The Alex Rodriguez Career Timeline

Alex Rodriguez. What more can be said by us that hasn’t already been said a million times throughout his career and especially over the last week. With Alex retiring rather than harping on one thing here or one thing there why don’t we just bring you his entire career timeline and let us battle it all out in the comments section or on Twitter? Sounds like a good idea to me so here we go, the Alex Rodriguez career timeline.

-          Alex was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners on June 3, 1993 and decides to sign rather than attend the University of Miami on a full baseball scholarship.

-          Alex was not long for the minor leagues as he made his MLB debut on July 8, 1994 at shortstop against the Boston Red Sox inside Fenway Park. He was 18-years old. The very next day he would record his first hit finishing the game 2-for-4.

-          It would take almost a full calendar year before Alex recorded his first home run and it came on June 12, 1995 against Kansas City Royals hurler Tom Gordon. It would another two calendar year’s later that Alex recorded his first ever cycle on June 5, 1997. Alex was the fifth youngest to ever do it and he did so at the expense of the Detroit Tigers.

-          Alex went from fan favorite to villain on Dec, 11 2000 after leaving Seattle via free agency for the Texas Rangers on a 10-year deal worth $252 million. This is easily the largest contract at the time in all of professional sports.

-          Four years later he went from being hated to being reviled after accepting a trade to the New York Yankees on February 16, 2004 for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later. Texas agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million still remaining on his contract thus beginning his Yankees tenure.

-          On April 26, 2005 Alex Rodriguez went off on Bartolo Colon and the Los Angeles Angels to the tune of three home runs and 10 RBI in a single game. A Rod also joined the 400 home run club on June 8^th and won his second AL MVP Award in November after slugging 48 home runs.

-          On August 4^, 2007 Alex joins the 500 home run club against the Kansas City Royals. Alex is the youngest member to do so and only the 22^nd in MLB history. Alex would win his third AL MVP in 2007 after slugging 54 home runs and knocking in 156 RBI but not before opting out of his deal during the World Series leaving $72 million on the table. Alex would sign a new deal with the Yankees on Dec, 17 2007 worth $275 million over 10 years just a day after going on 60 Minutes and telling the world that he has never used steroids or human growth hormones. The Mitchell Report, which was released on December 13, says otherwise.

-          Bombshell. On February 7, 2009 Sports Illustrated announced that Alex had tested positive for steroids back in 2003 and days later Rodriguez admitted it on national television while being interviewed by Peter Gammons. Alex was out with a hip injury at the time and would miss the beginning of the 2009 regular season.

-          Alex broke out in a big way in 2009 during the postseason including his Game 2 game-tying home run in the ninth inning against Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan eventually giving the Yankees a victory. In 15 playoff games that postseason Alex hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBI leading the Yankees to the World Series.

-          Another year, another drug scandal for Alex. This time it came on February 28, 2010 when Alex was linked to Tony Galea, a Canadian doctor facing charges for smuggling drugs into the United States, according to the New York Daily News. No charges were filed and no suspensions were levied. Later that season Alex joined the 600 home run club on August 4^th joining six other players to do so.

-          On December 3, 2012 it was announced that Alex would have to have his other hip surgically repaired and he did not return to the field until well into the 2013 season. He did not return before Jun 4, 2013 when ESPN broke the news that 20 players were linked to an anti-aging clinic down in Florida known as Biogenesis. Alex was one of those players, of course he was. On August 5^th of that year it was announced that Rodriguez would be suspended 211 games, Alex immediately appealed and continued to play in the next Yankees game.

-          A few nights later on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball the Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster intentionally threw behind and at Alex four different times before Alex got his revenge hitting a home run off the Boston righty later in the contest. Alex mocked David Ortiz’s home run trot and pose at home plate rubbing salt in the wound.

-          On September 20, 2013 Alex set a Major League record when he broke a tie with Yankees great Lou Gehrig when he hit his 24^th grand slam of his MLB career.

-          2015 was Alex’s last hurrah as he not only recorded his 3000^th hit on June 19, a solo home run off Justin Verlander, but he also hit his 660^th and 661^st home runs of his MLB career tying and eventually passing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list.

-          2016 was a different season and has been a different story for the Yankees DH though and on August 7^th, 2016 he announced that today, August 12^th, would be his final game in his MLB career after 22 MLB seasons. Alex finishes his career just a few home runs away from 700 home runs in his career.

There were so many more things and events that I could have touched on but there was just not enough time in the day and enough space on the blog. That’s how you know you’ve put up great stats and had a great career. It’s had its ups and downs and boy was it full of controversy for a long, long time but time heals all and time can begin the healing process now. Alex is done. Career over. Alex wins. 

Weekly Prospects Check In: Jorge Mateo & Alex Rodriguez

As the New York Yankees say hello to a plethora of prospects over the next couple of months and years the bittersweet reality is they will have to say goodbye to a few as well. It’s simple mathematics. You only have 40 available roster spots and 25 active roster spots and when you want to call up one of your top prospects, Aaron Judge, Tyler Austin or today’s showcase check in Jorge Mateo for example, you have to let a few go in order to accommodate. Today the Yankees say goodbye to Alex Rodriguez as he rides off into the sunset leaving his playing career behind so possibly the Yankees can welcome someone in his place.

So let’s get nostalgic with the past and bring you Alex Rodriguez’s career stats as they stand today:

Year	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
22 Yrs	2782	12199	2021	3114	547	696	2084	329	1338	2285	.295	.380	.550	.930	140

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

And let’s bring you something to look forward to with the stats of Jorge Mateo:

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	21	Tampa	92	415	55	97	11	8	44	29	28	91	.257	.308	.392	.700

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This is going to be an emotional night for many but maybe none more than me. I love Alex and I mean that. I loved him in Seattle, loved him in Texas, loved him after his interview with Peter gammons admitting steroid use, loved him after he slapped the glove of a Boston Red Sox player, loved him after Biogenesis and loved him even after he opted out of his contract during the World Series. I’m going to miss him and by the end of the day I think you’ll fully realize that.

This is Alex Rodriguez Day here on the blog. Everyone stand up. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/12: Happy Alex Rodriguez Day

No matter what happened before, what happens today and what happens years from now today is and will be known as Alex Rodriguez Day here on the blog. Say what you will about Alex, and I have said plenty both in favor of and against, but his tenure is New York is pretty much unmatched by most and today that playing career comes to an end. So Happy Alex Rodriguez Day Yankees family. Enjoy him one last time and let's embrace him tonight in the Bronx. He's earned it.


The best Yankees pitcher that gets little to no recognition and respect is Mel Stottlemyre and he made his major league debut way back when on this day in 1964 and got a little help from the Yankees All Star Mickey Mantle. Mantle would hit a home run from both sides of the plate 10 times in his career setting a new major league record.


Finally on this day in 1927 the Yankees acquired infielders Lyn Lary and Jimmie Reese from the PCL's Oakland Oaks for $125,000. Reese will immediately becomes Babe Ruth's roommate and be best known for his quote that he was "roomed with Ruth's suitcase."

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 8/11

Here we go one last time this series as Fenway Park opens its doors and welcomes the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox onto the field. In the finale the Yankees will look to scrape together a victory before heading home to say goodbye to Alex Rodriguez by sending Michael Pineda to the mound to square off against Eduardo Rodriguez for the home team. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Fenway Park and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

Say goodbye to Alex tomorrow in the Bronx by clicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. Even if you don’t get the tickets from us, just get them. There will be some sort of ceremony that takes place and it’s just one of those moments you as a Yankees fan, regardless of your level of fandom for the man, do not want to miss.

Follow along during this game, Alex’s goodbye and every game this season by either liking us on Facebook or by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter. But that’s tomorrow, let’s get through today first with a victory. Go Yankees!

Could the Yankees Land Kendrys Morales?

The New York Yankees have a big day ahead of them and a bittersweet day at that this Friday, August 12^th as Alex Rodriguez says goodbye to the game as a player and joins the Yankees front office. While many of us, myself included, clamored for which prospect we thought would come up to replace Alex when his 25 and 40 man roster spots are cleared I got thinking outside the box a little bit today and could have possibly come up with a Plan B. According to the Yankees the team is not waving the white flag for the 2016 season and according to reports before the August 1^st trading deadline the Kansas City Royals were in fact ready to wave the white flag and sell which got me thinking, could the Yankees land Kendrys Morales for their soon-to-be vacant DH spot?

The Yankees have no reason not to believe that they are at least in the discussion for the American League’s second Wild Card while KC’s GM Dayton Moore has said on more than one occasion that he would prefer to move both Morales and RHP Edinson Volquez before the August 31^st waiver trade deadline, could the Yankees be a match? If they are truly, yet reluctantly if at all possible, all in on the idea of playing for a play-in game then Morales makes a lot of sense without sacrificing too much of the future. Morales is a switch-hitting DH that can play some first base, although you probably don’t want him to at this point, and he also is set to hit free agency after the 2016 season.

New York could presumably take on all of the salary still owed to Morales while giving up a lesser prospect in the deal. I take the Tyler Clippard for Vicente Campos as a prime example of the type of deal we’re looking at here. I for one would rather see Tyler Austin or Aaron Judge come up and get their feet wet but if the Yankees are serious about making a run at this in 2016 and they want a veteran and proven bat they may have a “buy-low’ candidate in Morales right before their eyes. All Morales has to do now is clear waivers and that sometimes is easier said than done. 

Meet a Prospect: Tommy Layne

Just in time for the New York Yankees latest series to kick off with the Boston Red Sox the team added a former member of Red Sox nation to their bullpen. His name was Tommy Layne and he was a member of these same Boston Red Sox as recently as last weekend before the organization designated him for assignment and now he has latched on as a part of the Yankees in Joe Girardi’s bullpen. Let’s meet the man that better come with some trade secrets or something because this season the Yankees need all the help they can get. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Tommy Layne Edition.

Thomas Kevin Layne and I share a birthday almost to the year but as I was born in 1985 Tommy was born on November 2, 1984. That’s where the similarities between myself and Mr. Layne end as Layne attended Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Peters, Missouri where he played baseball and soccer. Layne did enough to catch the eye of Central Missouri University for a season before transferring to Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, North Carolina. While pitching for the Trojans Layne was named an All-American and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year in 2007. That was enough for the Arizona Diamondbacks to come calling in the 26^th round of the 2007 MLB Draft giving him the opportunity to begin his professional career.

By the 2011 season Layne had already reached Triple-A Reno and was knocking on the door to the Major Leagues. Layne thought he would be knocking on the door to Chase Field in Arizona but by May 3, 2012 it would be the door to Petco Park he would be knocking on because he was traded to the San Diego Padres for cash considerations. Layne was promoted to the Major Leagues and made his MLB debut on August 14^th of that season against the Atlanta Braves. Layne did well in his debut striking out the side in one inning giving the Padres enough confidence to keep him in their bullpen for the remainder of the 2012 season. Layne was not long for San Diego though as the Padres designated the lefty for assignment after the season leaving the southpaw a free agent for the very first time.

Layne was not a free agent for long as the Boston Red Sox came and snatched him up off the free agent market and stuck him in their farm system. Layne spent the 2014, 2015 and parts of the 2016 season in the minor leagues for Boston before once again being designated for assignment this month. Once again Layne did not stay a free agent for long though as the New York Yankees came calling adding him to their organization and their team. That’s all fine and well Mr. Layne but I am here to welcome you to the family… so welcome. Do well!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 8/11

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox one last time this series as these two teams square off in the finale of their three game set tonight inside Fenway Park. The Yankees seem to just have a mental block against this team this season as they have played most good teams well with the exception of their biggest rivals in the AL East Division. In the finale the Yankees will look to turn things around and get out of town with a victory by sending Michael Pineda to the mound to square off against the Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez. At least it’s not David Price, right?

Pineda has rebounded nicely from a horrific start to the season that can still be seen in his 5.17 ERA. Pineda has pitched much better of late though and has been striking out nearly 11 batters per nine innings even in his worst starts which is the best rate of his career and the best rate for any starting pitcher in the American League.

Wright is arguably heading into this start fresh off the best start of his MLB career where the knuckle baller held the Los Angeles Dodgers to just three hits in a complete game shutout. Wright struck out nine in the victory that came in front of family and friends from the Southern California area where he grew up.

Eduardo Rodriguez will make the start for an injured Steven Wright. 

The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Fenway Park and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. The penultimate game of Alex Rodriguez’s career, how bittersweet is tomorrow going to be? Especially after hearing the Fenway crowd scream for Alex on Tuesday night? I have to wonder if the Red Sox ownership and front office were listening because while they decided they weren’t going to do anything for Alex it sounds like the fans want something. Do you guys listen to your fans? Oh well. Either way, Go Yankees!

The Cry for Homegrown Talent May Be Ill Advised: 1998

Yesterday we looked at just how much the 1996 Yankees team was constructed through trades and free agency and not so much the farm system and today we look at the next Yankees team to win the World Series, the 1998 team. The Core Four was in full effect in 1998 with Jorge Posada behind the dish so the homegrown talent got a bit of a shot in the arm, was this team more homegrown then the 1996 season?

Let's look at possibly the greatest Yankees team and greatest team of all time and how they were assembled:

In the infield the Yankees still had Tino Martinez (Mariners) manning first base, Chuck Knoblauch (Twins) at second base, Scott Brosius (Athletics) at third base, and Chili Davis (Angels), Darryl Strawberry (Mets), and Tim Raines (Expos) splitting time at designated hitter. The Yankees did have Derek Jeter at short stop and Jorge Posada behind the dish which will be mainstays in these posts.

In the outfield New York had the warrior Paul O'Neill (Reds) in right field and Chad Curtis (Angels) in left field but had homegrown talent in Bernie Williams in center field. Shane Spencer and Ricky Ledee were on the bench as homegrown Yankees if that counts for anything.

In the starting rotation New York had David Cone (Royals), El Duque Orlando Hernandez (Cuba), Hideki Irabu (Japan), and David Wells (Blue Jays) in the rotation joining Andy Pettitte.

In the bullpen Mike Stanton (Braves and Red Sox) pitched in big spots along with Jeff Nelson (Mariners), Graeme Lloyd (Brewers), and Darren Holmes (Rockies). A lock in the Yankees bullpen has been Mariano Rivera and he came through the Yankees system along with Mike Buddie.

Once again the Yankees win it all, and 114 games, without a ton of home grown talent on the roster. I have a feeling if we did the 1999 World Series team we would see the same thing.... stay tuned.

Weekly Prospects Check In: Ben Heller

The New York Yankees added quite a few top end prospects before the August 1^st trading deadline and many of them have been introduced to you and showcased here on the blog. You know the names; Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Dillon Tate, Gleyber Torres and others but one name that is not getting enough attention around here in my opinion is that of Ben Heller. I hope to change that a bit today.

Heller was a relief pitcher and a closer for the Cleveland Indians before being shipped off to the Yankees in the Andrew Miller trade and now Heller is passing the time down in Scranton with the RailRiders. With the Yankees seemingly lack of relief in their middle relief Heller could be one of the next arms to get the call u to the Bronx. The Yankees have two open 40 man roster spots and they need all the bullpen relief they can get… Heller may be next so learn the name.

Year	Age	Lev	Aff	W	L	ERA	G	GF	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2016	24	AAA-AA	CLE-NYY	3	2	1.60	46	30	13	45.0	24	8	8	2	13	52	0.822	4.8	0.4	2.6	10.4
2016	24	AA	CLE	1	0	0.55	15	14	7	16.1	3	1	1	1	5	23	0.490	1.7	0.6	2.8	12.7
2016	24	AAA	CLE	2	2	2.49	28	13	5	25.1	20	7	7	1	7	25	1.066	7.1	0.4	2.5	8.9
2016	24	AAA	NYY	0	0	0.00	3	3	1	3.1	1	0	0	0	1	4	0.600	2.7	0.0	2.7	10.8

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Total Yankee Team Effort Leads to Victory Over Rival Red Sox

In Front of a sold out crowd at Fenway Park, the New York Yankees gutted out a game to victory over the rival Red Sox. Although Nathan Eovaldi started for the Yankees tonight, it took every member of the bullpen outside of Anthony Swarzak to nail down tonight's gritty come-back victory. The recent acquisition from San Diego, Drew Pomeranz took the ball for Boston and was also hit with a no decision as the Red Sox bullpen used every available member in this sloppy back and forth marathon of a game two.

After pitching a perfect first inning, Eovaldi was inexplicably pulled for Chasen Shreve in what was later described as "discomfort in his pitching elbow" and was sent back to New York for further evaluation.

And it was Shreve who allowed the Red Sox to put up the first runs of the game. In the bottom of the third, Shreve gave up a lead off single to Sandy Leon, who advanced to third on a Dustin Pedroia one-out double. The lefty then drilled All-Star shortstop Xander Bogarts to load the bases. And was pulled for fresh call up from the Scranton Express Blake Parker. Parker got Mookie Betts to ground out, scoring Leon from third to put the Red Sox ahead by one. But then the rookie right-hander got David Ortiz to pop out to left to end the frame.

The Red Sox put another run on the board in the bottom of the fourth as they continued to knock the Yankees bullpen around. Jackie Bradley Jr. started with a single to center, advancing into second on a Travis Shaw walk. Surprisingly hot hitting Sandy Leon followed with another single to right, loading the bases for the Sox yet again with one out. Parker then induced a ground ball off the bat of Triple-A Pawtucket call up Andrew Benintendi that scored Bradley Jr. and extended the Boston lead to two. Then, Parker was lifted for Nick Goody, Who immediately got Pedroia to pop out to end the fourth.

The Bombers got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth when Didi Gregorius smacked a solo shot off Pomeranz into the bullpen and right, pulling the Yankees back to within one.

Although there was no scoring to report on in the bottom of the fifth, it was not because there was a lack of drama. Goody began the inning by walking Xander Bogarts, a double to Mookie Betts that advanced Bogarts to third and an intentional walk to David Ortiz to load the bases for the third time in the game. After the walk, Goody was pulled for former Red Sox and recent addition Tommy Layne, who proceeded to get Jackie Bradley Jr. to pop out to Teixeira and struck out pinch hitter Aaron Hill to end the inning, incredibly without a run crossing home plate.

In the bottom of the sixth, however, is where the Sox really started to press the Bomber bullpen. Layne walked Leon, Benintendi singled which forced Girardi to pull Layne for Tyler Clippard. Clippard immediately allowed a Pedroia RBI single down the left-field line that scored Leon, 3-1, and then an RBI ground out to Bogarts to extend a lead to 4-1. And had it not been for an unbelievable throw by  Gregorius to gun Bogarts out at the plate, trying to score off a Mookie Betts double, the inning could've got really out of hand.

Few times this season have I been as excited as I was in the top of the seventh as they came back to take the lead on their bitter rivals. Matt Barnes came on in relief of Pomeranz and proceeded to allow back-to-back singles to Gregorius and rookie Gary Sanchez. The next batter Austin Romine singled to left, scoring Gregorius to make it a two-run ballgame. In his only at bat so far in the series, Alex Rodriguez pinch hit for Hicks and popped out to right field, moving Sanchez to third-base with one out. Left-hander Fernando Abad was called upon to relieve Barnes and immediately serves up a rocket to Jacoby Ellsbury under the glove of Hanley Ramirez that scored Sanchez and brought the Yankees back to within one. Chase Headley followed up with a single of his own, this one to left that scored Romine and tied the game at four. Abad was yanked for Junichi Tazawa, who walked Teixeira to fill up the bases for Starlin Castro. Castro ripped a single down the left-field line that scored Ellsbury and Headley to put the Yanks up for the first time at 6-4. Gregorius popped out to end the frame as the Yankees batted around in a 37 minute seventh inning.

Adam Warren was brilliant in relief tonight as he held the Red Sox scoreless, allowing his offense to really open up the game in the top of the eighth. Gary Sanchez started the inning by launching a 426 foot blast over the green monster for his first big league homerun, 7-4 New York. Tazawa then walked Romine, and was taken out for Robbie Ross. Rob Redsnyder. Who replaced Hicks (Rodriguez), singled off of Ross and both he and Romine advanced a base when the lefty threw a wild pitch past Leon during Brett Gardner's at bat. After a Jacoby Ellsbury walked, Ross plated the eighth Yankee run with another wild pitch that scored Romine and also advanced Refsnyder to third. Headley popped out to Ranirez and yet another Ross wild pitch scored Refsnyder from third in a Teixeira at-bat that made it a 9-4 score, where it would remain for the rest of the ballgame, thanks to three brilliant innings by Warren and Betances.

Each and every member of the Yankees were responsible for this win tonight, and look to continue their momentum in the rubber game tomorrow, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM/EST.