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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009
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 WORLD SERIES 
10

A-Rod Sheds Choke-Artist Rep

Onetime postseason washout comes through in, yes, the clutch

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(Newser) – For years, the rap on Alex Rodriguez has been that despite his gaudy regular-season stats, he folded in the playoffs. His October performance nearly dispelled that rep, and his ninth-inning homer in last night's World Series Game 4 took him to a new level, Will Leitch writes: "He has his Legend Comes Up Huge In October (or November, anyway) Highlight."

True, nothing is decided. The Yankees hold a 3-1 edge going into tonight's Game 5, but their tattered pitching rotation could still open the door for the Phillies to charge into "a teeth-clenching Game 7" in their attempt to sew up back-to-back titles. Nevertheless, "no one will ever, ever accuse Alex Rodriguez of not being clutch again," Leitch writes for New York. "It's almost a shame: What will we all talk about now?"

Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez celebrate after the Yankees' 7-4 wn over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia.
Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez celebrate after the Yankees' 7-4 wn over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the World Series Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez laughs before Game 4 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia.
New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez laughs before Game 4 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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10 comments
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Unaffiliated
Nov 2, 09 1:54 PM CST
It's entirely possible that Rodriguez has just the one clutch hit in his entire career. In the pressure cooker of Northeast baseball, the fans have short memories. I wouldn't proclaim him neuvo clutch so quickly. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Christian
Nov 2, 09 2:30 PM CST
Really? "One clutch hit"? Have you been watchting the same post season as the rest of us? How about the tying HR in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the ALCS? Or the two run homer in the 9th of ALDS Game 2? His performance this post season has been nothing short of spectacular, and the opposing teams clearly recognize that fact. Show me the last time a team has intentionally walked the go ahead run in extra innings during the playoffs. THAT is power.
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IN RESPONSE:
Christian
Nov 2, 09 3:51 PM CST
How bout someone actually posts a retort to my statement instead of just down-voting it. Anyone? It's not like I'm being overtly douchy like dontlikeyou in every post he's ever had.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Nov 2, 09 4:24 PM CST
The anonymous hit-and-run down vote sucks, doesn't it, Christian? I'm no fan of that behavior, either.
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IN RESPONSE:
Forderon
Nov 2, 09 5:02 PM CST
You're right Christian. This idea of "clutchness" is overrated anyway. We're talking about extremely small sample sizes from which people make conclusions about clutch hitting, the existence of which is debatable in the first place. To illustrate why small sample sizes are useless, see this: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/jockbeat_31.php
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