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New York Yankees Editorial: Alex Rodriguez Happy To Be Back Home

By Caleb Gebrewold

Aug 18, 2015

Alex Rodriguez, who is in the midst of his worst slump of the 2015 season, is thrilled to be heading back home. After going 0-3 with a walk and three strikeouts Sunday, Rodriguez finished the New York Yankees road trip with just two hits in 22 at-bats, picking up eight strikeouts.

The Yankees’ designated hitter has been vital to the offensive success the club has had, and his hopes are similar to the rest of ours, that coming home, back to Yankee Stadium, will help his bat get going again:

"I felt like s— today. I felt terrible, but you have to grind through it. Everyone is going to go through times like this. It’s just going to be good to have a change of scenery and get back home tomorrow."

After posting his best month of the season in July, going 24-for-84 (.286) with nine home runs, 16 RBI’s and an OPS of 1.033, Rodriguez has really struggled since the beginning of August. Entering Monday’s game with the Minnesota Twins, the first of ten at home, Rodriguez is 7-for-49 (.143) with no home runs, and two RBI’s, posting an OPS of .480, while striking out 15 times.

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Yankees manager Joe Girardi knows that Rodriguez’s success is pivotal to the offense, and hopes that getting back to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium will get his slugger’s bat going:

"He’s chasing some pitches and the pitches he’s getting to hit, it just seems he’s missing them. We’ve got to get him going. Hopefully we get home and he gets going again."

Rodriguez, who is now 40 years old, and has already played in more games in 2015 than he has in a season since 2012 (at his current pace, he will play more games than he has in a season since 2007), insists he is fine, and attributes his struggles to the pitchers:

"I actually feel fine. Sometimes you have to give those guys credit. They’re throwing the ball very well. I chased that one at-bat, but after that again they’re making pitches that when you take them they’re strikes and when you swing at them they’re really good pitches. It’s the way it goes sometimes."

Rodriguez also added that the baseball season is a long one, one full of ups and downs, and that he must keep working hard and doing what led to his early season success:

"Just keep working hard. Five, six-hundred at-bats, you’re going to go through ups and downs like the stock market. Just play along and be patient."

With the Yankees entering play with a half-game lead on the Toronto Blue Jays, the organization and fans are surely hoping that Rodriguez’s stock rises soon.

Next: Yankees News: CC Sabathia To Miss Start After Toronto Nightclub Fight

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