For those of you who think that baseball is too boring and too slow paced I would like to introduce you to a baseball player by the name of Alex Rodriguez. He is the third baseman for the New York Yankees and having the greatest 18 games to start a season ever. He has hit 14 homeruns during those games and driven in 34 runs also. He is currently tied for the most homeruns ever hit in the month of April and is just a few RBI's away from breaking that record also. I personally am happy for A-Rod and the success he is having this season after how poorly he was treated last season not only by Yankee fans, but the media, his teammates and his coaches as well.
Alex Rodriguez won the AL MVP in 2005 with the New York Yankees and then during the 2006 season was completely thrown under the bus by the media, teammates, fans, and even his manager, Joe Torre. Just because A-Rod didn't have a typical year where he hit .300 and had 40+ HR and drive in 130 RBI's the fans called for his head and booed every time he came to the plate. The media made him the whipping boy for the Yankees losses and ignored the fact that their pitching rotation was decimated with injuries and that half their roster was in the big leagues when A-Rod was first playing T-Ball. His teammates called him a bad teammate and singled him out about his "lack" of production. The classy and flashy captain of the Yanks, Derek Jeter, even called him out at one point last year. Jason Giambi said that he needed to deliver more and hold up his end. To me this was hilarious because it wasn't too long ago that this steroid injecting slugger was in A-Rod's shoes: the lucrative contract, the high expectations, and the massive disappointment from the fans. You would think that this guy would side with A-Rod and stick up for him but instead he throws him under the bus. Giambi was suppose to save the Bronx Bombers his first year there but instead was a huge bust. He had to completely revamp his swing after he got off the juice and there were times when the brass of the Yanks were contemplating sending Giambi to the minors or just releasing him altogether. Joe Torre is the manager who quietly sits on the bench and is widely considered a players coach because he doesn't ride his players too hard and is very loyal. Torre was so loyal to A-Rod last season that at times he would hit him in the 8-hole. Are you kidding me the reining MVP who still hit .290 with 35 bombs and 121 RBI's was hitting in the freaking 8-hole.
This season though now that A-Rod is doing things that we have never seen before the fans view him as a god and are so thankful that they get to see him wearing that number 13 jersey and playing third base. The media is finally pointing out the true reasons why the Yankees are below .500 and are saying, "Imagine where they would be if it wasn't for A-Rod?" His teammates have only good things to say about him and they're all waiting with smiles when he touches home plate after each of his 14 homeruns. His beloved manager was recently asked about A-Rod and he responded with, "The sky is the limit... the sky is the limit for Alex... it is scary." Where was all this love at last year when he still posted numbers that for most players are career years?
I can proudly say that I never once faltered or jumped off the A-Rod train last year as I traded FOR him in every one of my fantasy baseball leagues last year. So when everyone was jumping off the train, I was moving my way up to first class. So now that A-Rod is walking on water this month I stick my head out of the window and laugh at everyone scrambling to jump back aboard the train. I say CONGRATULATIONS A-ROD YOU DESERVE THIS.
oh yeah and ALL ABOARD!!!!!!!!
Clay Jackson
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