Why Does Girardi Hate A-Rod So Much?

Word now comes that Yanks' manager Joe Girardi denied Alex Rodriguez's request to play 3B in the final game of his career. It's the final indignity for a Hall of Fame player who also, inconveniently enough, is a world class jerk.

Which is why there isn't more outrage and questioning of Girardi's spiteful action. Girardi claims it's because A-Rod hasn't played 3B all season and the Yankees are "still in the business of winning games." And yet, Girardi continues to play Mark Texeira and his .197 average. Bizarre.

The disparity in treatment makes you wonder why amidst the Yankees' youth movement Texeira is being allowed to retire at the end of the season while A-Rod is leaving - abruptly - right in the middle of it. And what was the point of giving A-Rod a week of games between the announcement of his pending retirement and his final game if Girardi was only going to play A-Rod as a spot DH and sometime pinch hitter?

Of course, this isn't the first time Girardi's animosity toward A-Rod has come through - and also not questioned. During the 2012 playoffs vs. the Tigers, A-Rod was benched twice in favor of Eric Chavez. I'll say again, Eric Chavez. During that series, all of the Yankees struggled. Yes, A-Rod wound up hitting .111 but even the sainted Derek Jeter hit only .200. Texeira didn't get above .200. Russlel Martin hit .143. Curtis Granderson didn't get a hit, and Robinson Cano hit .057 (not a misprint). And yet A-Rod was benched twice and Granderson sat too. But, really, in Girardi's mind the biggest problem in the Yankees lineup was A-Rod? By the way, Eric Chavez went 0-8 with 4 strikeouts in the two games he replaced A-Rod.

I'll say it again, Alex Rodriguez is a very unsympathetic athlete, but there is no denying that he is a world class ballplayer. There's also non denying that Joe Girardi is treating  him - and has treated him - very shabbily. 

In his last game, A-Rod really does deserve better. Let him play.