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Times Change

A long time ago, the biggest star on the New York Yankees went 2 for 17 in the post-season and the Yanks were swept. For some reason, despite having lost back-to-back World Series behind the overrated selfish bum, the Yankees held on to Babe Ruth anyway.

Not quite so long ago, the biggest star on the Yankees fell into a dismal post-season slump. Over the course of three consecutive seasons, he hit a snappy .130 in playoff competition. For some reason, nobody saw fit to call Mickey Mantle a gutless choker.

Once upon a time in a very different New York City, Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges, batting cleanup, went 0 for 21 as Brooklyn lost the Series to the Yanks in seven games. Public reaction was swift. Priests led prayers for Hodges in parish masses.

Alex Rodriguez may take comfort from these historic episodes. But he'd be better off taking comfort in all that money. It's all society gives ballplayers anymore. In return, they have to sit still while we pretend we're better people than they are.

posted by Michael Gee @ 3:02 PM