If Yankees Lose, A-Rod Could Be Gone

Will Alex Rodriguez ever seem totally comfortable playing in New York? That question will continue to be raised for as long as the third baseman's postseason struggles continue, and A-Rod's subpar showing in the first three games of the division series has given rise to the latest round of Rodriguez trade speculation.

If the Yanks are eliminated by the Tigers today or tomorrow, then calls for them to move A-Rod will surely increase this winter. When asked about it yesterday, however, Joe Torre quickly defused any talk about that scenario by saying: "I don't pay attention to it because I'm involved in the front-office side and know there's nothing to it. ... In this case, what's been written (about a possible move) has no foundation."

Rodriguez is 1-for-11 in this series and is in a woeful 4-for-38 skid over his last 11 postseason games.

While Rodriguez maintains he is unaffected by all the scrutiny, it's hard not to wonder about what churns inside his stomach each time he fails to come through. He was blistered by boos after striking out with the bases loaded in the first inning of Game 2 and finished the day 0-for-4 with three whiffs.


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