Brian Cashman on how Yankees fans should remember Alex Rodriguez
Its time for the charade to end.
Its time for Joe Girardi to admit what we all know: Alex Rodriguezs time with the Yankees has come to its conclusion.
No, the Yankees havent released A-Rod yet, so his official time in pinstripes continues. But after sitting him Wednesday night against lefty Steven Matz and Thursday against Bartolo Colon a pitcher A-Rod hit like a piata throughout his entire career the question was posed to the manager: Just when do you ever see yourself starting Rodriguez as your DH again?
I cant really tell you exactly when Im going to play him, Girardi said before Thursdays game. We brought Sanchey up, and we said that Sanchey was going to play. Ill probably catch him tomorrow, and Ill go from there. The righthanders have given Alex the most struggles. We want to see what Sanchey can do. So Im not sure. I cant really tell you. I cant give you a day.
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Thats because there is no day. Not now, not ever.
Sanchey, of course, is Gary Sanchez, the Yankees top catching prospect and part of the teams new-found youth movement. If Sanchez and Brian McCann figure to see most of the DH at-bats this season and A-Rod is reduced to nothing more than a pinch-hitter, whats the use in even having Rodriguez here?
Girardi has continually said hes looking for ways to get A-Rod at-bats, checking out matchups on a daily basis. Yet Rodriguezs history against Colon hes 23-for-52 (.442) with eight home runs, 20 RBI and an astounding 1.525 OPS against the 43-year-old wasnt enough for Girardi, who pointed out that most of that damage came more than a decade ago.
You want to talk about matchups with Bartolo Colon; obviously the numbers are tremendous, right? Girardi said, trying to defend his decision. Do you know what he did in 2012? Has anyone really (checked)? No, you didnt really do (the research). Its not so much looking at numbers, in a sense. I do look at matchups, but there are other things that you look at too, and his struggles have come against right-handers.
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Nobody was debating any of those facts, as A-Rod has faced Colon only six times since the end of the 2007 season. But if Colon and his high-80s fastball isnt a good matchup for A-Rod, and Girardi refuses to play him against lefties, either, then hes just taking up a roster spot that could easily go to Ben Gamel, Aaron Judge or some other minor-leaguer.
So why is he still here?
Hes part of our team, Girardi said. Thats the bottom line. Hes part of our team, and at times I was going to pinch-hit him last week. I think I did pinch him, and well just see as we move forward.
The last part is what were all tired of hearing. Saying well see indicates that theres a chance things could change. But there isnt. Girardi couldnt come up with any scenario in which he would start A-Rod, so what exactly are they seeing?
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Hes thrown him out there against hard-throwing righthanded relievers at other times. Whats the point of doing that if the manager refuses to play him against better matchups?
Sometimes youre looking for a home run, Girardi said. And he has the ability to do that.
At least he admits that much. Im not saying A-Rod is still a 30-homer guy, but with nine homers in 216 at-bats this season, hes still more of a threat to hit the long ball than Aaron Hicks or Rob Refsnyder. If the Yankees are still operating under the guise of trying to make a run at a playoff spot, then A-Rod should get a look from time to time when the matchup against somebody like Colon, perhaps? presents itself.
If not, just let him go. This is getting to be like Groundhog Day.
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This isnt even about whether or not A-Rod plays. Its about the constant excuses coming out of Girardis mouth when asked about Rodriguez. If hes not ever going to play, just say so. Enough with the matchups nonsense.
Girardi was clearly irritated by the barrage of A-Rod questions Thursday. He said nobody in the front office is telling him whether or not to play A-Rod, while also making it clear that any decision regarding Rodriguezs presence on the roster is above his pay grade.
These arent really fair questions, are they? Girardi said. I mean, hes part of our club, and hes going to continue to be a part of our club. Thats the bottom line. I manage the players, and Ill continue to manage them the best way I feel for the club to win games.
Based on what weve seen lately, that means with A-Rod on the bench.
Tags: mlb new york yankees alex rodriguez gary sanchez joe girardi dh debate Send a Letter to the Editor Join the Conversation: facebook TweetSource: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/stop-charade-yankees-juts-cut-alex-rodriguez-article-1.2739254
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