Alex Rodriguez will not start in game 5 of ALDS
Earlier today BNS wrote about which Yankees players could potentially be heroes in Game 5 of the ALDS with Baltimore. While the more obvious choices were CC Sabathia, Robinson Cano or Derek Jeter, we said Alex Rodriguez is close to an automatic out. As it turns out Yankees skipper Joe Girardi thinks so as well. Rodriguez will be replaced in the lineup and at third base by Eric Chavez.
“Obviously I’m not happy and, you know, I was disappointed. You want to be in there in the worst way,” Rodriguez said before the game. “But I keep telling you guys, this is not a story about one person, this is about a team. We have some unfinished business. Our objective is to win one game and keep this thing moving.”
Rodriguez is 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series, and he is not the only Yankees player struggling. Curtis Granderson is 1 for 16 with 9 strikeouts. Nick Swisher id 2 for 15. Rodriguez has been pinch hit for twice in critical situations the past two games. Rodriguez said after Game 4 that he “absolutely” thought he would be starting at third in the next game. Chavez had an .908 OPS against righties during the regular season, while Rodriguez’s was .717, so there is merit to the move.
The man has a lot of pride and the man has accomplished a lot in his career,” Girardi said of Rodriguez. “I’m sure it’s not easy. I mean, imagine if you’re in his shoes? Everyone wants to be in it. I always wanted to play, too. And I understood. It’s something he’ll have to deal with.”
