O/T: TV Sponsors, Media and MLB Holds It's Breath

[barrysloate]

Nobody mentioned the extraordinary thing A-Rod did yesterday, and in a lifetime of following baseball I have to say I haven't seen anything quite like it.

So A-Rod has had 12 seasons of 30 HR, 100 RBI's tying a major league record. But going into the final game of a disappointing year with 28 HR and 93 RBI, a record 13th just wasn't going to happen. And when he came up to bat in the 6th inning for arguably his last at bat of the season, it wasn't even an issue.

So what does he do? He hits a three run homer, the Yankees bat around, and in his second plate appearance of the inning hits a grand slam. Thus, he finishes the season with exactly 30 HR and 100 RBI, a new major league record; and his 7 RBI in an inning establishes a new American League record.

Now that is what I call a statistical freak.

[Al C.risafulli]

I wouldn't call A-Rod's season disappointing, though. He was coming off surgery, still came back and hit 30 HR with a .400 OBP.

That being said, I really like both the Tigers and the Twins. I've ALWAYS liked the Twins. I like how they've assembled their team. Mauer is a monster.

That said, I can't let Joann down. I'll be rooting for Detroit tonight.

-Al

[prewarsports]

October = Root for whoever plays against the Yankees. Go Twins!

[barrysloate]

Al- if you asked A-Rod the question, he would probably tell you it was disappointing for him. That said, 30 HR and 100 RBI is certainly decent.

[Orioles1954]

C'mon, rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for Wal-Mart against Joe's Variety Shop in a fundraising campaign. Even if you win, there is really no victory. I think the 7 RBI's might be attributed to a new injection cycle kicking in?

[calvindog]

Barry, I agree completely. What ARod did yesterday is hard to fully comprehend. But the man loves his statistics so much that he somehow willed himself to do it....now if only he cared as much about his post-seasons stats!

[barrysloate]

I agree A-Rod better not fold again in the post season. In fact, if the Yankees don't win it all it will be a huge collapse. They were far and away the best team during the regular season...whether you root for them or not.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

That said, I can't let Joann down. I'll be rooting for Detroit tonight.

-Al

OK. But who will you be rooting for tomorrow afternoon, after they take down the goalposts and rebuild the mound?

[Al C.risafulli]

All day, Jim, I've thought the game was tonight. I just posted that on Facebook and someone corrected me.

Tomorrow night I'll be rooting for the Orioles.

-Al

[chaddurbin]

tbob sorry but i'm rooting for detroit...i think they'll put up a better resistance to the evil empire. frankly besides mauer i'm not excited about anybody else on that team...cuddyer/gomes/young a bunch of mehs. i hope liriano will get back on his pre-injury track...dominant lefties are scarce commodity.

i think a sitcom starring adrian peterson and joe mauer would get 100% ratings in minnesota.

[Joe_G.]

I'm late to this party but want to give a little support for the Tigers. It has been tough to watch them play since the All Star Break (.500 ball) but I'm still rooting for a Worst-to-First finish (they were dead last in the Central last year). 2009 was supposed to be a dog race between Cleveland, Minnesota, and White Sox (pre-season fodder). Detroit is the biggest surprise of 2009.

Go Tigers !

On a parallel, I'm disgusted by Cabrera's actions this past weekend, almost keeps me from posting anything pro-Tigers at the moment.