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At 41, Alex Rodriguez is handling being benched maturely
- Updated: July 28, 2016
12:36 AM ET
HOUSTON — If you watch Alex Rodriguez daily, it is apparent that his slow fade into oblivion as an important member of the New York Yankees is killing him. How could it not?
He is one of the great players of all-time, who, as recently as 12 months ago, was feared at the plate. Last year, after hitting a home run on his 40th birthday, his 24th of the season, he had a .916 OPS. He would go on to finish with 33 home runs and ended the year by being an analyst on Fox’s broadcast of the World Series. His post-PED suspension comeback was classic A-Rod.
Alex Rodriguez continues to prepare for each game but has had a diminished role this season. Thomas B. Shea/USA TODAY Sports
Currently, Rodriguez is beginning semi-retirement, while still collecting a hefty check. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has not started him in the past five games — including Wednesday night’s 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros.
There is a chance he may sneak into the lineup against at least one of the Tampa Bay Rays’ lefties this weekend before the Yankees play at the New York Mets for two games, where, without the designated hitter, he is without a position.
This means Rodriguez will play one or two games at most out of the next five. He may not even get that many.
Rodriguez doesn’t play the field and, with a .206 average, nine homers and a .609 OPS, hasn’t …
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