No pinch hitter for A-Rod -- he isn't even in Yankees' lineup
Alex Rodriguez's name was not on the New York Yankees' lineup card for Game 4 of the ALCS, and although the game was postponed by rain, the three-time AL MVP is expected to be benched when the Yankees and Tigers resume the series Thursday at Comerica Park.
"I'm obviously not doing somersaults," Rodriguez said. "I'm not happy about it. Obviously, you come to the ballpark feeling that you can help the team win, and when you see your name is not in the lineup you're obviously disappointed. You've got to just shift to being a cheerleader and also make sure that you're ready when your number is called."
Rodriguez is hitting .130 (3-for-23) with no extra-base hits or RBI during the postseason; he has been pinch-hit for three times and was benched twice during the Yankees' first eight playoff games before being left out of Wednesday's lineup.
Despite his weak postseason performance, Rodriguez believes he can still be a force at the plate and that the Yankees would be better off with him in the lineup.
"I've played this game for a long time and bottom line is, anytime I'm in any lineup, I think that lineup is better," A-Rod said. "It has a better chance to win. I don't care if it's an All-Star Game. I feel I can bring that type of impact and I'm also at any point ready to break through. I thought my at-bats in some of those games got a little bit better. The last two, I hit two rockets. Anytime I'm in the box the game can change, and everyone knows that."
