So a friend who happens to be a Yankee fan said to me last night when Alex Rodriguez hit his home run, “Why does it always have to be ARod?”  My answer was “so we can stop talking about him.”

Of course, that isn’t true.  We will still talk about Alex Rodriguez.  Perhaps though we don’t have to have that ‘what has he done for us lately’ conversation anymore.  Perhaps he now gets to wear the mantle as the great player he is, without the  “yes, but” attached.  He may not get that “true Yankee” title until Jeter puts his arm around him at the World Series celebration, but I would just be glad, if folks now had to mutter how much they hate ARod under their breath, rather than ranting about for the world to hear.  Without Alex Rodriguez this is a much different post-season.  Consider this: in Rodriguez’s first seven games of the postseason, he is batting .407 with 5 homers and 11 runs batted in

While Derek Jeter is showing why many say he is still the guy to build a team around, Rodriguez is showing why he is the next player you add to the roster.  Jeter is a smart player, Rodriguez is a great one. The comparisons can stop now.  They are different.  They both bring something to the table that is rare. Just like you can have two children that you love equally but differently, its time to open up that part of your heart for Rodriguez, flaws and all.  Remember, Jeter doesn’t have the range anymore, either.

So let’s take a moment and acknowledge just how good ARod has been this week.  And then let’s stop talking about him for awhile.