Fans have mixed emotions on Alex’s exit
Before the first pitch was thrown to start the Yankees’ series finale with the Indians Sunday, fans knew the end to Alex Rodriguez’s Yankee playing career was in sight.
Understandably, reaction was mixed from fans across the area among the 39,720 on hand. Some were sad, others glad.
“I think it’s a good thing. He’s reached the end of his career and it’s time. It’s just time,” said Kevin Stahlnecker of Williamsport, Pa. “He had a helluva career, but it’s time to walk away.”
Sheila and Marc Lewandowski of Milford, Conn., were decked out in Yankees apparel with Sheila wearing a “Rodriguez 13” T-shirt. She’s obviously a fan — Marc, too.
“I wouldn’t have it on if not. He’s a great player, absolutely, and I’m definitely sad to see him go,” she said.
“I am an A-Rod fan. He played great in the ’09 series. He was awesome. I was happy to get him, sorry to see him go,” said Marc Lewandowski, who claimed Rodriguez’s steroid debacle was in the past and he received his punishment. “I’m good with it. He constantly had issues with it, but it’s in the past.”
Jose Vega, of The Bronx, was very ready to forgive and forget the PED blemish on A-Rod’s legacy that eventually could ambush a quest for Cooperstown.
“This is pretty good for him because now he’s expanding his career, into broadcasting and [coaching].” Vega said. “Also with all the scrutiny he was under with the PEDs, I think a lot is fallacy because it’s all about the recovery. Even with, you still have to have the baseball fundamentals. You still have to hit the ball, catch the ball. I think society kind of blackballed him.”
Evan Heimall of Verona, N.J. admitted he has “come to like” A-Rod after original negative feelings and is “sad to see him go.” But Heimall said he believes Rodriguez “took the heat for a lot of guys including, I think, Big Papi [Boston’s David Ortiz]. He’s a bum. And he’s a Red Sox.”
From a non-steroid angle, some fans felt it was proper for A-Rod to walk away.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Jim McDonald of Piscataway, N.J. “He didn’t fit in with this team and they’ve been playing with a 24-man roster instead of 25.”
Another Yankees fan from Connecticut, Fran Gonzalez, said he would have preferred seeing Rodriguez finish the season.
“But if he’s struggling and he feels in his will he should retire, then more power to him,” he said. “The fact he has knowledge of the game and he’s going to help out the younger guys? I like that. I like how the Yankees are keeping him in the organization to help out the young guys. He definitely knows this game so I appreciate that.”