Letters to the Editor
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‘Dollars, Not Jeers, Will Send Rodriguez Packing’
Tim Marchman’s article about the value of Alex Rodriguez sadly reflects the contemporary superficiality of using statistics to establish value — but since Mr. Marchman makes some tall claims in his use of statistics, let’s start there [Sports, “Dollars Not Jeers, Will Send Rodriguez Packing,” March 16 18, 2007].
Mr. Marchman claims that Mr. Rodriguez is about as good in an off year as Mr Jeter is in his better years. So let’s look at what was an off year for each. In 2003, Mr Jeter had “only” 188 hits in 154 games, hitting .292, with 99 strike outs. Mr. Rodriguez in that same year, batted .286 with 181 hits, and struck out 131 times.
When the Yankees went to Boston last August to sweep the Red Sox, the Yanks were led by Johnny Damon and Mr. Jeter. Mr. Jeter, characteristically, had some very clutch hits. A-Rod was essentially a nonfactor in that series, as he has been in every ALDS he’s played with the Yankees.
After A-Rod left the Mariners, their winning percentage (and playoff success) improved. In contrast, the Yankees started winning World Series in 1996 once Mr. Jeter became an everyday player. Joe Torre himself has said that Mr. Jeter was the difference. Mr. Jeter is probably one of only two or three modern players who could have made the put-out to Mr. Posada that he made against the Athletics in 2001. A-Rod, to be blunt, would never have made that play. The only influence Mr. Rodriguez has brought to the Yankees has been to infect the team with underachievement.
CHRIS MARVIN
Weston, Conn.
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