Report: Girardi Spared A-Rod Embarrassment
NEW YORK (CBS New York) - Jon Heyman of CBSSports reported on Friday evening that Joe Girardi made a special request to the public address announcer not to announce Alex Rodriguez's name when the slumping slugger was pulled from Game 1 of ALCS.
The Yankee Stadium public address system did not announce A-Rod's name as he was replaced by pinch-hitter Eric Chavez. Chavez ended up hitting a fly out and Detroit went on to win the game in 12 innings, 6-4.
Girardi made a controversial phone call from the dugout to spare A-Rod further embarrassment. It may have violated MLB tampering rules.
Previously, Rodriguez was pinch-hit for by Raul Ibanez in Game 3 of the ALDS. Brian Cashman confirmed the decision was entirely Girardi's idea and not that of Chad Bohlin, the Yankees' director of mental conditioning.
Cashman also confirmed the benching of A-Rod during the playoffs was completely up to Girardi.
It was an embarrassing playoffs for Rodriguez. A-Rod found himself losing playing time to Chavez and Eduardo Nunez. He was caught in a high-profile flirting incident with Australian models from the bench during Game 1. Rodirguez went on to finish the playoffs 3-for-25.
A-Rod, Cashman and Girardi have all stated their belief that Rodriguez will return to the Yankees in 2013.
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