A-Rod isn't the One People Should Be Worried About, by Chuck (C.J.)

In the first 2 games of the World Series, Alex Rodriguez went a whopping 0-8 ,with a World Series first back to back 3 strikeout games. He hadn't touched first base after having a remarkable ALDS and ALCS.

Needless to say, he got very acquainted with all of the bases tonight. He got on base four out of five tries tonight, his first World Series hit was a home run,and it seems all the "What happened to A-Rod" questions that weren't new to him went back into obscurity. With that said, looking forward to Game 4, people shouldn't be concerned about Alex or any Yankee hitter for that matter. No, who they should be concerned about matched Alex's remarkable postseason with one of his own. Ryan Howard has evaded the scorn of writers and most of the media thanks to Alex Rodriguez, but Rodriguez's good night has turned the eye to the abysmal statistics that Howard has put up (2-12 with 8 K's and an RBI). Alex Rodriguez stressed to everyone after the game that the reason he had a good night was that he was "swinging at strikes", instead of being vintage A-Rod and trying to turn any pitch into a souvenir. Howard on the other hand, has a track record of swinging and missing but when he does connect they go far. He's still batting .295 this postseason which is his best, but he has to emulate what Rodriguez did in Game 3 in order for the Phillies to have a chance in Game 4. Not taking away from the stellar games Chase Utley and Jayson Werth are having, but lets face it, Rodriguez swallowed the criticism and pretty much carried the team into the World Series, something he's been trying to do since he donned the pinstripes, and Howard played fantastic to get the Phillies back to the World Series. And still not taking away from the other hitters, but these two guys need to contribute every game for their teams to have a chance. Sure, Werth and Utley both had 2 home run games, but can you really rely on those guys to have big games every game, while at the same time Howard can whiff every at bat? Bottom line, if the Phillies want to get back in this series, Howard obviously needs to step it up, he might not be as fun to criticize as Alex Rodriguez with his massive paycheck, but at least he's earning his money (finally). If Howard does good, the momentum may swing back in the Phillies favor, but that pendulum is gonna struggle to swing their way if CC Sabathia keeps pitching the way he has. And Sabathia may be the last person Howard needs right now.