Anyone Else Sick of A-Rod?

Throwing you a bender because I just thought you should know...

This old act just needs to go away....and it would actually be best for him as well at this point. Just when you think he can't screw up anything else, ruin his image again, or lose the trust of his teammates even more, A-Rod rises up and proves there is no end to his cluelessness.

Alex Rodriguez is on the cusp of receiving the second longest suspension from baseball ever. Maybe he will even manage to tie the record and receive a lifetime ban. Yet, he is more concerned and raising a stink about his injury rehab return date. So is it me, or is Rodriguez worried about one hair on his head being out of place while a train (MLB and the Biogenesis investigation) is bearing down on him, about to run over his entire body?

This a professional athlete who has now played with classy Derek Jeter for nine years yet has seemingly not been able to learn one thing regarding public relations. Jeter broke an ankle and rehabbed over the winter. No media, no tweets, no throwing his progress in the face of Yankees brass. He returned, was re-injured in his first game back and is now on the disabled list. Jeter is handling every aspect of his recovery by the books while A-Rod has turned a simple hip surgery and rehab into a complete debacle. 

A-Rod has launched a disastrous public relations campaign via Twitter, WFAN radio in New York and through calls with the Yankees. He is claiming he is ready to play. He has hired outside doctors against the rules of his contract. He even notified the Yankees via text message that he had retained this outside opinion in direct violation of the Major League Basic Agreement. He has had his rogue doctor, who was disciplined recently for his handling of hormones and steroids, go on the radio and disagree with Yankee physicians. 

Ultimately, the best statement (and advice) during this situation came from Yankee GM Brian Cashman when he responded to an A-Rod tweet by proclaiming, "Alex should just shut the f--- up!" While Cashman later apologized for his comment, this is actually exactly what Rodriguez should do!

The Yankees are clearly hoping A-Rod goes away forever and never plays again for them. They are hoping even more that they can recover a large portion of his salary still owed through insurance claims or suspension by baseball. Cashman made this clear when he stated the other day, “As you know, it is the Yankees' desire to have Alex return to the lineup as soon as possible.” Any follower of the Yankees knows this translates to "Wow, did we screw up when we signed this guy to a 10 year extension for $275 million in 2007."

Rodriguez obviously thinks the Yankees are out to destroy him, either through providing additional info to MLB regarding his connection with steroids or railroading him to the disabled list with further injuries. A-Rod claims the Yankees and him crossed signals and has declared that he has had enough with doctors and is ready to play. However, immediately after saying that, he returns to the radio and claims he does not really trust the Yankees or their medical process.

After being pinch hit for during the playoffs last year and now assuming he would be without steroids for a short time (he never seems to stay off them very long, even after admitting to use) I can't imagine his bat would even be much of a help to the Yankees. With two surgically replaced hips and turning 38 tomorrow, his range at third base will probably be reduced to the level of a retirement home resident on a shuffle board binge. 

So now A-Rod and the Yankees have established August 1 as a date for him to play another rehab game or partake in a simulated game. This seems to be the focus of Rodriguez while the Yankees buy time to let MLB swoop in and suspend or end this tainted career.

I suspect A-Rod will not go away without a fight, that he will use his millions to try and secure more millions. But the resumption of his career would best be done in a retirement softball league in Florida where the weather is best for cranky hips and any testing is geared towards hearing loss. 

Either way, I am done following either of these potential returns and won't tune in again to the A-Rod saga until it is time to determine if he can even receive the 5% of votes needed to stay on the Hall of Fame ballot. See you in 2018 A-Rod!

All this because I know more about nothing...