New York Daily News

ALEX FEELS A-WAKENING

After all these years, still hungry

-

CC Sabathia wears a bracelet that reads, “Prove People Wrong.” Alex Rodriguez might want to get his hands on one of those.

A-Rod is trying to write the latest chapter in his own saga, attempting to show the Yankees he can still be a force in the middle of the lineup.

Earlier this week, Joe Girardi said the decision had been made to sit A-Rod against righthande­rs, against whom he was hitting .200 with a .584 OPS in 115 at-bats. Carlos Beltran’s hamstring injury threw a kink into the plan, giving A-Rod two unexpected starts against righties to close the Texas series.

He had two hits – both against righties – on Thursday, part of a week that saw him hit . 286. More importantl­y, he’s finally experienci­ng something he hasn’t felt since last season.

“I’m starting to get the feeling that every time I’m in the box, something good is going to happen,” A-Rod told the Daily News during a lengthy interview Saturday. “I haven’t felt that way this year. The last three games, I’ve started to feel a lot closer to last year.”

Dealing with adversity is nothing new for A-Rod, who turns 41 later this month. He had to fight for a place on the roster last spring after returning from his one-year drug suspension, proving that not only could he still hit, but that he could be a middle-of-the-order presence.

“I’ve always enjoyed challenges,” Rodriguez said. “I think this is just a case of me doing my work, identifyin­g a few things with my mechanics and addressing them head-on. I’ve been relentless about getting this right. I will get this right. There’s no question about it.”

Given the size of contracts in profession­al sports these days, many tend to question just how much players care anymore. All you had to see Friday night was the look of glee in ARod’s eyes after Girardi told him he would be playing third base if the game extended to the bottom of the ninth to know how much the game still matters to him.

Just like Nick Swisher spending three months riding buses in the minors, this isn’t about money for A-Rod. He’s going to collect the $30 million that’s owed to him between now and the end of next season whether the Yankees give him another at-bat or not.

“A lot of people would be cashing their check and going home,” said a source close to Rodriguez. “If he didn’t love the game and think he could contribute, he wouldn’t be working the way he is.”

Rodriguez’s quest to find his old swing has extended further than most realize. In addition to the hours of work he puts in before games with hitting coaches Alan Cockrell and Marcus Thames, he can often be found i n the batting cage up to 90 minutes after the game ends, working with batting practice pitcher Danilo Valiente and even Beltran at times, taking hundreds of swings in an effort to get that feel back.

“I’m finally at a place in the last three or four games where I feel much closer to last year,” Rodriguez said. “I think there are very big things to come.”

Unlike recent years when A-Rod contribute­d to his own drama and was his own worst enemy at times, he’s been a model citizen in the clubhouse and said all the right things regardless of the situation. He knows that many believe he’s no longer capable of putting up big numbers, but he’s not willing to accept that as fact.

“The one thing about playing for over 20 years in the big leagues, there have been a ton of ups and downs,” Rodriguez said. “Ever yone el s e’s job is to overreact; my job is to stay steady and consistent and continue to work.”

Rodriguez will surely find himself on the bench against some righties in the near future, possibly as soon as Monday in Chicago against James Shields. Beltran’s tender hamstring might require him to DH before he returns to right field, a situation Girardi called “tricky” when it comes to A-Rod’s status in the lineup.

But as far as A-Rod is concerned, having both himself and Beltran anchoring the middle of the lineup is a key to getting the season – for both himself and his team – turned around.

“I think it’s about winning; it’s about reaching our potential as a team,” Rodriguez said. “I still think this team can be a playoff team. Me being productive in the middle of the lineup is going to help us get to the postseason. Our best chance of winning is me being productive i n the middle of the lineup. Against everyone.”

 ?? GETTY; AP ?? Alex Rodriguez says for the first time this season his swing is beginning to feel like it did last year, even as he loses playing time.
GETTY; AP Alex Rodriguez says for the first time this season his swing is beginning to feel like it did last year, even as he loses playing time.
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States