A-Rod's Florida vacation vexes Marlins' faithful

by Ed Valentine on Jun 20, 2009 9:25 AM EDT in New York Yankees News

Alex Rodriguez is taking a little Florida vacation. And the folks in Florida are not happy about it. I mean, really not happy about it.

Check out Friday's column by Linda Robertson of the Miami Herald.

Tired? For this series? Rodriguez is making $33 million this season -- the same amount as the entire Marlins' payroll. Couldn't he have waited until Monday, when the Yankees are off, or paired Monday and Tuesday, when the Yankees play in Atlanta? Strange. But, then again, this is a guy who ruined his image by using steroids, escorting strippers, denigrating Derek Jeter, befriending Madonna, joining the Kaballah movement and consulting his ''life coach'' guru before each game. Another day in the life of A-Odd.

The whole thing smelled fishy, the same way it smelled when Girardi was fired by Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria in 2006, shortly before he was named Manager of the Year.

Which brings us back to another theory regarding the benching of Rodriguez. Was Girardi sticking it to Loria, getting some revenge by hurting Marlins ticket sales? Girardi tried to squelch the idea by saying he and Loria spoke amiably for 20 minutes Friday afternoon and have ``a good relationship.''

''I think it's because Girardi is still mad at the Marlins,'' said Larry Glass of Boca Raton, one of many disappointed fans. ``A-Rod is too tired to play against the Marlins but not too tired to play against the Nationals? Maybe he needs some extra time in Miami to visit his cousin, who is also his pharmaceutical rep.''

Because he is A-Roid, there was talk of some sort of drug issue. Because he is Stray-Rod, there was talk of breaking curfew on South Beach.

Did Rodriguez stay in the dugout because he feared getting booed here?

Wow! For no reason at all, other than disappointment over not seeing him play, I think Robertson did a slam job on A-Rod that covered pretty much every possible angle you can use to denigrate Rodriguez. Maybe it's because I'm from New York state and not Florida, but I find the whole thing petty.

By the way, I'm with all of you who wonder why A-Rod had to go begging for time off. It's obvious he isn't 100 percent physically and he should be getting a complete day off -- or at least DH'ing -- probably once a week.

Manager Joe Girardi has pushed him way too hard, and his .212 batting average and poor mobility around third base reflect that.

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Comments

Spring training

I’m totally on board with the reason that is based around the fact that Arod’s spring training was his thrust into the regular season. All other players during spring training take it easy at first. But Arod went right in, plus he had the surgery.

Give the guy a break.

Joe should have eased him into the lineup, rested him every so often, and this would not have been an issue.

Plain and simple.

by Ragnar808 on Jun 20, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

Girardi

is a good manager and I’ve supported probably 85% of the things he’s done since he got here, but he screwed the pooch with A-Rod. You can’t bring a guy back from surgery a week before his targeted return date, then play him continually without rest no matter how ready he claims to be. And as for people from Florida complaining about A-Rod and the Yankees and their payroll………go to hell. The reason you have no money to spend on players is that no one goes to your games. If you need A-Rod and the Yankees to sell any tickets, then your team must really be terrible.

by Lord Duggan on Jun 20, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

Hell hath no fury

Like a woman reporter scorned

by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Jun 20, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

Very unprofessional.

Is Robertson the Herald’s regular Marlins beat writer? Does she truly believe that Girardi would intentionally hold a 100% healthy A-Rod out of the lineup just to spite the Miami fans?

No wonder the newspaper business is in the toilet.

by django48 on Jun 20, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

Is this

Selena Robert’s cousin? This lady needs to pipe down. If A-Rod’s health is in question by A-Rod then he owes nothing to anyone but himself and the Yankee organization. Screw the people in Miami or anywhere else. I am so sick and tired of people always trying to make this guy out to be the bad person. Just let him be. A-Rod…get healthy soon!!

by Mondoas on Jun 20, 2009 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

this is one of the dumbest articles ever written on the subject "Alex Rodriguez"

And that is a subject that has generated A LOT of dumb articles over the years.

by long time listener on Jun 20, 2009 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

My comments to her in the comments section of Miami Herald

Linda..why do you have to start something that makes you look foolish or a Selena Roberts want to be? Why does A-Rod have to answer to you and the people of Florida? You are not GOD!! What if this man is concerned about his health and it happens to be the weekend he plays in Florida? Why make people question him? Did he recently do something that warrants that? Lets see..he recently had a surgery and came back a week before he was suppose too and Girardi, for some reason, has not given him the amount of rest that one should get after this procedure. He is not hitting so he needs a break. There you go..the true boring story about why he is sitting BUT b/c it’s boring you need to spice it up some to sell papers! Maybe if you keep this up you’ll get a book deal but WARNING..those book deals sometimes don’t work out. Your buddy Selena Roberts can’t give hers away for free these days! People are just tired of all the sensationalism reporters do ALL THE TIME.

by Mondoas on Jun 20, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

To add to it

supposedly A-Rod and Girardi got into it cuz A-Rod had a whole bunch of tickets for fam and friends to teh game.

I really doubt you can fault anyone here. A-Rod wants to play, no faulting him there. Girardi sees a player who needs rest, and Im glad it was finally done cuz its needed.

I could care less about the ‘fans’ of the Marlins, cuz while they keep turning over players, they really never come and see the team even during the WS years.

by FreeBradshaw on Jun 20, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah...

A-Rod played in Boston, but he’s reeeeeeal scared of those Marlin “fans.” Those five or so that were there last night.

by NumberSeven on Jun 20, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I think she made a good point about A-Rod though

Never being able to tell when he’s telling the truth. I think that’s because A-Rod and the truth are strangers to each other. So perhaps she can be excused for not buying into his latest story.

by cph on Jun 20, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

When is this shit gonna stop?1st and 2nd no outs 8th inning marlins 2 yanks 1.Jeters up and Girardi promptly refuses to bunt the runners over again.Jeter bounces into a double play.Ok dipshit this theory of yours is now 0 for eternity.This guy has to go already.Lots of games have and will be lost this way.I can’t figure out if he is stubborn or just that stupid.

by cashman bashman on Jun 20, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions