K-Rod

No, not Frankie Rodriguez.

More like Alex Rodriguez. Forwards, Backwards...These days, the man known to many as E-Rod due to his many blunders at the hot corner, will take a strikeout anyway it'll come.

In his last 15 at bats, he's struck out 11 times. He hasn't struck out less than 20 times in any month this season. And, he's whiffed a grand total of 122 times this year. While no one will confuse Rodriguez for Pujols as far as a penchant for racking up K's, Alex is on pace to shatter his previous career high (139, set last season). The way he's going right now, it might take only one more series.

Suprisingly though, A-Rod was only 10th in the league in K's.

Yet, for any Yankee fan that's watched him play this season, it isn't just about the alarming number of strikeouts.

Whether its a prolonged stretch of errors (see the 5 game stretch in mid-July, during which he committed 5), a game winning homerun (off of Jorge Sosa), a recent K bonanza, numerous failed opportunities (season long avg. of .244 with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs), or even a player of the month award (yes, this did actually happen in May), Alex Rodriguez has covered the gamut this season.

But still, no one really can figure out whats wrong. He has been great this year, but only for brief periods. Mostly, though, its been eratic. Simple ground balls turn into heartattacks for fans watching YES. Baseloaded, 2 outs turns into the next inning, no runs, when A-Rod gets up.

Fans have completely lost confidence and control. Boo's have rained down on the man for months now. It's even gotten to the point that announcers have tried to candycoat everything he does. Nice, but still routine, back handed stop? Greatest play ever. Single in the 7th inning with one on and none out? Big rally starter.

Every time he takes a hard swing, "maybe he's out of it".

The truth is, no one really knows. If some one knew, it'd be fixed by now. Players of Rodriguez's talent level and track record don't simply lose the ability to play the game they've dominated for a decade over the course of a few months during the peak of their career. Especially not after one of their best, MVP seasons.

Maybe A-Rod might never be the clutch player New York Yankees fans hope and pray he will become. Maybe he simply isn't cut out to be that type of player, that Derek Jeter, rise-to-the-top-at-the-right-time player. But, he is still Alex Rodriguez. A man that, prior to this season, was widely considered the best player in the game. Now, many wouldnt consider him the best player on his side of the infield.

So, what is it going to take to change E and K-Rod back to A-Rod again? I have no idea. But let's hope he figures it out before we have the next Chuck Knoblauch on our hands.

Somebody tell Keith Olberman's mother to stay away from Yankee Stadium for a few weeks.