A-Rod: The Stage Is Set, They Got Your Back

I believe.  Now believe in yourself and good things will happen.

From the time he was born in Washington Heights near Manhattan to the time he got the call to play for the Seattle Mariners, Alex has never had more of an opportunity to quiet the critics, non-believers, and haters out there. He can make big things happen.

No, this isn't postseason baseball or game seven of the World Series.  It is just a regular season series with the Boston Red Sox.

Not just any series, though.  With their backs to the walls, the New York Yankees are in unfamiliar territory.

Five games out of reaching playoffs are the Yankees, and we are talking wild card here, not the division.  The Rays got the East taken care of.

Fresh off of their sweep in Baltimore, the Yankees have the momentum and pitching match ups to put themselves right back into the playoff mix, and it's now or never.

Not that Alex Rodriguez would ever read this article, but to get my point across, I will tell you why I feel the way I do.

I put all of this pressure on Alex and my Bleacher Report reputation on the line because I know he can do it.

Let's keep in mind and remember where the Red Sox are playing this week.

In the Bronx, A-Rod has clubbed 18 of his 28 home runs.  He is also hitting a whopping .356 at home as well.

I believe he can perform now the way he did in April of 2007 and possibly carry this team into the post season.

Alex has around 12 plate appearances in the next three days. While it's not all about him, I can imagine he will be batting in a hand full of big spots.

Of course, all of the Yankees hitters need to perform well and the bullpen needs to get the ball to Mariano Rivera just as well as they did this past weekend against the Orioles.  The only problem is, this isn't the Orioles. This is the Red Sox.

The Yankees need to do no less than win two out of three against the Red Sox. A sweep would be ideal of course.  However, this isn't a screen play written by a Steinbrenner. It is Major League Baseball and anything can happen.

So the stage is set. Will the Yankees play their last home game on Sunday night Sept. 21 against the Orioles, or will they close the place down with a playoff run?

Regardless, this very well could be the last three games the Red Sox ever play in the current stadium.  With the Rays leading the East, it looks like either Boston or New York will be watching the playoffs from the discomfort of their own homes.

With so many memories in the rivalry, it isn't too late to tack on a few more memories that could easily be some of the most remembered ones.

So Alex, as a die hard fan of this team and of course a big supporter of No. 13, I am asking you not to go 1-4 with a meaningless single.  Instead, think of all of the negative energy you have got in your career, especially over the last few years and drive the ball all the way into the new stadium across the street.

Worry about October baseball when you get there, if you get there. I believe, just as a lot of other fans believe, that you and the Yankees will make it.