers id say thats pretty good
2007-04-18 18:26:22 · answer #8 · answered by big murph 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No pressure. Wait till October to see the real A-Rod.
2007-04-18 18:48:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
New york doesnt hate him anymore, and he has become more confortable in the box and is not swinging at junk pitches
2007-04-18 18:48:45 · answer #10 · answered by mike k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋