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Monday, June 16, 2008

Unlikely BFFs: A-Rod Gets Advice From the Hit King

As a mesmerized A-Rod listened, mouth agape, Rose told him he got 4,256 career hits without watching a single frame of film. He said he never hit off a tee, barely lifted a weight and had an offseason program that consisted of playing full-court basketball. He told A-Rod every game was a “four at-bat war,” that he was a “grinder,” that he remembered every pitch a pitcher ever threw him. He told him he didn’t buy into this notion of “hitting inside the ball or outside the ball,” that his only goal was to hit the thing hard someplace.

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.

Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 16, 2008 at 06:02 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. Traderdave

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 07:18 PM (#2821450)

If Pete is eligible, he rang up a few Primeys in that piece.

2. Hang down your head, Tom Foley Posted: June 16, 2008 at 07:26 PM (#2821457)

A-Rod, glowing, asked: "Wouldn't it have been fun to play against Babe Ruth?"

Rose answered, "Yeah, it'd have been fun to play against him, but I'd be dead by now. So I wouldn't be able to talk to you."

Then the furious humping began.

3. Ray (RDP)

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:01 PM (#2821510)

Shouldn't ARod have been lecturing Pete as to why Rose didn't hit for power?

4. Swedish Chef Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:08 PM (#2821518)

No thread for Bavasi?

5. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:19 PM (#2821539)

BFFs? If I were dead, I'd be rolling in my grave (RIMG.)

6. Cowboy Popup Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:51 PM (#2821577)

As a mesmerized A-Rod listened, mouth agape, Rose told him he got 4,256 career hits without watching a single frame of film. He said he never hit off a tee, barely lifted a weight and had an offseason program that consisted of playing full-court basketball. He told A-Rod every game was a “four at-bat war,” that he was a “grinder,” that he remembered every pitch a pitcher ever threw him

I doubt many players could get away with this now, everyone else is lifting all off-season and studying film, you'd put yourself at a disadvantage if you didn't.

7. willcarrolldoesnotsuk Posted: June 16, 2008 at 08:57 PM (#2821588)

A-Rod is a much, much better hitter than Pete Rose ever was.

8. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 16, 2008 at 09:08 PM (#2821605)

"How'd you prepare for the postseason?
Alex.

Know the pitchers. And just relax. Relax. Have fun. And the only way to have fun is win.
Pete.

First of all, that is truly sage advice. Second of all, Pete hit .321/.388./440 in the postseason, A-Rod hit .279/.361/.483. Not really that shabby compared to Pete.

9. Ray (RDP)

Posted: June 16, 2008 at 09:22 PM (#2821624)

Pete hit .321/.388./440 in the postseason, A-Rod hit .279/.361/.483. Not really that shabby compared to Pete.

Pete's got him easily, though, given the difference in era to go along with the higher OBP.

10. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 16, 2008 at 09:55 PM (#2821656)

A-Rod got slappy on 6'5", 180-lb Bronson Arroyo, while Rose got slappy on 5'11", 160-lb Bud Harrelson, so that's one post-season advantage to A-Rod.

11. Zach Posted: June 16, 2008 at 10:27 PM (#2821680)

Rose is full of ####. I read a bunch of articles about him when he was still in his twenties and all he preached then was about practice, practice, practice.

Rose lived in the batting cage. This guy's capacity to delude himself is infinite.

Of course, attacking each at bat with the intensity of Pete Rose would have been the worst possible advice to give Arod at that point in time. The advice Rose gave seems to have been pretty reasonable.

If Arod wants a mentor and Pete Rose wants to be a mentor, what's the skin off your nose?

12. Zach Posted: June 16, 2008 at 10:29 PM (#2821683)

Also, wasn't Charlie Lau a huge innovator regarding videotape and hitting off of tees?

Despite Rose's intensity, the three things mentioned in the article -- hitting off of tees, watching videotape, and lifting weights -- all caught on after the bulk of his playing career was over.

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Monday, June 16, 2008

Unlikely BFFs: A-Rod Gets Advice From the Hit King

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