I am still irate over the end of the All-Star Game last night. Thanks for nothing, Joe Girardi. And for once, Squawker Jon and I are in agreement on something – Alex Rodriguez should have been in the game last night.
I wrote on Facebook in the ninth inning that if A-Rod were given the opportunity to do so, he would tie or win the game. For the Boss, of course. And I’m furious that Rodriguez never got the opportunity to make history.
Think about this for a second – you can bring the tying run to the plate with A-Rod. It’s also the day George Steinbrenner died. You mean to tell me Alex, known for his flair for the dramatic, wouldn’t have had a big moment if he were given the opportunity? C’mon now.
What the heck was Girardi thinking? As Squawker Jon noted, A-Rod only started the four-run rally against Jonathan Broxton last month. Why not bring in Alex to remind Broxton of that worst outing of his career?
Girardi’s explanation, courtesy of MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, is even worse:
Asked for a particular reason he did not put Rodriguez in the game, Girardi said there was no injury-related concern with A-Rod, but rather with Beltre’s left hamstring, which nearly prompted the Rangers’ Michael Young to be added Monday as a replacement.
“We were talking about pinch-running [Rodriguez] in a situation,” Girardi said. “We also had a little issue with Beltre and we were concerned about his hamstring, so if we get the tying run on, Al was going to pinch-run and then go in [to play third base].”
What the???? (Smacks forehead.) You’re going to use A-Rod as a PINCH RUNNER to replace a gimpy Adrian Beltre? Are you freaking kidding me? Good grief. No wonder A-Rod looked so ticked off at the end of the game!
Yeah, if the Boss were in his prime, I think Girardi’s head would have been on the chopping block – or he would have at least been the object of Steinbrenner’s rage. And with good reason. Girardi not playing A-Rod isn’t as bad as Torre batting him eighth, but it’s still a huge misstep. What a nightmare.
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