Alex Rodriguez couldn’t see this far ahead. Really, no one could.
After a season-long suspension, hip surgeries and an approaching 40th birthday, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees this season with more assumptions than questions, giving little reason to believe he could stay healthy, or provide the power that once made him the most feared hitter in the sport.
But improbably, Rodriguez crushed nearly every expectation with his highest home run total (33) since 2008, while playing his most games in a season (151) in eight years to help the Yankees return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
“I don’t think I dreamed this far along, to be honest with you,” Rodriguez said heading into Tuesday’s AL wild-card game against the Astros at the Stadium. “It’s been an incredible year and a lot of fun. In spring training, nobody thought this team would win 75 or 80 games … I don’t think anybody thought this team would do much, so we’re in a situation now where hopefully we can keep surprising some people.”
Perhaps not so surprising is the aging slugger fell apart as the season progressed, with his second-half batting average dipping to .216 after he hit .278 before the All-Star break.
Since Aug. 1, the three-time MVP is batting .191.
“Alex has had a fantastic season, maybe played a little more than he should have, but he had to play,” Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said. “Sometimes he was the most important guy in there. [He] probably should have had a little more rest, but Joe [Girardi] did what he had to do as a manager to get us where we are today.”
At the moment, the present is much like the past. It is October and Alex Rodriguez is struggling. And going against Houston ace Dallas Keuchel, Rodriguez may end up adding further evidence to his poor postseason reputation.
Rodriguez, who has hit .141 with no home runs in his past four playoff series, struggled mightily against Keuchel in his two starts against the Yankees this season, going 1-for-7 with four strikeouts. The southpaw, Rodriguez said in June, “made me look as silly as I’ve looked all year.”
When asked how things could be different, Rodriguez referenced the advice of his former Yankees manager.
“[Joe] Torre always used to talk about thinking small and big things will happen, [and] I think that’s the mindset for [Tuesday],” Rodriguez said. “He’s a great pitcher. He’s dominated us for 16 innings. You just got to go out there and have some fun. The key is to not try and do too much and try and change the momentum a little bit … not necessarily look for the long ball, [but] a walk, a hit, good swings, swinging at strikes.
“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a tough battle.”
And at this point, who knows what to expect?