Alex Rodriguez On WFAN: Strikeouts Key For Mets Pitchers In World Series
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The pressure is on the Mets' pitching staff to keep the Royals' aggressive runners off the base paths in the World Series, Alex Rodriguez says.
The Yankees' slugger, who is moonlighting this offseason as a Fox studio analyst, appeared as a guest Monday on Mike Francesa's WFAN show.
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A-Rod said if the Mets' pitchers can strike out 13 to 15 batters a game, the team won't have much to worry about.
But "if guys are striking out six or seven times, they're going to be putting pressure on," he said. "These guys run well, and they run hard. And there's a wave that they've never seen before. And I can speak first-hand of that being a shortstop and a third baseman."
That might be a tall task for the Amazin's. The Royals struck out just 973 times this season -- 134 fewer than any other team. They ranked second in the American League in stolen bases with 104.
Rodriguez declined to make a prediction on who he thinks will win the Series.
A-Rod also briefly discussed getting some experience as a broadcaster.
"I have a whole new appreciation for this thing. This is hard to do," he said. "And as you know, speaking into a camera has never been my strength."