I'm definitely not the first journalist to write about the drama that is Alex Rodriguez, and I'm certainly not going to be the last. But I figured there was no better time than now to pitch in my two cents. I bet A-Rod would swing and whiff at it, though.
The circus, I mean A-Rod, is coming back to New York. Or at least so he says. New York Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman said they hoped to have him back next week against the Texas Rangers, but A-Rod went ahead and said he "expects" to be back against the Rangers. At least he let the Yankees talk first this time.
Since we last saw Rodriguez riding the bench and looking for women in the stands during the 2012 American League Championship Series, Rodriguez has had serious hip surgery, which has caused all of this rehab and the league's Biogenesis investigation has centered and taken aim at him with lengthy suspensions expected any day now. That's just the start of it.
Last week, Rodriguez met with MLB investigators to talk about the investigation into the defunct-Biogenesis and Anthony Bosch. Reports were Rodriguez emerged from the meeting shaken by what happened, but what was even more surprising is what came later that night. On July 12, Rodriguez just skipped a game in Tampa.
How? Why? WHAT?! You have one job…to play baseball. And you blow off the game! Sure, the game was rained out in the end, but that's not how it works. If I just didn't show up to my job, I would be out of a job faster than one of A-Rod's rare home run balls nowadays gets out of the stadium. The same goes for most people reading this article.
On-the-field for Rodriguez has been nearly as comical as his off-the-field drama. The organization announced Wednesday A-Rod will move his rehab assignment to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Entering Thursday, Rodriguez had gone 5-for-28 in his rehab assignment; good for a .178 batting average. Minor league pitchers are getting him out with ease. What's to say major league pitchers like Yu Darvish—who he's scheduled to face his first night back with the Yankees—aren't going to have an even easier time? Absolutely nothing.
David Adams, the primary fill-in at third for the Yankees, is hitting .190. The difference: David Adams is David Adams. He's not Alex Rodriguez. (That's probably a blessing down the road given all the drama that surrounds Rodriguez.) Adams is in his rookie season. Rodriguez, once he does play in a major league game, will start his 20th season in the bigs.
After this season, Rodriguez is owed $86 million through the final four years of his 10-year, $275 million contract. That prompted Sporting News to give Rodriguez the honor of having the No. 1 spot atop their list of Major League Baseball's worst contracts. The money that could be spent on the next full-time third baseman is sitting as dead weight and ticketed for Alex Rodriguez's bank account. So yeah, that might be one of the worst contracts in the history of baseball.
The Yankees were shut down in the pursuit of San Diego Padres' third baseman Chase Headley, which shows the faith Yankee brass has in Rodriguez when he does return from the disabled list regardless of if it's next week or next year.
So get ready for the circus. I mean, A-Rod. Why do I keep saying "circus?" Oh, I know. Because that's exactly what it is.
The Yankees start the second half of the season Friday against the Boston Red Sox. With the starting rotation given extended rest due to the All-Star break and the over-the-hill clan of veterans getting a few days off to recharge and try to perform like they did through the first month of the season, the Yankees need a good showing in what could prove to be a very telling weekend for the the rest of the season.
Come out with a win or two and they still have a shot. Get swept and it might as well all be over before the circus even arrives back in town.