ANAHEIM — Alex Rodriguez may always be remembered as a cheater, but he’s no longer a choker.
Rodriguez has gone from gags to riches this postseason, belting four home runs in six games. His fourth-inning shot Monday off the Angels’ Jered Weaver appeared it would ricochet off the Panda Express sign above the left-field concourse.
Rodriguez entered the playoffs as the biggest “Fall Guy” since Lee Majors. He owned a 22-game postseason drought without an RBI. That ended against the Minnesota Twins in the division series opener.
He hasn’t stopped hitting. Before the playoffs began, Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, a past critic of A-Rod’s, predicted that he would do well.
Why?
“He’s more relaxed,” Jackson told me during batting practice Monday. “And 103 wins can do a lot to help team chemistry.”
Rodriguez has never been well-liked by teammates since joining the Yankees in 2004 — until this year. Teammates have warmed up to him as he has revealed more humanizing qualities. He admitted to using steroids before the season — a confession that could still keep him out of Coopers- town, regardless of his statistics — and seemed humbled by hip surgery.
When Rodriguez returned in May, he was no longer the focal point of the team. He seemed unburdened. A rebound relationship with actress Kate Hudson hasn’t hurt either, A-Rod enjoying life free of Madonna and divorce drama.
The Yankees moved on in Rodriguez’s absence, finding leadership and success through the class of ’96 — Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte. Rodriguez avoided the limelight, playing the role of a supporting actor, showing his value through performance, not immature statements. That’s why Jackson believed A-Rod was ready to break out.
“I didn’t run from the truth. Some guys, when they admit something, it makes them dig deeper to show people. I loved that,” Jackson said. “Maybe they heard I was arguing with the manager, or that there was some controversy. I wasn’t trying to create it. But when it was out, I wouldn’t hide from it.”
If Jackson is right, Mr. October might have tabbed the next Mr. November.
Footnotes.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman asked when colleague Dan O’Dowd was going to get his new contract. Soon, he was told. Very soon. . . . Former Rockie Brian Fuentes was booed when he entered the game in the ninth inning, fans holding him responsible for A-Rod’s home run in Game 2. Fuentes intentionally walked A-Rod on Monday with two out and none on, and struck out two in his scoreless appearance. . . . CC Sabathia, today’s Yankees starter, is 3-1 with a 1.01 ERA when starting on three days’ rest in the regular season. Playoff teams using pitchers on short rest are 7-27 since 1999. The Angels are starting Tampa Bay acquisition Scott Kazmir, who has a career 2.67 ERA in 15 starts against the Yankees.
