A Pyschological Drama Starring as Hero and Villain the one and only A-Rod

Now that was a baseball game.

Actually, it was more of a psychological thriller, with A-Rod playing the complicated role of villain and hero.

It brought to mind the days of George Steinbrenner, Dave Winfield and Howie Spira, as player and management traded allegations of horrible wrongs committed by the other.

What in the world was the Boston hurler contemplating having apparently determined that his pitches would be representative of the feelings of the baseball universe towards Mr. Rodriguez.  On four consecutive throws, loudly and clearly, he made a statement that Mr. Rodriguez was no longer welcome. Did he think his role was to teach A-Rod a lesson? If so, was this his decision alone, or was this devised by those higher up in the baseball food chain?


The responding tirade by Joe Girardi was reminiscent of the best of Lou Piniella. To see the manager come to such a vigorous defense of the person who suggested just hours before that the team, and Mr. Girardi, were out to destroy him, outdid even the best of the Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson love-hate relationship.

In Fenway Park, with all the drama and history of these two franchises from  No, No Nanette to Aaron Boone to 2004, in response to the fastballs that taunted and maligned him, A-Rod hit an almost mythical home run, traveling 446 feet and reminding the baseball world that you can kick him and beat him, but he won't go away, at least not yet.

In the end,  a still struggling Mo the magnificent, in contrast in almost every conceivable manner to the villain-hero on third base, turned out the lights, after well over 4 hours of turmoil and triumph. It was, in this world of instant everything, an instant "classic".