Alex Rodriguez was all smiles following Game 3 when Raul Ibanez hit two home runs after pinch hitting for the superstar third baseman.
Ibanez came into the game in the ninth inning for Rodriguez and tied the game for the Yankees before hitting the decisive game-winning home run in the bottom of the 12th inning. After the game Rodriguez was nothing but supportive of the move.
"I never question my manager. That's where my head is now," Rodriguez said to ESPN.com. "I come out, I prepare very hard every day, and I got to tell you, I was as relaxed and enthused and as positive as I've been in a long time."
Many felt that after the game Rodriguez would be disappointed with the move.
"I love Joe," Rodriguez said of his manager, "and I'm one of the leaders of the team. Maybe 10 years ago, I would've reacted in a much different way, but I'm in a place in my career now where the team is everything."
But following all the love after the move worked out in Game 3, things were not as bright and colorful following the Yankees 2-1 loss on Thursday night in Game 4. Rodriguez was pinch hit for once again in the game, replaced by Eric Chavez in the 13th inning.
"Chavez had a good at-bat," Rodriguez said. "He hit the ball hard to Machado. There, we're just trying to string together good at-bats to win the game."
Rodriguez has been slumping mightily for the Yankees, hitting .125 with two hits and one run in 16 at-bats. But he isn't the only one. In Game 4 Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira were a combined 1-19 in the game.
Rodriguez didn't do himself any favors in Thursday night, going 1-for-4 with two more strikeouts. In the eighth inning of Thursday's game he struck out with men on second and third with one out and the game tied at 1-1. Rodriguez now has nine strikeouts in the series and hasn't hit a home run since Sept. 14.
"There's really good pitching," manager Joe Girardi said to the Associated Press after Game 4. "You're seeing some really good pitching in these four games."
Jason Hammell will start Game 5 for the Baltimore Orioles. Rodriguez is 8-for-24, hitting .333 with four homers against Hammell in his career according to ESPN.com.
Although the Yankee bats have gone silent, it is Rodriguez taking the brunt of the criticism. Part of the reason is because he is the highest played player in baseball, but it also has to do with the fact that fans know how good Rodriguez can be when he is hot.
Rodriguez for his career does not have great postseason numbers, but the one season he did was in 2009 when he basically carried the Yankees to the World Series. In 15 games that postseason he hit .365 with 18 RBIs, six home runs, five doubles and 15 runs. Last year he was 2-for18 in the playoffs and hit .111.
Since 2005, the highest Rodriguez hit in any postseason (apart from 2009) was .219 in 2010. Based on that logic, one could say that as Rodriguez goes, so do the Yankees.
That is where the frustration comes from. Fans know that if he was hitting, the Yankees would have a chance to win the World Series, just like they did in 2009 on the strength of his bat.
