A-Rod Has Bigger Things to Handle Than Joe Torre's Book!

is as bad as people think it is. (Which it most likely isn't. Like, 99 percent most likely.) So what? Seriously, anyone who voluntarily signs on with the Yankees knows this sort of thing is a distinct possibility.

Last I checked, A-Rod signed up for a 10-year tour of duty with the Bronx Bombers. Don't feel sorry for Alex; worry about you and yours before you feel pity for him!

People have often said, "You take George Steinbrenner's money, you take his crap." Well, let's include the tabloids and the pressure of the New York media and the Yankees' fans in that sentiment as well. A-Rod knows the drill. He's been loved and loathed since he arrived here in 2004. He doesn't have a cherry when it comes to this!

Even if Joe Torre threw A-Rod under the bus, I still won't feel that bad for him. A-Rod did much of this to himself. He invited a lot of this nonsense, not all of it, but a lot it into the Yankee locker room. He's been a media whore ever since he put the pinstripes on. Remember his biracial comments in 2006? Cut me a break!

Many of Torre's former players have had to deal with A-Rod dealt with in 2006. Chuck Knoblauch was embarrassed daily for not being able to throw to first. He even had to switch positions because he couldn't overcome his throwing jitters.

You don't think Jorge Posada had his head messed with in 1999 when Joe Girardi was catching more often with certain pitchers? How do you think Posada felt when Clemens worked exclusively with Girardi to get some things straight late in the '99 season?

And now through his cronies, A-Rod is saying that it doesn't hurt because Torre hurt him so deeply in the 2006 playoffs that he could never feel close to Joe Torre. Well, you know what? A lot of of Torre's players were dropped or benched in the playoffs, and they got over it! Jason Giambi and Tino Martinez most notably come to mind.

Jason Giambi, the epitome of the Yankees losing their soul this millennium, got dropped to seventh in the batting order before Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Giambi who was supposed to help carry the offense to multiple World Series titles was struggling and subsequently dropped in the lineup.

That had to be a piercing blow to his pride. He was getting flogged in front of everyone for not coming through. Giambi was only in front of Enrique Wilson and Karim Garcia to start the game. That's got to be a tough one to take!

To Giambi's credit, he handled it with class. He also bashed two mammoth home runs against Pedro Martinez that kept the game within striking distance. We all know how that game turned out.

Many, including myself, think that Game 7 was the greatest game ever played at Yankee Stadium. Well, if Giambi doesn't brush it off, that ending doesn't happen. Give a nod to the Big G for that one!

Now let's imagine that was Alex Rodriguez was dropped against the Red Sox like that, his psyche would be ground to dust! Remember how he played in 2006 against the Tigers? I do.

A-Rod struggled mightily in the 2006 ALDS. Torre shouldn't have to protect a struggling star because they're a star. It's the playoffs. You put pride aside for the greater good of the team.

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