"Stick it, A-Rod" - Amen, to that

So now the kid that A-Rod dismissed for sticking up for honoring the values of the game rather bow at the shrine of A-Rod stands vindicated. It looks like Dallas Braden may be in the Hall of Fame before A-Rod, no? How about that?

"Stick it, A-Rod," the feisty granny told Bay Area reporters after her grandson had completed his gem.

A-Rod is a tool. It makes for great theatre, but once again, for now, the good guy has prevailed. And I always love when that scenario plays out.

Braden went from little-known hurler to outspoken villain (or hero, depending on your feeling about the Yankees) on April 22 when he ripped A-Rod for crossing the pitcher's mound at the Oakland Coliseum while running back to first base after a foul ball -- a baseball no-no. The two exchanged words on the field, and Rodriguez said afterwards he found it "funny" a player with a "handful of wins" would call him out on a rule of which A-Rod claimed not to have been aware.

This is the problem with defending A-Rod in this mess. He is a self-centered fool. In a team environment, he's all about A-Rod.

I only wish the current Yankees captain had more of the grit and respect for the game that a Thurman Munson had, rather than the touchy-feely, corporate style of Derek Jeter. I can only imagine how a Thurman Munson would handle the A-Rod persona. Given how the relationship with Reggie Jackson played out, my imagination need not stray too far.