Alex Rodriguez is playing his last game for the Yankees
tonight.
It’s been a series of ups and downs for him while a member
of the Yankees. We all know he did many questionable things off the field that
very likely affected his performance on the field. It frustrates me because he had
all the talent in the world, and similar to Barry Bonds, had he stayed clean we’d
be celebrating him for his accomplishments, other than celebrating the fact
that he is no longer in the game, as many fans surely are.
For a while in the mid-2000s, he was the greatest player I
had ever seen. He had the whole package, and it was astounding to see him put
it together and watch it every day, especially in 2005 and 2007, his two MVP
seasons with the Yankees. I am sure Seattle and Texas fans each felt that way
as well, but watching him each day was incredibly impressive, something I didn't get a change to see before he arrived in NY.
Yesterday I watched a few highlights of his, and it’s easy
to forget how well he moved around those years. Before he really bulked up and
before the bad hips and other ailments, he was so light on his feet and quick in any direction. I
tend to have a short term memory when it comes to baseball, so it’s easy for me
to forget the player of the past when watching the player of the present.
I’ll never forget where I was the day the Yankees acquired
Alex. My friends had come up to visit me at Syracuse, and once the report
popped up on ESPN that ARod was headed to the Yankees – a bomb that was dropped out of
nowhere – it was so surreal. My friends had just left and were headed back
home, so I called them from my Nokia cell phone and told them. I just remember
a collective, “wait, what?”
Luckily I got to see Rodriguez play many times in-person
over the next few seasons, and was fortunate enough to be in attendance for his 500th
HR. Obviously that doesn’t quite mean as much now, but it was very cool to see
in person.
I’m not sure if this is it for Alex, or if he’ll decide to
play again. Regardless, it’s been a pleasure watching him day in and day out,
right or wrong, clean or unclean. New York, and baseball, just got a little
less interesting.
This has to be one of the more interesting times to be a Yankee fan. Look at all the prospects! You should be excited.
ReplyDeleteVery true. It's already started to show on the ML level with Gary Sanchez, and it's only going to get better.
DeleteConsidering the history of baseball players who've all probably done something to boost their stats (be it greenies or PEDs or whatever) I don't know what to think about drug use anymore (except that the media harping on drug use whenever it happens is annoying).
ReplyDeleteA-Rod's still one of the greatest of players of all time for me though. The 90's/00's had a lot of fun moments and A-Rod was a big part of that. #ThankYouAlex
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201643180875?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
ReplyDeleteThat's neat!
Delete