Alex Rodriguez back in Yankees lineup
By KEN FIDLIN, QMI Agency
|
  
|
  Alex Rodriguez (left) and Derek Jeter (right) of the Yankees stretch before batting practice before their ALCS Game 1 against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium in New York, on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. (Adam Hunger/Reuters)
|
NEW YORK - Another day, another instalment in the soap opera that is Alex Rodriguez's October.
In the last four days, he has been booed mercilessly at Yankee Stadium, famously pinch-hit for, and benched in the biggest game of his team's season to date.
Saturday, in the opening game of the American League Championship Series, manager Joe Girardi extended his beleaguered future Hall of Famer a lifeline. Even though what little production A-Rod has provided in his past 25 games has been against lefthanded pitching, there he was back in the lineup at third base, batting not in his customary third position but sixth against tough Detroit righthander Doug Fister.
"He struggled in the first round," said manager Joe Girardi, "but this is a guy we know can do a lot of damage."
With the dawn of a new series, Girardi seems prepared to have an open mind on not just A-Rod but all his struggling offensive players.
"I think, in a sense, everyone should press the re-set button," he said. "Forget what happened yesterday. Forget what happened three days ago. We have to start fresh.
"We need this guy to be Alex. That's the bottom line. If we want to make some noise, we need this guy to be Alex. I think he's rarin' to go."
