PERFECT MATE
Bombers laud Rodriguez for presence in clubhouse
From the most veteran Yankees, like CC Sabathia and Brett Gardner, to some guys still honing their craft, like Dellin Betances and Didi Gregorius, the reaction to the announcement of Alex Rodriguez’s impending final game was met with a near-universal response.
Forget that he has been a great player. He has been an even better teammate.
“A great teammate. He’s always been nothing but helpful to me since I’ve been here,” Sabathia said. “He’s always been fantastic with me. In every aspect of the game, his baseball mind is unbelievable.”
Rodriguez announced he will play his final game Friday and then serve as an advisor to managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, and as a special instructor through 2017. Rodriguez, Sabathia, Gardner and Teixeira are the only holdovers from the Yankees’ 2009 championship. Teixeira on Friday announced he will retire at season’s end.
“Alex is one of those guys who’s always working, always willing to help. Loves to talk the game,” Teixeira said. “Only one other guy that I ever met that loves to talk baseball more than Alex and that’s Cal Ripken. He’s a student of the game. Because of that, guys want to be around him. He has one of those electric personalities that can light up the room.” And assist in a clubhouse. “Tex a couple days ago, now A-Rod,” said Betances, who claimed he and Rod- riguez frequently spoke about pitching to opponents. “I learned a lot from him. I’m going to continue to ask questions, text him whenever I can. He’s somebody that has helped me a lot.”
Gregorius claimed Rodriguez was a huge help offensively and defensively when he joined the Yankees.
“We met in spring training in Tampa and we started talking about hitting. He gave me a couple tips, some really important stuff. When we got here last year, he took me out early to take ground balls, talk about the shortstop position,” said Gregorius, who claimed ARod insisted he “slow the game down,” advice he took to heart.
After all, it came from ARod.
“As a kid growing up, you see him on TV and then a couple years, here I am playing next to him. It’s awesome,” Gregorius said.
Awesome but on Sunday, there were twinges of sadness. Rodriguez has devolved into basically an ornament.
“Just kind of sad and happy all in one. He’s been great to me since I’ve been here and obviously he was great last year on the field. He’s been a great teammate and he’s had an amazing career,” Chase Headley said. “You’re sad that you know it’s coming to an end but it’s also been kind of a monkey in the room for a while. Just the way it was going, didn’t seem a fitting way to have it end. With the circumstances being what they are I think this is as good a reso- lution as you could possibly have.”
Players wanted to remember the A-Rod of 696 homers.
“Kind of like the Mike Trouts and the Miguel Cabreras,” Sabathia said of what it was like facing a young Rodriguez. “There really was nowhere you could throw the ball that he wasn’t going to hit it hard. You just hoped he hit it at somebody.” And he will be missed. “Alex has always been great to me,” Gardner said. “He’s always treated me with respect, always been a good teammate. It’s sad the way it’s all gone down, sad to see after the next week or so I’m not going to get a chance to play with him anymore. That sucks.”