Who Mourns for Adonis?

I'll miss A-Rod's bat, and his glove, and his work with the young Yankees, especially Melky. We'll be okay without him, though. Joe Crede, Adrian Beltre, Mike Lowell, all could man third base for us [unless Boston puts A-Rod at short AND keeps Lowell at third]. Bronson Sardinha plays a little third, too, and Wilson Betemit...well, I WANT to like WilliBet, but he needs to give up that switch-hitting idea and tighten up his swing.

How do we replace A-Rod's bat? Offset it with better pitching, for one. More Duncan at first? Matsui more DH with Damon in left? If those two can remain healthy, and as Cano and Melky progress, the power shortfall will be erased. Especially if Abreu and Giambi get hot.

Here's a thought which just occurred to me: A-Rod revealed himself to be [in his mind], bigger than the team, bigger than baseball. He opted out. While the Yankees waited to announce anything on a new manager, A-Rod came right out and opted out, upstaging the Yanks and the World Series at one fell swoop. He was acclimatized to NY, he was slowly getting past the non-clutch post-season knock, he carried the team on his back and we made the playoffs, without him we would have seen a silent October. A plaque, a monument maybe, status as a True Yankee. All this and more was Alex's for the taking. He had to upstage the team and the game.

Perhaps he'll find a few more ducats; perhaps the Yankees will remain true to their word, and A-Rod will find the money less than he had imagined. I would laugh at the delicious irony; not to spite Alex, for I hold for him no ill will. The irony of it all, if he gives up all I have mentioned, for less money, less prestige, less lasting fame.

Now he has truly become shown as a mercenary, a wandering bat in search of no home, no connection, no ring, even. Only cold money, a poor companion on lonely winter nights when lacking the solace of affection or even affiliation really. He had the world; it was his oyster, but it was not enough. Ozymandias wept; Alex sold his soul. It will not fetch enough to fill the emptiness within him.