With A-Rod already hitting 32 on the year after coming off a FULL years suspension, it's what every Yankee fan could dream of. When the Yanks have other high paid athletes that aren't producing, not only hitters but pitchers too, it puts even more weight on his shoulders and personally in my opinion I think he's the guy that comes through. Rodriguez has had trouble coming in the clutch in the post-season in the past but that was due to living under the shadow of Derek Jeter.Jeter and Rodriguez were the star short stops of their generation and when the Yankees acquired A-Rod in a trade from the Texas Rangers and put him at third base the tension already started to build but they would never let you see it. A-Rod who went from being the face of the franchise in Texas was basically under Jeter's right arm now and you could tell it didn't suit him well.
Now with Jeter retired, it is safe to say this is Alex's team now. The guy has been a visible leader since the start of the season and you can see is trying to be involved in ever aspect of the team as much as he can.
With Alex strictly becoming the DH, it even gives him more reason to produce, coming off two hip surgeries in the past, all he gets to do is swing the bat and hopefully hit a home run. Fans get pissed at him when he doesn't run out ground balls to third but why should he? He's not that same A-Rod we saw 15 years ago with quick hands and feet, no he's turned into an absolute power monster.
To basically sum it up, if this team wants the AL Pennant, all they can hope to do is that Rodriguez comes up in the clutch.
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