In a small sample size, my latest poll has concluded that Alex Rodriguez will not help Mark Teixeira break out of his slump. Here are the results:
Well, if A-Rod isn’t the cause, then someone or something else is, because Teixeira is definitely out of his slump. Tex seemed to disagree with the voters when he talked to CBS Radio after Saturday’s walk-off victory (the game he went 4-for-4 at the dish).
“Alex is helping me out. He’s giving me pitches to hit.”
I agree with him. Even though A-Rod isn’t hitting all that great, pitchers are pitching around him, which shows that they are scared. No pitcher wants to put a runner on for A-Rod, and that results in better pitches to hit.
This situation is similar to what the Red Sox used in recent years with David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. If it worked for them, maybe it will work for the Yanks.
