COM"ROD"ERY

Before the 2015 season began, no one knew what to expect from A-Rod, not even he knew for sure what his own physicalities could endure.  After all, his last full season of daily grind was back in 2012 – before his 2014 suspension from baseball and prior to his second and more extensive hip surgery.  The lack of play, the doubt of his post-hip surgery endurance, and his age (he will be 40 next Monday) were enough obstacles for everyone's doubt, including mine.

Now, as we close into the final two months or so of baseball, A-Rod has done the impossible:  He's not only produced a decent batting average of.275, reached 20 homers, and driven in 54 runs, but he's also carried himself very well behind the microphones!  He's been verbally preaching team, team, and more team all year long and steered away from stories involving any of his personal accomplishments.  Now, I might typically critique that as possible phoniness, but since he has clearly brought that exact team attitude into the clubhouse, who can rightfully criticize him?

Who would have thought that Derek Jeter's replacement in the clubhouse as the team leader would be A-Rod?  Now, I'm not saying that A-Rod deserves to be a captain or that he's even in the same class as Jeter, but it is clear to anyone who has watched many of this year's games that besides Teixeira's comeback numbers and Gardner's best MLB year, it is A-Rod's own great hitting AND his continuous acts of comradery (a.k.a., COM"ROD"ERY) that has distinguished him as the main team leader.  Whether you watch the players in the dugout or listen to them in their interviews, they are acting as one unit and I believe A-Rod is the main reason, followed by Gardner and Teixeira.