Recently I was contemplating the world of Alex Rodriguez. I kept coming back to the idea that he is a Solitary Man. This got me to thinking, where better to go to explain his recent Yankees past and future, than with the lyrics of one Neil Leslie Diamond? Hopefully Scott Boras will use the words of Neil to understand better what Alex has went through and what he wants in the future.

I wonder what are feelings that A-Rod must have? I know I’m playing amateur psychologist here, but my guess is if Alex was to write a poem about his Yankees experience, it would resemble this.

Gave you my heart
Gave you my soul
You left me alone here
With nothing to hold
Yesterday's gone
Now all I want is a smile

First, they say they want you
How they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in a storm
When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

You need what you need
You can say what you want
Not much you can do
When the feeling is gone
May be blue skies above
But it's cold when your love's on the rocks

First, they say they want you
How they really need you
Suddenly you find you're out there
Walking in a storm
When they know they have you
Then they really have you
Nothing you can do or say
You've got to leave, just get away
We all know the song

Love on the rocks
Ain't no surprise
Pour me a drink
And I'll tell you some lies
Yesterday's gone
And now all I want is a smile
(Lyrics from Love on the Rocks)

Or maybe a more succinct A-Rod would have offered this type of explanation.

It was more than a matter of knowing

All the words that were finally said

It was more than the coming or going

It was more than a matter of wanting

Or needing the foolish games we played

A-Rod has tried at times to be more open about his feelings, but he had a hard time truly expressing his deepest emotion. Emotions like these.

Can anybody save me

Save me, save me from the storm

Save me, save me

Save me 'fore I'm gone

I'm only a man

And a man's gotta break

There's a lot I can stand

But not a lot I can take

Save me, something is taking me over

And there's no place that I can hide

(lyrics from Save Me)

So he decided to opt out of his contract, no longer wearing the Pinstripes.

Open wide these prison doors.

Take these chains from 'round my heart.

Make believe that I'm no more.

Pay no mind when I depart.

Need to find another place where love is not just tossed away.

If you really care for me, open wide these prison doors and set me free.

(Lyrics from Open Wide These Prison Doors)

Sure Alex could have shown more class with his announcement, but I’m betting if you knew what was inside the man’s heart, he would have offered up something to the Yankee fans like this.

It used to be so natural
To talk about forever
But 'used to be's' don't count anymore
They just lay on the floor
'Til we sweep them away

And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry
Well I learned how to love
Even learned how to lie
You'd think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
'Cause you don't bring me flowers anymore

(Lyrics from You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Anymore)

I mean, how emotional is that? Bravo, Mr. Rodriguez! So now he is offering himself up to other teams. Sure many fans look at him like he is the sexy girl, who has a little too high of an opinion of herself, but I see something else. A Solitary Man offering up his latest Traveling Salvation Show. I say pack up the babies and grab the old ladies because everyone goes and everyone knows, Brother A-Rod’s show. What are Alex’s thoughts on his possible destinations? I would suggest they would be close to these.

And so it was
That I came to travel
Upon a road
That was thorned and narrow
Another place
Another grace
Would save me

You are the sun
I am the moon
You are the word
I am the tune
Play me

(Lyrics from Play Me)

Many think his most likely destination is with the Angels, Dodgers, or Mets. Maybe another work of Neil Diamond will give us some insight on where A-Rod’s mind is on these options.

L.A.'s fine, the sun shines most the time
And the feeling is 'lay back'
Palm trees grow, and rents are low
But you know I keep thinkin' about
Making my way back

Well I'm New York City born and raised
But nowadays, I'm lost between two shores
L.A.'s fine, but it ain't home
New York's home, but it ain't mine no more

"I am," I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
"I am," I cried
"I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still

Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one
Well except for the names and a few other changes
I you talk about me, the story's the same one

But I got an emptiness deep inside
And I've tried, but it won't let me go
And I'm not a man who likes to swear
But I never cared for the sound of being alone

"I am," I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
"I am," I cried
"I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still

(lyrics from I Am, I Said)

Wow, what an emotional guy, this A-Rod is. I’m not sure I follow the frog analogy, and sure palms trees do grow in LA, but the rents are not exactly low, so he should rethink that part. The rest, though, is right on the money. I’m guessing he realizes that the Angels are the best fit, but he probably has reservations, all the same.

Hey, I'm walkin' proud, me and the boys got a date with the angels.

Walkin' proud, we and them boys ain't exactly like strangers.

Walkin' proud, talkin' proud.

Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby.

Jungle time, rumble time, tumble time.

Hey, I'm checkin' out, this ain't my style it it ain't my persuasion.

Checkin' out, guess I ain't built for this kind of occasion.

Checkin' out, steppin' out.

Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama.

(lyrics from Jungle Time)

This is a big decision, so asking your Mom her thoughts are a good idea. I’m not sure, though, I would do it like you’re a 5 year-old at a candy store, Alex. Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama.

No matter who ends up with A-Rod, his basic need is a simple one.

So you really want a job in the circus.

Paint your face and make the people smile.

Hey clown, come on down.

You've been too long walkin' that high wire.

When you're falling, you'll be calling, too,

callin' out to someone who believes you,

someone who's there when nobody needs you,

callin' out to someone who

believes in you.

(lyrics from Someone Who Believes in You)

Hey, isn’t that what we all want? Just for someone to believe in our talents. I can imagine A-Rod saying “sure my years with the Yankees had a lot of ups and downs, but I am the best player in baseball, so how about giving me what I need most. Respect. Support. Love. Well, that and 40 million per year, because...

Money talks
But it don't sing and dance
And it don't walk

(lyrics from Forever in Blue Jeans)

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH.