After watching New York Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez wince after making a diving stop, and listening to ESPN's Steve Phillips describe the same as celebratory, I immediately thought, "Uh-oh. The hip still hurts." Then, I thought, "How unobservant is Steve Phillips that he sees celebrations where I see pain."
Regardless of Phillip's ability to contextualize, I began to wonder how much of a discount I would accept in return for Alex Rodriguez in a standard mixed league. Many people may not be at the point I am where I have already concluded that ARod's 2009 performance is a signal he is hurting. After all, the team says he isn't.
So I asked myself if I'd take Tampa Bay Rays' 2B/SS/OF Ben Zobrist for 3B Alex Rodriguez straight-up. The current production of each screams, "Yes!" but I'm not 100% sold. Are you?