A-Rod benched

[VirginiaKnickFan]

Rodriguez, who had been set to play his first regular-season game in his hometown of Miami against the Marlins, cheered on the Yankees from the bench. He missed the start of the season following hip surgery and had played in every game since rejoining the team May 8, but Rodriguez and Yankees manager Joe Girardi thought the three-time AL MVP could use two days off.

The struggling slugger is batting .145 (8 for 55) in June. He's in an 0-for-15 slump, and is hitting .212 with nine homers and 26 RBIs. He was replaced Friday by Angel Berroa .

[Bernard King]

I dont know if I see this as being benched in the classic sense. They are trying to give him some rest that he never really got after coming back from surgery. We need him to be Arod for us to have a chance.

[VirginiaKnickFan]

I dont know if I see this as being benched in the classic sense. They are trying to give him some rest that he never really got after coming back from surgery. We need him to be Arod for us to have a chance.

That's true I didn't mean it to sound it's from his attitude or lack of effort. I just think he came back too early from his surgery.

[Bernard King]

You have a good point. He probably did come back too soon but as a teammate he felt pressure to help the team. He may not have even had the correct surgery so that he could get back as soon as possible.

[VirginiaKnickFan]

You have a good point. He probably did come back too soon but as a teammate he felt pressure to help the team. He may not have even had the correct surgery so that he could get back as soon as possible.

Remember the surgery he had was only a stopgap until the end of the season when he would have the more thorough surgery to repair his hip. I think the pressure to live up to that contract as well as wanting to play in the new stadium forced him back too soon.