One year ago, Joe Girardi’s initial spring press conference was dominated by questions about Alex Rodriguez, who was returning from his one-year drug suspension.
What a difference a year makes.
Thursday, the manager fielded only one question about A-Rod, who returns at 40 looking to give the Yankees another solid season in the designated hitter spot.
“We expect him to be productive,” Girardi said. “I think when you get to the age that he’s at, though, every year people are going to ask: is there going to be a decline? If he gets off to a slow start, is this it?