“He’s the best player that could have been”, said Noah Clement, 19, from Camden County in South Jersey. He’s a narcissist. He’s a cheater.
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“Take it easy on the old man”, Rodriguez told the 27-year-old Archer before the game.
And with Rodriguez’s help, the Yankees defeated the Rays 6-3 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York.
“I’ve given these fans a lot of headaches over the years and I’ve disappointed a lot of people”, he said after the 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay, his voice sounding hoarse over the public-address system in one of baseball’s most unusual farewells. “Today I’m here for A-Rod”.
McCutchen, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, is 8-of-16 with two homers in his last seven games at Dodger Stadium. And the consensus within the upper managementof the Yankees is that Rodriguez’ struggles are not just an extended slump.
“I know sometimes I backed him and people thought, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Girardi said. Rain dropped in sheets. Rodriguez lied each time, protesting his innocence long after his guilt was well-established. I talked about how the Yankees mishandled the A-Rod situation and why I don’t think he deserves to have a plaque in Monument Park down the road.
After Betances struck out Mikie Mahtook to open the inning, Rodriguez was removed from the game as the crowd cheered for one last curtain call. “I said on Sunday that my horizon is Friday and it still is, ” he said. I saw Gary Sanchez have a series in Boston, and I looked at him and said, ‘I can’t do that anymore.’ And I was happy about it. But he came back stronger than ever past year. “He shut his mouth and performed”.
Rodriguez, who is shifting into a special advisory role with the Yankees should he not sign with another team, got the night off to a good start.
Others see the almost-great in a more charitable light. For his part, Rodriguez played it diplomatically. That’s partly because Irizarry and Rodriguez both have roots in the Dominican Republic.
“Scott is very confident he’s good to go”, Price said.
Though there’s been speculation he could play for another team in 2017. He batted in more runs than anyone but Hank Aaron.
But Rodriguez also entered Friday with a career.295/.380/.550 line and 696 home runs.
“I just love A-Rod”, said Taylor August, 22, from Monmouth County.
His release will end a legendary but controversial career with the Yankees which saw him repeatedly embroiled in controversy since arriving in NY in 2004 from the Texas Rangers.
The Alex Rodriguez Era in NY comes to an end tonight.
“Sure, it’s disappointing that he cheated. And I was all on board”, Headley said. I’m glad the last few games I got in, we were able to win those games.
Before the game, with the field covered by a tarpaulin for a threatened thunderstorm, the Yankees staged a modest tribute to Rodriguez with a video salute to him on the huge centerfield screen with family and friends joining him near home plate.
Alex Rodriguez clapped his hands emphatically after getting an RBI double in the first inning. The crowd roared and, for a moment, all was forgiven.
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While this was the end of his time as an active player for the Yankees, the word retired has not been officially used and this might not be Rodriguez’s retirement from baseball.
