Yankees News: Joe Girardi wants Alex Rodriguez to provide punch

By Opening Day, Alex Rodriguez will have not played in a regular season game for 18 months, yet manager Joe Girardi is hoping the returning third baseman can provide the New York Yankees with an offensive punch, according to George A. King III of the New York Post:

"We are hoping he can provide some offensive punch to our lineup.  I know it’s a tall order, we know that.  He is 39 1/2 years old and two hip surgeries. but I don’t ever count anyone out.  His work and his approach are fairly the same as it used to be, the rounds he takes and what he wants to accomplish.  Alex was never the guy who was looking to put on a show.  He wants to get his work in and that’s what I see him doing."

Rodriguez is returning from a year-long suspension to a Yankees lineup that might need his bat more than ever.  The lineup was lacking of a hitter that pitchers feared last year, and while it is doubtful that the soon-to-be 40-year-old Rodriguez will strike fear in opposing pitchers hearts, his bat could be the most potent on this roster.

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In 2013, even with all that was going on in his life off of the field, Rodriguez did not look finished as a ballplayer.  While this could obviously change in the span of a year away from baseball, the Yankees are hoping that Rodriguez can provide the lineup with some pop.  Many are doubting that he can succeed, and even hoping he doesn’t, but Girardi knows that Rodriguez is a needed part of this lineup.

While there will be A-Rod related drama in 2015, that is out of hands, as many believe the Yankees will refuse to pay him his bonus if he hits 6 more home runs, and ties Willie Mays for fourth place all-time.  There will probably also be drama in opposing parks as he is baseball’s “villain”.

Rodriguez will surely hit those six home runs to catch Mays, and it will be interesting to see the reaction of fans, whether it happens at Yankee Stadium or on the road.  He also has another important milestone coming up, as he is only 61 hits away from 3000.  Rodriguez should not be focused on these milestones or fan reaction to them, however, as his sole focus should be helping the team win games.

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