About that slump

More hijinks as we look back on the season.

Around the All-Star break, Torre summoned the team for a closed-door meeting and somehow found the right words to spark a remarkable turnabout.

Alex Rodriguez started getting clutch hits. The Yanks wooed Roger Clemens out of retirement, and rookies Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes stepped up. The Yanks posted the best second-half record in baseball to win the wild card.

Right.

If you recall, Alex couldn't get a clutch hit in April when his stats were a shitty

.355/.415/.882

Indeed, though, in May he "slumped," hitting

.235/.366/.422

Although, not yet at the All-Star Break, in June Alex limped through the month with a line of

.402/.496/.773

Hooray, the All-Star Break and the skipper's well aimed boot at A-Rod's wealthy ass, who responded in July with

.206/.361/.474

Unfortunately, that stellar month was followed by August, in which Mr. Rodriguez clanged out

.330/.434/.620

Finishing September with

.362/.470/.723.

Oh, and by the way, Roger Clemens was little better than a fifth starter and had no bearing on the turn-around. Joba didn't join the club until August, and Hughes was injured for most of the season, but whatever.