Why Alex Rodriguez Needs to Send Selena Roberts a Thank You Note

If you follow baseball in the least bit, you likely know what Alex Rodriguez did in the recently completed ALDS. Even if your team was eliminated at the end of the season and you hate the Yankees, you still probably know that A-Rod is responsible for the Yankees' three game sweep of the Twins. A-Rod drove in two runs with two crucial hits in the game one victory, hit the monster two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie game two, and then hit the home run to tie game three. The Yankees obviously went on to win both games. "So what" you say? He's the highest paid and best hitter available and should be doing that? Well, I won't argue with you there, but his recent history will. Until game one of the ALDS, A-Rod had not a single RBI in a postseason game since game 3 of the 2004 ALCS against Boston. Not one. What changed you ask? Well, I certainly don't think I'm the first to say this, but I can't believe more people aren't pointing at this lady:

"I'm the reason the Yankees will win the World Series!!"

Selena Roberts. The woman that outed A-Rod's steroid use with the Texas Rangers.

When Selena Roberts wrote her article outing A-Rod for failing a steroid test in 2003, I believe she did him a huge favor. Shortly thereafter, A-Rod was at the center of a media firestorm. He went on television with Peter Gammons to apologize and then again with his teammates behind him at the start of Spring Training.

"I'm sorry guys!! Really!"

Now, here is how it helped A-Rod this season. It is well documented that A-Rod has always been a perfectionist and very self-aware of how he is perceived within baseball, by the media, and by the fans. HIs entire life and career has been almost scripted in an attempt to be the perfect ball player, spokesman, role model, whatever. During the slumps and on the field struggles he has experienced in the past as a Yankee, it was theorized that they were a result of the "fakeness" of A-Rod, that he tried so hard to put up a front and be the player/person he thought he should be, that it was hurting his game. In steps Selena Roberts.

After his steroid admission, A-Rod had hip sugery and basically faded to the background white noise of sports media.  While A-Rod recovered, the newest high paid Yankees in Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and AJ Burnett tried to carve out their spot on the team, and as productive players. But, most importantly, when A-Rod came back, the veil was gone and the scripted existence was no loinger necessary. A-Rod had a flaw and it was exposed. Now everyone knew he wasn't perfect, and he knew we knew. I believe much of A-Rod's success this past season and thus far in the playoffs is in direct relation to the fact he no longer had to put up the front. There was no more pressure on A-Rod to be anything other than a baseball player. Thanks to Selena Roberts, A-Rod can drop everything else and just play ball. Just as should have done from the start.

When the article first came out in February of this year, I wasn't all that surprised at the revelations about A-Rod's steroid use. I was, however, angry that his name was the only out of 104 alleged names on this mystery list that was released. It was just another attack on the Yankees organization in my opinion. Now, I'm grateful that the scandal broke and that it broke last offseason. A-Rod can now go be the ballplayer that we all know he can be and lead the Yankees to number 27. If and when that happens, just imagine how much more pressure is off of A-Rod, and what he might accomplish in the future.

Go Yankees!