Right before the 2004 season, the Yankees made a huge trade for 2003 American League MVP Alex Rodriguez. Moving from shortstop to third – the Yanks already had Derek Jeter at shortstop – some fans believed the team was going to set the world on fire. A-Rod got a considerable contract from the Yanks to the tune of 10 years, $275 million dollars.
The contract, and his early performances in pinstripes, made him public enemy number one to fans as well as to some members of the New York media. However, when he became a World Series champion in 2009, it looked like he might earn some of that contract; but oh how quickly things change. He was always given the side eye because of his drastic body change between his time in Seattle and his time in the Bronx. (The chronic hip and knee injuries didn’t help his public image.) He became the guy who was never on the field but was taking home a fat check.
[bibblio style=”bib–default bib–hover bib–white-label bib–row-2 bib–title-only bib–size-16 bib–font-arial” query_string_params=”e30=” recommendation_type=”optimised”]
The hate rained down, and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did: In 2009, after years of denying it, A-Rod admitted to using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). He blamed it on the “pressure to perform” in Texas after the mega-deal he signed. For myself as a fan, I saw a dream player fall apart and not live up to the hype.
From 2004-2007, the postseason was a house of horrors for him, always coming up empty in the clutch, even batting sub .200 in 2005/2006. Those are not the numbers you expect from a franchise player. He was no Derek Jeter, the captain was a class act on and off the field; he was compared to legends but never came close to them, and was reminded of it… often. Yet he always came across as taking the heat to heart.
In the 2009 season, he showed up when it counted and helped bring a title back to the Big Apple. Some of the haters became fans of Rodriguez; some people considered him a fighter. I was not one of them. I expected more from him for all the talent he had.
In 2015, he came to camp fresh and focused. At age 39, he hit 33 home runs and knocked in 86 runs. Once again, the guy everyone loves to hate led a surprise Yankees playoff run. Every time we think he’s done he comes back; he fights back.
The PEDs scandal will never go away, and his lying about it for years and making a profit from it makes it tough to like him. Blaming the pressure of a contract and being young isn’t a good enough excuse for most people. After he lied for so long to so many people, how could you forgive him?
Judging from this season’s play, it seems like the fat lady may be showing up soon. The A-Rod story looks like it is coming to an end, but then again, by now we should all know to expect another twist in his baseball tale.
For more Yankees insight and analysis, follow Joe Cardoso on Twitter @Cright.
Hero (Top) Feature Image (& Additional Images): © Allen Kee / ESPN Images