All this talk about someone not being great because they haven't contributed to a world series is a bunch of bullshit. There are so many variables out of there control that you can't punish them for. Championships has to be the worst way to evaluate a single player.
There is a difference between evaluating someone b/c they haven't contributed to a world series winner and elevating or diminishing them b/c they routinely fail to produce when the stage is the largest are two different things. To my knowledge, no one is saying he is a choker b/c he hasn't won a WS. They say that b/c he routinely fails to get a hit when most needed in big games.
I agree with you that one shouldn't be judged solely on whether or not they win a title. However, Tom Brady (fittingly named given his position on this topic) makes valid points when it comes to ARod. The guy continually shrinks on the biggest stages. Look at his playoff numbers. This doesn't mean he isn't a great player. It simply means he chokes when it matters most and until he proves this premise wrong (like Manning did this past year, who, ironically enough stunk for the first 2 and a half playoff games, had a great half against NE and a mediocre super bowl) people will continue to hammer him with this. Bonds was in the same boat before having a monster playoff run back in 02 or 01 or whatever year it was.
Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Schilling, Rivera, Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade are all elevated because they perform when they have to, why shouldn't someone be criticized or diminished when they don't? he is a great player, don't get me wrong and statistically speaking he may end up the greatest. However, unless he over comes this very real perception that he is also a choker, you are insane if you think anyone who has their priorities in order (i.e., winning is more important than stats) would list him as the best player ever.
Those that take the opposing position always come back with "he can't hit a HR every time" "look at his stats", "he can't win by himself". All of which are entirely true, but no one is saying he has to win by himself or has to hit a HR every time or has to come through EVERY time when his team needs him against Boston, in the playoffs or other big games.
as the famous quote says, [SIZE=-1]There are three types of
lies -
lies, damn
lies, and statistics, and that holds no truer than with ARod.
Ask any Yankee fan who, of all the players they have had in the past 10-15 years, they want up with a game on the line and I would guarantee he ranks behind Jeter, Williams, O'Neill, and probably Sheffield, Martinez and a few others. that should tell you all you need to know about A-Rod's clutch performances.
He can hit 40 home runs before the end of May, but until he does something in late August, September and October, it is is all irrelevant.
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