Choking on the Big Apple

Alex Rodriguez makes $27 million per year (give or take).

Alex Rodriguez allegedly, reportedly, is dating Kate Hudson.

Alex Rodriguez cannot hit a flyball with one out and a man on third.

Alex Rodriguez can ground into a double play with one out and the bases loaded.

The Yankees were never out of last night's game, yet, they looked and felt like the Yankees I've grown accustomed to seeing: listless, hopeless, disinterested.

Alex Rodriguez is the reason.

His return to the lineup coincided with the Yankees' resurgence, but it's in spite of his return, incidental, coincidental, rather than cause and effect. Sure, it's possible, even likely, Mark Teixeira is seeing better pitches because of Rodriguez, and Teixeira is taking full advantage of it.

But Rodriguez, the elite of the elite, is doing nothing. He's hitting .258, and looks clueless at the plate. He's the guy that should make his own breaks, not rely on others to thrive.

With Damon standing on third and one, Rodriguez swings at strike one, takes strike two and swings at strike three, a fastball tailing up and in he no chance to hit, let alone get in the air or to the right side to get Damon home. Four runners left on with less than two outs in two at bats. And he blows a bubble and struts back to the dugout each time.

For all his talent, Rodriguez is amazingly stupid ... that is cause and effect.