A-rod front and center in Yankees drop to 4th place in AL East

(AP): "Alex Rodriguez helped squander a rally with New York trailing 3-2 in the fifth.

• After Rodriguez walked with two outs and Jeter already at second, lefty Feierabend

• caught Rodriguez far off first base.

In the ensuing rundown, first baseman then Bryan LaHair threw to third base and Beltre ran down Jeter to end the inning.

• Rodriguez was 0-for-10 with two walks in the series.

There is a large sample size on Arod--you don't have to guess about him. Arod himself has proven the Yankees will never get to the World Series--much less win it--as long as he is on the team. Which will be for a very long time. If the team wants to win, the first thing it needs is a change in ownership.

• There has also been something strange going on with Joe Girardi this season. From today by NY Times Kepner:

"The hitters went down in order in the sixth, and with Feierabend at 93 pitches, there was action in the Mariners’ bullpen.

• Yet the Yankees saw only

• five pitches

• as Feierabend retired the side in the seventh.

One of the outs was by Molina, the light-hitting catcher,

• who batted despite an expanded bench that Girardi could have deployed.

Molina grounded out to short before Johnny Damon flied to the warning track on Feierabend’s 98th and final pitch."...

• (If Joe Girardi ever fit the "General Joe" persona, it's officially over with).

P.S. Happy Birthday to Suzyn Waldman.

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