Alex Rodriguez geared-up for post-season – MLB News
After having missed a large part of the regular season due to a knee injury, New York Yankees’ All-Star slugger and third baseman Alex Rodriguez is all-set to play regularly in the post-season.
Rodriguez was kept out from the season-ending game against Tampa Bay Rays for precautionary reasons but clarified that he is fit to play through the American League Divisional Series. Known for his fierce hitting in the post-season, Rodriguez will be fired-up
to stamp his authority yet again.
A-Rod missed 38 games this season due to a knee surgery in July which also kept him out of the All-Star Game. Returning after the surgery, Rodriguez suffered a thumb injury which greatly affected his hitting, but he articulated that he has recovered almost
completely. He said, “Bottom line is we're all good enough to play here and you just got to play. There are no excuses and nobody cares about that."
Manager Joe Girardi was confident that Rodriguez will play a vital part in the team’s overall success. He remained conservative in defending the team’s decision to rest A-Rod for the last game of the season and stated that it is always in the best interest
of the team to remain cautious with some players, especially when qualification is guaranteed.
Talking to reporters about Rodriguez’s health, Girardi said, "My feeling is that he'll be healthy. But if he's not, that's a big player out of our line-up, or a big player that's not at the top of his game.”
Yankees are expected to make some drastic changes against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS. Robinson Cano is likely to move up to Number three while Mark Teixeira, hitting hard this season, is expected to be dropped down to the fifth position. Rodriguez, however,
showed flexibility in his approach and said that he will embrace any position the team wants him to.
Rodriguez featured in the 2006 ALDS against the Tigers and will take this opportunity to avenge a humiliating defeat five years ago. If Rodriguez finds his hitting ways, the Yankees are surely in with a huge chance.
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