A-Rod Archives – RSNStats

Rodríguez One Last Time

August 9, 2016 1 Comment

It’s not every time that you know exactly when you’ll see the last of a player. Often they are injured suddenly or retire in the off-season. We expect to know when we’ll last see David Ortiz at the plate, and it seems fairly certain now that we know when we’ll see the end of Alex Rodríguez.

By now, no doubt, you’ve heard the news that Rodríguez, a 14-time All-Star and 3-time MVP who is now suffering through a miserable 2016 (.204 AVG/.252 OBP/.356 SLG in 62 games), will be released by the Yankees following Friday’s game to become a special advisor and instructor for the club. Why the Yankees, with the rosters expanding in September, wouldn’t want their new instructor traveling with the youngsters for the remainder of the season is a mystery only the Steinbrenner’s may understand. Perhaps, at the end of the day, it’s simply retribution for the shoddy way A-Rod treated his baseball family in the wake of his PED disgrace.

A-Rod against the Sox

Rodríguez’ career includes 263 games against the Red Sox, 1,154 total plate appearances (his very most against any club) and a slash line of .285 AVG/.378 OBP/.516 SLG. Against Boston he has a career 46 doubles, 3 triples (all at Fenway), 59 home runs, 169 RBI, 133 walks, and 222 strikeouts.

Since his debut in 1994, no major leaguer has more home runs or RBIs against the Red Sox than A-Rod. Moreover, no MLB player in that timeframe has more of either of those (22 home runs and 66 RBIs) coming with two outs.

For his career at Fenway Park, Rodríguez has appeared in 131 games with 576 plate appearances and a slash line of .287 AVG/.366 OBP/.514 SLG with a career 22 doubles, 29 home runs, 88 RBI, 55 walks, and 113 strikeouts. His total at-bats, hits, and runs scored at Fenway are his most at any non-home ballpark.

Among all Yankees vs the Red Sox since 1913, A-Rod ranks 5th in stolen bases (48, needs seven to tie Derek Jeter at No. 4), 6th in home runs (59, needs two to tie Harmon Killebrew at No. 5), and 8th in runs scored (195, needs 16 to tie Mickey Mantle at No. 7).

Down on strikes

Rodríguez’ very first major league series was at Fenway Park on July 8–10, 1994. He went 2-for–11 with four strikeouts. Since that time, no MLB player has been a greater victim of Red Sox strikeouts (222), including 76 inning-ending strikeouts, which is also the most in that time.

In fact, A-Rod is just a strikeout away from tying Reggie Jackson for the second most Red Sox strikeouts of any player, on any team, since 1913. With eight more he’ll have 230 to tie Mantle at No. 1 on that ignominious list.

What might have been

I remember well his courtship with Boston back in 2003 when the new Sox ownership thought Rodríguez just the ticket to the World Series. The photogenic young ball player arranging a tour at Harvard as Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy christened him “a class act…comfortable with his star status, mingles easily with fans and media, and is eager to learn,” while Rodríguez declared himself willing to take less salary for the chance to play for a contender. Joon Lee recounts the negotiation meeting between A-Rod and former Sox GM Theo Epstein. “It was hard to relate [to Rodriguez],” Epstein said. “I’m the same age as this guy and he’s like another species. This guy’s got it all together.”

Why a player with such natural gifts would taint himself is hard to comprehend.

When the Players Union objected to any deal that included a reduced salary and Rodríguez slipped from the Red Sox grasp, it seemed a very bad thing.

At Sports Illustrated, Jay Jaffe considers what might have been had Epstein pulled off the complicated deal that, in part, would have sent Manny Ramirez and very young Jon Lester, along with cash, to the Rangers in return for Rodríguez. The deal that never happened is also chronicled in ESPN’s 30-for–30 series.

First and last time at Fenway

Rodríguez is undoubtedly a smart guy. He’s likely also a reflective one.

As he walks into Fenway this week he will, no doubt, recall his very first major league at-bat on that day back in 1994, just days before his 19th birthday. It was here, with the Mariners, that it all started for A-Rod. And it’s here, nearly 2,800 games and 22 years later, that it all draws to a close.

Red Sox offense quiet as Yankees win series

May 2, 2015 Leave a Comment

It’s only a couple games, but when it’s losses to the Yankees it still feels like something more.

The Red Sox dropped a second straight game to New York Saturday, 4-2. In so doing, Boston fell to .500 on the season (12-12) while New York staved off double digits in the loss column once again. They’re 15-9, one of eight teams in baseball yet to lose 10 or more games.

The Yankees are hot right now having won 9 of their last 11 games. They’ve also enjoyed Fenway, improving to 8-3 (.727) over their last 4 series in Boston.

The resounding boos around the park for Alex Rodriguez have seemingly had little impact. After swatting career home run #660 to tie Willie Mays on Friday, A-Rod went 1-for-4 on Saturday, extending himself to a 6-game hit streak against the Red Sox dating back to September 15, 2013. He’s 7-for-18 (.389) in that time.

Wade Miley, in a season-high 7.0 innings of work, allowed 7 hits and 3 earned runs with no walks and 3 strikeouts. He retired the last 7 batters he faced, but it wasn’t enough against the Yankees Nathan Eovaldi, who threw a season-high 111 pitches in his 2nd-longest start of the year. The Red Sox managed 7 hits against Eovaldi but just 2 earned runs, including the 5th home run of the season for Dustin Pedroia, who entered the game batting .343 over the past 10 days.

With Saturday’s home run by Pedroia, the Red Sox have now homered in each of their last 8 games, the longest active streak in baseball.

Once Eovaldi left in the 6th it was more of the Yankee’s untouchable bullpen, which allowed just 1 hit over the remainder of the game. The New York bullpen has now gone 5.1 scoreless innings over the first 2 games of this series.

Swihart’s debut

Saturday’s game marked the Major League debut of top prospect Blake Swihart at catcher after the injury of Ryan Hanigan in Friday’s game.

Swihart, 23, collected his first big league hit, first walk, and first run on a near home run off the bat of Mookie Betts in the bottom of the 7th inning. Betts has recorded at least 1 RBI now in 5 straight games, the most by a Boston lead off hitter since Darren Lewis in 1998. No Red Sox lead off batter has had a longer RBI streak than the 6 straight games achieved by Nomar Garciaparra in 1997.

Swihart will likely see a good deal of playing time with Manager John Farrell confirming after the game that Hanigan underwent surgery Saturday. Farrell said pins were inserted into the catcher’s hand and that he doesn’t anticipate him back before All-Star break.

The Red Sox and Yankees match up for a 2nd Sunday Night game on ESPN tomorrow. Joe Kelly will start for Boston vs New York’s Adam Warren.

Grand slam report

April 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

Saturday’s grand slam by Red Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (the 8th of his career and the Red Sox’ first of 2014) got me thinking about these grandest and rarest of home runs.

MLB Home Runs 2000-14 Since 2000 through April 25, 2014 there have been 71,540 home runs in all. 41,325 (58%) have been solo shots. 20,350 (28%) have been for two runs. 8,087 (11%) have brought in 3 RBI. But only 1,778, a mere 2.4%, have been grand.

The most slams since the start of the 2000 season by any team is 97 by the Yankees, followed by 84 by the White Sox, and 81 by the Red Sox. The fewest have been by the Royals (42) followed by the Pirates (44) and the Diamondbacks (45).

The Tampa Bay Rays have allowed the most grand slams since 2000 season began (79) followed by the Cubs (77) and Orioles (76). The Giants have allowed the least (30), followed by the Dodgers (31) and the Phillies (45). The Red Sox have allowed 65 grand slams since 2000, 10th-most in baseball.

Alex Rodriguez has hit the most grand slams since 2000 (18—and 24 in his entire career) followed by Carlos Lee (15) and Richie Sexson (130). Both David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez have had 11, tied with Jason Giambi for 9th most. Trot Nixon shows up tied at No. 23 on the list with 8 and Mike Lowell is tied at No. 31 with 7.

On the other side, old friend Ryan Dempster has allowed the most in that time (11) followed by Kyle Lohse (10) and Brad Penny, Cliff Lee, and Kevin Millwood (8 each).

The home of the White Sox and not the Rockies, has been the site for the most grand slams since 2000. US Cellular Field has seen 93. Fenway Park is next (77) with Rangers Ballpark and Coors Field in third place (74 each).

Special slams

Fans will remember a special game on July 29, 2003 when Red Sox Bill Mueller hit two grand slams in the same game, one from each side of the plate. The rare feat of two grand slams in one game has happened just 13 times in history, most recently on July 27, 2009 by Josh Willingham of the Nationals. Four Red Sox have had two grand slams in a single game, the most of any MLB club.

Another special game came on June 12, 2010 when Red Sox Daniel Nava became one of just four MLB players ever to hit a grand slam in his first at-bat. The others are Bill Duggleby (1898), Jeremy Hermida (2005), and Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006).

Though I’ve focused on games from 2000 to present day, I’d be remiss not to recognize Lou Gehrig, whose 23 grand slams was the all-time record until A-Rod achieved Slam No. 24.

Two current day managers are noteworthy for slams. White Sox skipper Robin Ventura is one of the 13 to have two grand slams in a single game. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is unique for his grand slam proclivity, hitting 6 for the Yankees in the 1987 season. Mattingly’s 6th and record-breaking slam came off of Red Sox pitcher Bruce Hurst. Despite that power burst, Mattingly went on to play for 8 more seasons with no additional grand slams. In 2006 the Indians’ Travis Hafner would tie Mattingly’s mark for most slams in a single season.

More exciting than the slam

As exciting as the grand slam is, how about the walk-off grand slam like the one Jose Abreu hit on Friday to give the White Sox a thrilling victory over the Rays? Well, since the start of the 2000 season there’s been just 67 of those. What’s more, with Friday’s walk-off grand slam the Rays have now tied the Mets with the dubious distinction of allowing the most of them (6). The Red Sox have allowed 3.

Walk-off grand slams may be the rarest of home runs but the Nationals have managed to stroke 5 of them since 2000, more than any team in baseball. The Braves, Dodgers, Indians, Marlins, and White Sox have all had 4. The Red Sox have had one.

Individually, Alex Rodriguez has the most walk-off grand slams (3). Pitchers Francisco Cordero, Joe Borowski, and Francisco Rodriguez have allowed the most (2).

Forget the rest, tell me about the Sox

Diehard Red Sox fans know the club’s all-time grand slam leader is Ted Williams, who else could it be? Williams had 17 over his career. David Ortiz is 2nd with 10 followed by Rico Petrocelli (9). Bobby Doerr, Trot Nixon, and Jim Rice each had 8.

For a single season the Red Sox leader is Babe Ruth with 4 in 1919. Last season Mike Napoli had 3, joining nine other Red Sox greats like Manny Ramirez, Mo Vaughn, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, and Jimmy Foxx (who had 3 grand slams in both 1938 and 1940 seasons).

The Red Sox have four pitchers in club history with grand slams: Wes Ferrell (1936), Lefty Grove (1935), Ellis Kinder (1950), and Babe Ruth (1919).