Let's be honest here: I'm not a fan of the New York Yankees, but I grew up pretty much living at baseball stadiums and loving the sport. However, growing up a huge fan of baseball, inevitably I grew up knowing who Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (also known as "A-Rod") was from a young age. Say what you will, but he is one of the best baseball players of all time, making his MLB debut at the young age of 18 as the first overall pick! But let's just say throughout his career and 41 years of life he hasn't always made the best decisions and has become of the most controversial players but this isn't about that.
Friday, August 12th, 2016 A-Rods last game. Unlike Jeter's farewell, I'm not sure I'll get choked up and teary-eyed whenever Rodriguez takes his final bow on the big stage, but I know this sport will be forever changed.
"The last time I drive up Broadway and through Harlem and through the neighborhoods that have brought so much comfort to me"
- Alexander Rodriguez
Throughout his career, A-Rod has played on the Rangers, Mariners, and the Yankees. Some of his most prestigious baseball awards include 3x American League MVP, 2009 World Series Champion, 25 grand slams, 3,000+ hit club, 696 homers, and he's played in the All Star Game over 10 times. He's always been known to tell a few stories.
On Friday night A-Rod played his last game (at least for now with) where he wore three jerseys throughout the game... That's a jersey every three innings. There's still hope that one day he might be playing for another team, but for now his days under the big lights are over and he's leaving with a career earned salary of $452 million dollars.
Before Friday nights game there was a pregame ceremony for the Yankees to honor Mr. Rodriguez around 7 p.m. Which was just long enough for A-Rod to come on the field, watch a video, be handed a base, a framed jersey, join some family, snap about 5 pictures (jk, we all know you can snap about 5.7 million pictures in about 10 minutes; THANK YOU, STEVE JOBS) with it all, and the baseball gods screamed from the skies. Literally. Thunder began rolling, lighting struck, and rain came down. Also there was a lot more people cheering for Marino Rivera during the ceremony, but if there was a field of baseball goats he'd be out there for sure. Anyways, You can only imagine how that went. Alex asked to play third, but...
Fast forward to game time and Alex comes up to bat in the top of the first. There was a roll call chant, which is pretty rare for the Yankees in times like this. Anyways, there's a 2-2 count and he gets a nice stroke to right field which will give him a RBI double as Gardner scores. Anyways, by this point even if people weren't saying it, they were thinking it "Why wouldn't you let someone play on the field in their last game? Just one inning. Come on. How could you be so set on winning? Isn't that wrong?" Yeah, I thought the same thing, too, guys.
In the fifth, A-Rod comes up to bat and a K goes up for the Rays. That's a strikeout. Fans hope this isn't his last at bat and that-- fingers crossed-- a home run will come probably not until later in the fifth because every sports fan wants to see someone go out in the best way.
However, by this point people are sure the number 13 will also not be retired. If you don't follow baseball, by now you're probably thinking this guy isn't liked by many people, and you're right. However, we have all made mistakes, lied, cheated, etc. but some more than others... if I'm being honest, he has taken the spotlight on the stage time after time and rarely for praise.
Here I am flipping back and forth between the Olympics, the Nats game, Lifetime, and of course A-Rod's farewell. Then I realize his first game was against the Rays and his last will be. "Funny how history has a way of repeating itself."
So the the Rays tie up the game 3-3, but then Starlin comes in and it's outta here. Yanks lead and Rodriguez is smiling like a kid in the candy store. In the mid 7th the Yanks lead 5-3. Then the Internet is blowing up because some sources told reporters that on Saturday Tyler Austin will be replacing A-Rod... Controversy even till the last moment, folks.
Dirty move by the Yankees, but money talks, right? By this point A-Rod comes up to bat and swings at the first pitch grounding out at first. Fans hope this won't be the last, but I feel like that's all we are going to get. So he's 1-4 in the final game of his career. Can't say this is a hairy tale ending. Fans and well everyone at this point wouldn't be disappointed by seeing him on defense just one last time. Can't shed too many if you're angry. It's the 8th inning now.
Anyways, A-Rod even though you were just the Designated Hitter in the three spot and you didn't get your final wish to play third base. You've had a roller coaster of a career. Hats off to you. That's what I was thinking after this moment.
Maybe they will put A-Rod in in the 9th. Every baseball fans everywhere is questioning Joe Girardi at this point if he doesn't let Rodriquez play just one more time... And we waited. We also hoped that there will be a recreation of that beautiful A-Rod Cal Ripken Jr. moment. As "WE WANT A-ROD!" is as loud as tonight thunder was.
WHAT! He comes out! He's playing 3rd.
For at least a few minutes...
A-Rod then gets switched out. He receives a standing O as his jogs off the field for what many would say the last time and is greeted by his teammates outside the dugout! No tears shed. It almost felt like he knew he was going somewhere else, but for now we will wait.
The Yanks go win in 6-3.
Can't say it was as heartwarming as Jeter's farewell, but truly the me of an era.
And that was all she wrote.
