New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez watches from the bench in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Column: Day of reckoning had to come for A-Rod
New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez watches from the bench in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
By TIM DAHLBERG
AP Sports Columnist /
October 14, 2012
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Rodriguez helped the Yankees win a World Series in 2009 — the only ring he has earned in his career. But he’s hitting .152 with no homers and six RBIs in postseason play since then, and hasn’t homered in his last 84 at-bats.
There’s not much the Yankees can do about it. Any idea of a trade is almost laughable considering his contract, and it’s hard to imagine any team wanting him anyway. He'll likely finish his career in pinstripes as a very average and often hurt third baseman booed by home fans every time he goes into a slump.
It’s hard to imagine him ever getting a plaque at Yankee Stadium like Derek Jeter will surely get. With his admission of steroid use he’s not a lock for the Hall of Fame, either.
Nobody is going to feel sorry for Rodriguez, no matter how it ends. He isn’t a sympathetic figure to begin with, and the obscene amount of money he has made playing baseball further colors almost every impression of him, even when he makes a point of cheering on his teammates from the dugout.
The Yankees bought into him anyway. And nobody will feel sorry for them as they continue to pay the price.
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Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org or http://twitter.com//timdahlberg
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