Does Arod Need A Change of Scenery?

This season Alex Rodriguez has been continually booed by Yankee fans for not stepping up his performance when it matters. A-Rod is on pace to set career highs in strikeouts and double plays this season. This past weekend, he struck out 14 times in a series against the Angels. It seems that Rodriguez is uncomfortable being in the spot light in New York and under the pressure of a pennant chase. Despite his MVP season last year, A-Rod has enjoyed the most success in Seattle and Texas, where the games really didn’t mean a whole lot.

With that being said, many feel that Alex Rodriguez cannot perform when it matters. To make matters worse he also has to play next to one of the all time great Yankee players, Derek Jeter who embodies everything that a Yankee should be. Jeter is having an MVP caliber season and A-Rod is lagging behind. The anxiety of not living up to his potential and being like Jeter may be getting to him. People around the sport are saying that the Yankees should cut him loose after the season. The only thing that may save him is a great post-season and a World Series championship.

A-Rod has been the highest paid player in the league for the last 6 years and he certainly is not living up to it this season. He needs to prove that he is a winner and a competitor who is capable of coming through in the clutch when everything is on the line. Time will tell whether or not Rodriguez is in the right city and if he can right the ship in New York with a strong post-season which seems to be his only way of winning back the fans. If he does so, look for him to be a Yankee next season. If not, he may wind up elsewhere.

Check out Maddux Sports for winning MLB Baseball picks and live baseball lines throughout the baseball season.