Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees
Background: History follows Rodriguez like a puppy dog. He was the first selection of the 1993 draft. By the next summer he was starting at shortstop for the Mariners, only the third 18-year-old to man the position in the last century. He defected from the Mariners, signing a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Rangers. They never reached the playoffs with him on the team, and shipped him to the Yankees, paying $66 million of his remaining contract to facilitate the deal. Rodriguez, always a magnet for criticism, was roundly booed for opting out of his contract during the eighth inning of the World Series last fall.
What’s up: The Yankees are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. That in and of itself is shocking. That it could happen with A-Rod in uniform is telling. Since joining the Yankees in 2004, he has been MVP twice. But he’s developed a reputation for failing in the clutch. Rodriguez has four hits in his last 41 postseason at-bats with no RBIs, not exactly conjuring up memories of Reggie. He is 1-for-10 with bases loaded this season.
What’s next: A-Rod is more closely associated this season with TMZ than RBI. His well-publicized divorce and Madonna connection would be amusing if he was having a big year. The Yanks are wilting under expectations, with A-Rod the target of criticism.
Renck’s take: When I’ve been around A-Rod and interviewed him, he’s always struck me as a guy who tries too hard to be cool. He’s more of a follower than a leader, though his contract casts him as a pivotal clubhouse figure. The reality is this: Rodriguez should go down as one of the greatest players ever, as the all-time home run leader, helping scrub away the stained legacy of Barry Bonds. All those numbers, however, won’t matter if he never wins a World Series in New York. A-Rod is in danger of becoming a George Costanza breakup line: it’s not them, it’s him.
