After getting his championship ring yesterday, Alex Rodriguez was so excited to have it that he considered accessorizing for the game.
“I would’ve worn it at third [base],” he said, “but probably would have broken a rule.”
Rodriguez was joking, though he certainly has enough to deal with already with MLB, so he probably was better off not tempting the league’s fashion police. The Yankees superstar was ecstatic over finally earning his championship hardware. It took Rodriguez 16 seasons and three teams to capture his first World Series title. “[After] 2003, I came to New York and changed positions. There certainly have been ups and downs,” he said. “But this makes it worthwhile.
“This means the world to me. That’s why you play baseball.”
Rodriguez’s ups and downs in New York were plentiful, particularly last season. There was the spring training revelation that he used steroids while with the Rangers. There was the spring training hip surgery that cost him the season’s first 28 games.
After his return, the Yanks went 90-44, and in the playoffs they went an equally impressive 11-4 against the Twins, Angels and Phillies. Rodriguez, whose past Yankees postseasons had been mostly embarrassing, was a monster in the playoffs last year, batting .365 with six homers and 18 RBIs. He tied two games with homers in what would have been the Yankees’ final at-bat.
And he plans to wear his ring — often.
“A lot of guys are saying they’re not going to wear it. They think they’re too cool. I’m calling BS on that,” Rodriguez said. “I will wear it and wear it every day.”
Rodriguez is off to a pretty strong start this season. He hasn’t hit a homer yet, but he’s racked up five extra-base hits and six RBIs through seven games. Yesterday he went 2-for-5 with two singles and two RBIs in the Yanks’ 7-5 win over the Angels. His pregame acquisition, though, was clearly the highlight.