What It Must Be Like To Be Alex Rodriguez Today

How far the mighty have fallen, huh? Alex Rodriguez has had his fair share of ups and downs with the Yankees but has seemed to kind of (finally) fall into the flow and mix in with everybody else lately, something that has always brought praises to Derek Jeter. After not doing much to help his own cause including the steroids issue, the World Series opt out, the crawling back to the Yankees after that plan backfired, Madonna, etc etc etc Alex seemed like he was back on the right track. He led the team to a World Series title in 2009 while erasing a ton of the monkeys that were on his back. Alex is known for always saying the right thing at the right time and while I understand politically correctness I more so appreciate honesty and anyone who read Joe Torre's book has to question his sincerity, integrity, and honesty. I bring that up because who would not want to be a fly on the wall of Alex Rodriguez's locker or a fingerprint on his phone right now.

The guy, for his standards, had a pretty miserable season overall while leading the team in stolen bases and tying his back up, Eric Chavez, in home runs. Add on top of that a broken hand from a Felix Hernandez pitch that kept him out for nearly 40 games and you have to wonder what is going on inside his head. Then there was the lengthy extra base hit and home run drought that he faced to end the regular season campaign. Alex did not come into the post season on a high and he definitely, especially if it ends tonight, will not be leaving on one. Alex was pinch hit for in the bottom of the 9th in an eventual Game 3 Yankees win by the eventual hero (2 times) Raul Ibanez. While he did and said all the right things you know that had to get inside his head a little bit. The very next night, last night's Game 4, Alex was pinch hit for again in the bottom of the 9th but this time by Eric Chavez. To throw salt in the wound he was now benched tonight in a decisive Game 5 in the ALDS.

The worst part about it all may be the fact that guys like Ichiro Suzuki, Robinson Cano, Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson, hell basically anyone not named Derek Jeter or Mark Teixeira have had equally bad, if not worse, series to date. Not much is being said about many of these guys even though they are players that we rely heavily on to move the line and keep the offense going but it is instead, once again, always coming back to Alex. The big spot, the controversy, the lime light, it always seems to find Alex doesn't it? Just think Yankees fans we have 5 more years and $114 million left of this too and it is only going to get worse from here.