Bleacher Bits: A-Rod by the numbers (or digits)
The New York Yankees not only got swept in four games by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series, but established a new mark for futility on offense, with their .188 team batting average the lowest in any postseason series ever.
While a great deal had been made of the Yankees' lack of offense during the series - where they were outscored 19-7 - just as much was made about the numbers turned in by Alex Rodriguez, as well as those he was allegedly trying to get.
According to ESPN.com, an un-named Yankees' source confirmed that during Game 1 of the Detroit series, Rodriguez wrote a note on a ball and had a ball boy deliver it to a pair of fans. The New York Post identified the women as Kyna Treacy, an Australian bikini model, and her friend, Kate Quinn.
So maybe he was just trying a unique approach to getting the digits of either one or both of the women, but if it is true that the Yankees slugger was hitting on the women, it was just about the only hitting he has done in the series.
Rodriguez was just 3-for-25 overall in the postseason.
The decline in A-Rod's numbers has not occurred overnight, but after having admitted in 2009 that he had used steroids - according to him only from 2001-2003 - the 36-year-old's offensive output dropped dramatically over the past two years.
In 2009 he batted .286 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI, and in 2010, he batted .270, again with 30 dingers and 125 RBI.
In the two years since, he has hit at a .274 clip, but averaged just 17 homers and 59.5 RBI.
His dismal playoff showing this year and shrinking numbers over the past two seasons are not the kind of performances Yankees fans expect from the highest-paid player in Major League Baseball for 2012, who is being paid $30 million for the season.
At a time when they needed his offensive leadership most, Yankees manager Joe Girardi instead benched Rodriguez as his spot in the batting order had become a liability, especially when facing right-handed pitching.
Facing righties in the playoffs, A-Rod was 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts.
At least if he strikes out with the aforementioned lovelies, it won't be anything new.
CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.
