Speaking to reporters on the field at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Lou Piniella said Alex Rodriguez — just a year removed from a season-long suspension surrounding damning PED allegations — has won Piniella over with his play.
And Sweet Lou says he's not alone.
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"He's won over the fans," Piniella told reporters, including SN's Jesse Spector. "And he's letting his bat do the talking."
Piniella, who played for the Yankees from 1974-1984 and became their manager just two seasons after his retirement, has a good grip on the pinstripe faithful. But as a longtime member of MLB's fraternity, he also understands that forgiveness often accompanies good performance. That, he says, has endeared A-Rod to those in the Bronx that may have booed him in the past.
"Pretty impressive," Piniella said of Rodriguez's recent performance, which includes a home run that gave him his 3,000th hit. "Shows you how much he missed the game of baseball and how great he is."
Piniella's presence at Yankees stadium coincided with Old Timer's Day. And though it's good to see Sweet Lou in uniform again, it's the soon-to-be 40-year-old designated hitter making Yankees fans question the disadvantage of age.