I wish A-Rod would stay home

Tomorrow marks the return to the Yankees lineup of Alex Rodriguez.

I remember talking to a fellow Yankees fan a few years ago when they signed A-Rod. I said at the time that I did not think he was the right fit. At the time, the Yankees were teetering on the brink of the current downhill slide, and A-Rod was seen as one of the pieces that could turn it back around.

However, the Yankees teams of the late 90’s were not about guys like A-Rod. A-Rod is a slick, me-first athlete of the first order. Always has been, always will be. There is no comparison between Derek Jeter and A-Rod. Jeter grew up in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, dreaming of playing for the Yankees one day. He came up with guys like Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada. All character guys ( ok, Pettitte does have the whole drug thing, but still… ).

The Yankees have lost their way, and to me the symbol of the path to the dark side is Rodriguez. He is everything that is wrong with how the Yankees are doing business now vs. the early-mid 90’s.

Please, Alex. For all of us that really love the Yankees, just stay home. Pretend you can’t come back, go find some 21-year old bimbo to hang around with, and sail off into your drug-tainted sunset.