Balls.

I guess this is true:

"Slumping slugger Alex Rodriguez zeroed in on fan Kyna Treacy, a leggy 33-year-old, in the ninth inning of his team’s crucial playoff game against the Detroit Tigers, openly flirting with her and getting her phone number even as he was yanked from the lineup and the Bombers struggled to stay alive."

In the ninth inning of a playoff game?


Bob Klapisch may not be over-reacting:

"What happened next said everything about the mushrooming cold war between Joe Girardi and Alex Rodriguez. The manager decided to not pinch-hit for Ibanez against Coke, even though Ibanez batted only .197 against southpaws this year.

Why would the normally conventional-thinking Girardi allow himself to be caught in this trap? Because his reservoir of faith in Rodriguez has gone dry. Not only did Girardi bench A-Rod and Nick Swisher for Game 3, he specifically refused to use A-Rod for Ibanez because, '[the Tigers] were going to bring in [right-hander Joaquin] Benoit.'

A little background here: earlier on Tuesday, the New York Post reported that A-Rod was seen flipping baseballs in the directions of two female fans near the dugout during Game 1. The paper said the baseballs were inscribed not with Rodriguez’ autograph, but a request for the women’s numbers.
 
A-Rod and GM Brian Cashman refused to discuss the story, but the organization was deeply embarrassed by it, especially since the Yankees were in the midst of getting swept in the first two games at home. And Rodriguez himself was playing himself out of the starting lineup by going 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handers.

So while Girardi insisted his decision to bench A-Rod was strictly a baseball-related move, his refusal to use the slugger in the ninth inning was unquestionably a smack-down for his behavior in New York. It’s anyone’s guess whether A-Rod will start tonight against Max Scherzer in what could be the Yankees’ final game. Regardless, whether they get swept or Sabathia can keep the series alive one more day, the relationship between Girardi and Rodriguez will never be the same. Good luck trying to figure out how the two will co-exist in 2013 and beyond."