Can Alex Rodriguez mend his image at all in 2015?
Alex Rodriguez is considered — not without controversy — one of the best baseball players of the past two decades in Major League Baseball.
He was a gifted shortstop with soft hands during his career in Seattle with the Mariners as well as with the Texas Rangers. During much of the 1990s there was always a debate as to who indeed was the best shortstop in the American League. It was a battle between four heavyweights. In each corner there was Rodriguez, Boston’s Nomar Garciaparra, Baltimore’s Cal Ripken and New York’s Derek Jeter. Fans differed in opinions, but A-Rod is the only one with a now tarnished image.
On February 16, 2004 the baseball world was shaken to its core when Rodriguez, a prized commodity, was traded to the loathsome Bronx Bombers. Heading the other direction back to Texas was then 28-year-old second baseman Alfonso Soriano.
When Rodriguez left to join the New York Yankees, questions abounded as to where he would play as, Jeter was already manning shortstop. Management and Rodriguez thought for the betterment of the team that he could play third base and produce a dynamic duo on the left side of the infield with Jeter.
All are aware of the sins and errors in judgement off the field by Rodriguez. As he returns to the game in 2015, there are plenty of questions surrounding what he has left to offer at the age of 39.
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Former teammate Andy Pettitte also had errors in judgement and went seeking forgiveness from Yankees nation. He was forgiven. In a perceived less than sincere act of contrition, Rodriguez has also apologized. It will be interesting to see how fans view his return to Yankee Stadium. What will the interaction be like over the course of the season between manager Joe Girardi, Yankees management and fellow teammates conversing with or about Rodriguez? Will things grow sour quickly if he cannot produce? The New York media’s scrutiny can be a distraction at any time and this story is sure to hang around for most of the season.
During Spring Training, the Yankees’ skipper offered this about A-Rod:
"I was really pleased with what Alex did,” Girardi said. “I’ve said all along, I thought Alex was going to help us, but I mean, it’s two years, really, since he played. I wasn’t 100-percent sure. If I was a betting man, I would have bet on him playing well, but there’s still that, you’ve got to see it after two years of not playing and being 39 and a half."
Chase Headley, Rodriguez’s roadblock to regular playing time at third base, was the only regular hitting better than him for a time this spring. Headley finished tuning up for the regular season with a .305 average and three home runs, but he struck out 17 times in his 59 at-bats.
Monday, April 6, is the start of the 2015 New York Yankees’ season. The Yankees have a rather old and veteran lineup. It is also the start of a brand new era without their beloved former captain, Derek Jeter. Rodriguez will attempt to resurrect himself amidst this backdrop. Yankees faithful can be fairly ruthless against those who have done wrong in their eyes. Players have faced scrutiny and are often booed incessantly.
Rodriguez’s first at-bat this new season at Yankee Stadium should come against the Toronto Blue Jays. It will be extremely interesting to see how he is received upon approaching home plate. Will he get a round of applause? Or perhaps booing and even cussing and profanity will be on tap for A-Rod.
GM Brian Cashman and Girardi beneath the surface would like for their hands to be washed clean of the Rodriguez drama from 2014 and have him no longer be part of the Yankees family if he’s going to be a distraction. No Major League team is going to want to touch that hefty contract, though, so it could be suggested that Rodriguez is the one who’s driving the bus as he can call the shots. The Yankees won’t want to bench Rodriguez and pay him to do nothing.
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If Rodriguez’s bat is productive and he can be instrumental in bringing a division title to the Bronx, fans will forget the grief of last season. If A-Rod can flash fine leather at third base or even after a suspected move to first base, then he could be praised as the long lost soul coming home. However, some of the fan base has to worry that a full year away from the game may cause the reflexes and reaction time to not be quite up to par with the league standards at age 39. If his bat doesn’t succeed, having him occupying a spot on the 25-man roster might be a hindrance as opposed to a success.
Since Jeter’s farewell tour last year, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding baseball in the Bronx. In comes Rodriguez. If the drama can subside and he can diminish the influence of the media, maybe he can get a farewell tour of sorts for himself.
Alex Rodriguez’s remaining time in New York can be repaired. If he can maintain a similar level of success he had during Spring Training over the course of the season, then all may not be lost.
No matter what happens, the name Alex Rodriguez will bring about different emotions to different people. Certain words like ‘steroids’ and ‘Biogenesis’ will always be present thoughts that come to mind regarding his tenure in the league. To some, A-Rod’s legacy might be a good one — to others, it will be bad. Even still, others may define it as downright ugly.