A lot of people have credited the Yankees potent lineup for Alex Rodriguez’s increased patience at the plate.

The thinking being that with Mark Teixeira, Hideki Matsui and company surrounding A-Rod he was more willing to trust the batters around him. But Rodriguez said today, before the Yankees worked out at the Stadium, that it was the Bombers’ improved pitching that has allowed him to relax more this postseason.

“It’s the great pitching and that’s when you realize the value of one run (with our pitchers) it equals three or four runs,” Rodriguez said. “You realize that a walk, a two-out double, a two-out homer is equivalent to a lot. And I think that has taken our offense to a different approach – patience, pass the baton. Where in past years you try to hit a four-run homer with nobody on base.”

Rodriguez is in the midst of his best playoff performance in pinstripes. He is hitting .438 with five home runs and 12 RBIs with many of those blasts coming in clutch situations. He also has walked nine times as the Angels started intentionally walking him late in close games toward the end of the ALCS.

The Yankees signed CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett this offseason to bolster their starting rotation. That high-priced pair, along with Andy Pettitte, have all pitched brilliantly this postseason with the exception of Burnett’s rough four-run first inning in Game 5 against the Angels.

“I thought we had to score six or seven runs to win each game,” said A-Rod, as he prepares for his World Series. “But now you feel like the first one to three or four runs will win. It’s a big difference.”