Going back to 1995, Buck Showalter was let go after a grueling series against the Mariners that could have gone either way. After the 2007 season, the Yankees parted ways with Joe Torre. Other seasons, they used excuses like the Boston comeback and bees because unlike any other team, they felt the need to explain what happened. In a season that barring a miracle similar to the 2004 Red Sox will be ending soon, the Yankees have already gone to damage control. They want to sell the fans and media that the reason the team is likely not going to the World Series is because of Alex Rodriguez.
It was one thing to pinch hit for him in the Orioles series. Then he was left out of the lineup in game 5 against Baltimore. He was left out of the lineup in game 3 against Detroit and Justin Verlander, in spite of something like a 4-7 with 2 HR and 1 2B against him in the regular season. Now it has hit an alltime low, as he is left out of the lineup for game 4 against Max Scherzer. According to GM Brian Cashman, he will not play against RHP, which is ludicrous. I understand fans all over are happy to see A-Rod sit. But this accomplishes nothing.
Let be honest. If the Yankees main problem was Alex Rodriguez, it would stand out more than it has. Or would it? Its not like other Yankees such as Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher and others have gotten the job done. Using Alex as the scapegoat puts the blame on one person. Maybe thats the new Yankees way. Joe Girardi gets a pass, Brian Cashman gets a pass and all the other players get a pass. All because the team has decided to blackball Alex Rodriguez from the lineup. Perhaps that was Cashman and Girardi's plan, as it certainly looks like Cashman may have forced this issue.
Are the Yankees seriously better with Eric Chavez in the lineup? Maybe the frustrated, bitter fan that lets his heart take precedents over his brain may think so. Benching A-Rod is telling Cano, Granderson and Swisher they are doing fine. The Yankees can lose now, its ok. The 2012 season is being blamed on A-Rod, leaving everybody else off the chopping block. For an organization that does not accept losing, it sure has now. It wants to tell its fans that if A-Rod did what he is capable of, the team would he winning. The Yankees could not be any further from the truth, and they know it. Hitting with runners in scoring position has been a problem from the beginning and I doubt runners were only in scoring position when A-Rod was up. The Yankees damage control, and excuse for the 2012 season is now A-Rod. Hopefully the real fan will see through that mirage and understand there are many reasons this season will potentially end in Detroit.