Yankees Refusing to Play Alex Rodriguez is Unacceptable

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has refused Alex Rodriguez‘s request to play in all four games before his retirement, telling him “We’re trying to win games.”

In the press conference to announce Alex Rodriguez’s retirement Sunday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi seemed very gracious about whether the former superstar would play in the four games he had remaining in pinstripes.

He basically told the assembled reporters that if Alex Rodriguez wanted to play in the three game series in Boston, then that is what would happen. At one point Girardi said, “If he wants to play in every game, I’ll find a way” because “he’s earned the right to have the conversation with me and what he wants to do here.”

With the Yankees playoff odds sitting at 1.6% according to FanGraphs, there seems to be little harm in letting one of the greatest players in baseball over the last two decades get a few at bats in his last few games. 

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Heck, Derek Jeter was not remotely qualified to play shortstop in 2014, but Girardi was more than happy to prop him up out there for a full season in 2014 out of respect for his legacy. A-Rod may not be Jeter, but he has still earned a nice send-off.

Instead, Alex Rodriguez was once again on the bench during Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to Boston. Rodriguez has appeared in his manager’s starting lineup exactly once in the last two weeks.

Before the game, a visably upset Rodriguez made it clear it was not his decision to sit out these last few contests. He told reporters before the game (via Dan Martin of The New York Post:

“I came to the stadium really excited, hoping I would play all three games or maybe two out of three. He just said, ‘We’re trying to win games.’ It was surprising and shocking.”

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Girardi responded that his emotions clouded his judgement during Sunday’s press conference and that his primary responsibility as manager of the Yankees was to win games, stating, “This is a very important series for us. This is one of the teams we’re chasing.”

When asked by reporters following the game about the Fenway crowd chanting for A-Rod to be put in the game, Girardi seemed very uncomfortable.

I don’t know, I mean how am I supposed to react? I mean it’s part of it and I’m going to hear it, but I’ve got to do what I think is best…I know he wants to play and that’s normal. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play? But again, I gotta do what I think is right for the club.

He basically went on to argue that Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez were better options for the Yankees on the field at this point, which is hard to dispute.

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Still, with the Yankees out of contention, giving one of the biggest stars in the history of the franchise a pinch hit appearance in the ninth inning seems like the least the manager could do.

Rodriguez is not expected to start Wednesday’s game either, but is slated to start Thursday because of a strong track record against Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright. Girardi admitted that A-Rod likely would not have seen any time against Boston if Wright hadn’t been on the mound.

This refusal to play Alex Rodriguez in his final games is a clear slap in the face to a man who has accomplished great things in a Yankees uniform. It will probably cause irreparable damage to the relationship between A-Rod and the club with which he is most identified. There is no reason things have to end this way. What a shame.