Yankees News: Joe Girardi says Alex Rodriguez should be more like Derek Jeter

Alex Rodriguez has faced his share of controversy in his big league career.  He has always seemed to worry about pleasing everyone, and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi feels that this is one area where Rodriguez should be more like his former teammate, Derek Jeter:

"Because in life, whether it’s Alex or Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera or myself, we’re never going to please everyone.  It’s just not going to happen.  So if your focus is on trying to please people, you’re always going to be disappointed.  So focus on your job and being ready to play.  I would hope his focus isn’t that he feels like he has to go out and prove something.  I would hope his focus would be ‘Let’s make sure I’m ready to go everyday.’  People talk about what kind of distraction it would be in the clubhouse, what kind of distraction would it be for me.  Players enjoy having him around.  It has not been a distraction in our clubhouse.  Yeah, there were a few more people around the first day to do interviews and that sort of thing.  But that all died.  But his focus has to be to play every day.  I think you’re going to get production from him.  I don’t want to make a prediction with homers and RBIs, but I think you’re going to have really good at-bats.  You’re going to see them get on base and hit some home runs and I think the thing that, as we get into this, that I have to pay close attention is when I feel I have to give him a day off."

While entering Spring Training, many debated whether Rodriguez would even make the team, he has looked like one of the better bats in the lineup thus far.  The offense has struggled to score runs, something that could continue throughout the season, but Rodriguez has performed well, working counts deep, and even showing some power.

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The biggest downfall in the storied career of one of baseball’s greatest talents was his inability to be himself.  Rodriguez always wanted something he was not and could not have, and his desire for attention combined with the pressure of signing what was the biggest contract in baseball history at the time, is what led to his decision to take steroids.

Now nearing 40, and coming off the longest steroids-related suspension in the history of baseball, Rodriguez has finally shown an ability to be himself.  He does not strive for the extra attention, or have a selfish “me-first” mentality, but instead has shown a desire to be 1 of 25, and to pass the baton, having long at-bats rather than swinging for the fences.  Even in interviews, it’s never about “me” but instead about “us”.

The long suspension seems to have definitely humbled Rodriguez, giving him a trait that many Yankees fans wish he had when he joined the team prior to the 2004 season.  While Rodriguez is no longer an MVP threat, he still is a very talented and capable baseball player who will go a long way to determining the success of the 2015 Yankees.

Next: Yankees Editorial: Chase Whitley Is Still An Option

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