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

Most people don't remember the two instances that swung the momentum completely in Detroit's favor that series. 1) Curtis Granderson's triple to make it 4-3 took the wind out of the Yankees' sail entirely. 2) A-Rod gaffing in the first inning with the bases loaded. Classic A-Rod for the Yankees in that situation. If A-Rod hits even a double in that at-bat, it's a different series. 

A-Rod deserved to get dropped! Even if Torre was trying to humiliate him, which is doubtful, A-Rod still choked. The last time I checked Torre didn't swing a bat or throw a pitch in that series.

A-Rod could have stepped up and rubbed his skipper's nose in it and humiliated Torre himself if he would have wanted to. But he failed to do so, mirroring so many other times in the playoffs for the Yankees.

Tino Martinez also had to deal with what A-Rod and Giambi had to deal with in the 1996 World Series. Martinez struggled at the outset of that series and let his fervor to be great hinder his ability. Sounds a lot like A-Rod to me.

Tino Martinez had to deal with getting benched in favor of Cecil Fielder. Tino seethed at the decision, But, he acted like the consummate professional even though he was smoldering on the inside. 

Martinez took the benching in stride and later played an invaluable role on many championship teams. A-Rod still has hurt to get over apparently. His last comments about the '06 ALDS benching make me wonder if he can handle the ups and downs of a World Series run.

There's still no doubt that A-Rod is one of the three best right-handed hitters on the planet. Pujols and Manny are the other two. Pujols and Manny have also led their teams to the World Series and were victorious in the Fall Classic.

My whole point of this article is to state that A-Rod shouldn't even concern himself about anything Joe Torre may or may not have said in The Yankee Years. Unfortunately, he's going to have to fend off questions about this. I understand that. But Alex, you have much bigger things to worry about.

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