A-Rod To Have Monster Season

A-Rod hopes to celebrate his
 second World Series title in
2011 rather than his fourth
MVP.

It's 2011. Which means New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have a monster campaign.

Dating back to 2003, Rodriguez won his first American League Most Valuable Player Award with the Texas Rangers. Months later he would be shipped to New York for second baseman Alfonso Soriano. He would continue the tradition in the Big Apple by winning his second MVP award in 2005.

Then in 2007, Rodriguez set the record for most home runs hit by a Yankee right-handed hitter with 54 long balls, capturing his most recent AL MVP.

Despite Rodriguez did not bring home his fourth MVP Award home in 2009, he did however, exercise his postseason demons, blasting six home runs and winning his first career World Series title, something he would say trumps any individual accolade.

A-Rod has recorded a Major League record 13 straight 30 home run, 100 RBI seasons, but has been able to reach 40 since '07. That may be due to the injury factor and Rodriguez having hip surgery prior to the start of '09 season. The 13-time All-Star says he is healthy and ready to get back to his full workout regime, something he has been unable to do the last two seasons, still feeling the effects of the surgery.

Rodriguez seems to be in a different place mentally after admitting to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs and having success in the postseason the last two seasons. Now, with him finally fully recovered the Yankees can expect a huge year from Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is coming off a great spring, driving the ball with authority. He hit .388 with six home runs and drove in 15 runs.

If the pattern continues A-Rod will either win his fourth career MVP Award in his decorated career or the Yankees will raise their 28th World Series Trophy in franchise history, either way it's an odd year and can expect another great year from the Yankee third baseman.