As soon as the 661st home-run of Alex Rodriguez’s career boomed off the bat, exuberant celebrations should have followed. It was, after all, an historic hit, one which took him past the legendary Willie Mays as the fourth most potent batter ever.
Another momentous moment in arguably the most storied of US sporting franchises. Yankee Stadium drips with history and sepia-tinted nods back to the good old days. They make millions from the past and will continue to do so.
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There was no fanfare on Thursday night though against the Orioles. Barely an acknowledgment of a special achievement. A wave, some claps. That was it.
You won’t find any special commemorative t–shirts. No DVD either.
Legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera were treated like heroic brothers. Rodriguez, though, will never be family.
The drug ban, the shaming of the franchise, the lies and the despicable way he tried to turn on the club, the MLB, and its own players union for the treatment meted out – the 39-year-old knows he’s lucky to still be wearing his beloved stripes.
He’s disgracefully made his bed. And he must forever lie in it.
Mays, 84, was one of the greats. A true legend of the game in a different, seemingly far more innocent era. Comparisons have understandably angered older fans. They believe contrasting the ‘Say Hey Kid’ to a convicted steroid abuser is tantamount to sacrilege.
However, a fresh row is brewing.
Publicly, the decision not to pay Rodriguez a formerly agreed $6 million marketing bonus once he passed May’s tally, appears to have been taken in relatively good grace by the player. Behind the scenes though, A-Rod wants his money.
Only fellow substance abuser Barry Bonds (762) plus Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) have now hit more homers. Each time they’re passed, another bounty of a similar amount should head his way.
Yankees top brass are rightly sticking their heels in. ‘He disgraced us, why should we pay?’ is the refrain.
Alex Rodriguez just hit his 661st home run to pass Willie Mays for 4th all-time
— RickLeventhalFoxNews (@RickLeventhal) May 8, 2015
If the franchise decline to decree a milestone has been passed, Rodriguez has 30 days to challenge.
It’s a legal minefield.
A-Rod, assuming his position in the last-chance saloon, knows he’s in no position to call the shots. Just concentrate on ones flying off your bat. His lawyers will do the rest.
Not short of a penny or two – he is eight years into a $275m, 10-year deal – the slugger who missed the entire season in 2014 after becoming embroiled in the Biogenesis PED scandal which shamed and disgraced many, is keeping his counsel for now.
His marriage with the Yankees remains tremendously complex. They will never be on the best of terms. But they still need each other. It’s as if they’re keeping it cordial for the sake of the kids.
No matter which drugs he takes or how many lawsuits he unleashes, Rodriguez possesses a priceless commodity which cannot be ignored by the management and executive bean counters – the man is pure box office. An A-lister in a team, who are arguably low on real superstars now Jeter is enjoying the quiet life. Someone who gets everyone – from the diehards to grandmothers – talking.
The Rodriguez who strode out to bat before the shame of his PED use was laid bare would have lapped it all up. Not now though.
Manager Joe Girardi (below) had to effectively force him to salute the 37,000 plus crowd.
Rodriguez surely has learned from some of his horrific choices. There’s some remorse in his bones. Team-mates purr about his work ethic. The headline grabbing saga and discomfort continues however.
Former Players Union chief Gene Orza went public this week revealing the union and MLB initially vetoed a home run deal that Rodriguez and Yankees president Randy Levine brokered. That forced a rethink and slightly rew-orded agreement to dance around MLB rules which forbid bonuses linked to statistical achievements.
The Yankees are so defiant, they are even questioning if nudging past May’s magic total is a milestone in the first place. And even if it is how can you market a proven drug cheat? The truth is you can’t. And therein lies the rub.
