The announcement was kept secret until minutes before Rodriguez began his own press conference where he grew emotional and expressed appreciation for managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who came up with the idea last week.
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Alex Rodriguez will eventually discuss his retirement and storied career with Derek Jeter, but now’s not the time.
Tonight’s first pitch has been changed from 7 p.m.to 7:35 to accommodate a pregame ceremony for Rodriguez.
With only four homers standing between himself and the 700-home run milestone, A-Rod he admitted it will be tempting to swing for the fences in his final at-bats. “We’re going to support him every step of the way and we’re going to miss him and that’s from the bottom of our hearts. I should have caught it”, Benintendi said. With Teixeira batting, Damon stole 2nd and 3rd on the same play and then Brad Lidge hit Tex with a pitch.
“Just trying to see if there’s a way, with the same guys in a slightly different order, we can have a more productive [lineup], more efficient”, offered John Farrell.
In his penultimate performance, Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He will play his last baseball on August 12th, 2016 at Yankee Stadium. This is not the way one of the sport’s all-time rock stars would prefer to be treated, but it was just another reminder for A-Rod that this week was never meant to be a going-away party.
Boston Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodriguez kicks the mound after giving up a solo home run to New York Yankees’ Austin Romine, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. “I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it”. That’s not fair to anyone. But I took some medication (Wednesday) night, some stuff, and it went down, I’d say, 30 percent. “They are probably saving me some embarrassment”.
Still Girardi will find a way to give fans time to cheer Rodriguez.
“We thought about it, but he hasn’t done any work”, Girardi said. “It’s going to be the same thing for me”.
Yankees: LHP C.C. Sabathia (6-9, 4.18 ERA) starts as the Yankees return to NY for a weekend series against Tampa Bay.
Sabathia last pitched Saturday against Cleveland when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss.
The Yankees will release designated hitter Alex Rodriguez from his contract following their game against the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday. “They did their job and we got a W”. “It’s history Friday when we’re there”.
As A-Rod prepared for the final two games of his Yankees tenure, he continued to brush off questions about whether his future could include a playing stint with another team.
Chris Archer was on Tampa Bay when Rivera’s career ended and the right-hander will be the final starting pitcher Rodriguez faces.
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Rodriguez lasted seven innings, striking out six batters while allowing just three hits. “I don’t have to be 100 percent to go out there”. Price is supposed to be able to win even against a team like that, but this year he hasn’t done anything of the sort, and after getting crushed by the Dodgers (who, in stark contrast to the Diamondbacks, are a good team that can’t hit lefties) it’s hard to have much hope. “I’m in his book twice”. The kid would get the bat if Rodriguez homered, got two hits or the Yankees won.
