Pretty boy A-Rod chokes up when receiving MVP award

Rodriguez completed a tumultuous season that began with an awkward confession to past steroid use and then hip surgery that kept him out until May by being selected the winner of the Babe Ruth Award as the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s postseason MVP.

A-Rod picked up the hardware at the 87th annual New York baseball writers’ dinner Saturday night.

Rodriguez used his time away from the team to rehabilitate his hip as a period of reflection. He returned with a mantra: simplify things.

And after he told fans at the dinner that “he’d stick to the script of 2009 and keep it very, very brief,” he choked up, taking a long pause—save for a nervous laugh—to look down at the podium and smile awkwardly.

Unlike the extended pause he took during his steroids news conference, this one was broken when an attendee—the dinner was crowded with Yankees fans— shouted, “You’re the best, A-Rod!”

Rodriguez batted .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 games in the Alex Rodriguez looked at the award he just received from Babe Ruth’s granddaughter with big eyes and a broad grin. It was as if he almost couldn’t believe it was his.

“Postseason MVP. Wow,” Rodriguez said Saturday night. Pausing for effect he added, “What’s next, the good guy award?”

Less than a year ago, it would have been difficult to decide which would be more preposterous for the troubled star to earn.
postseason, quickly putting to rest his reputation for failing when it mattered most—he had 8 for 59 (.136) in the postseason since 2004 before going on a tear to lead New York to its 27th title.

Rodriguez thanked the fans for being patient with him after helping the Yankees win their first title since 2000. It was his first trip to the World Series in a 16-year career. He joined the Yankees in ’04.

The three-time American League MVP took great pleasure in this award.

“I’ve been to these dinners a couple of times to receive MVP awards and those, I’m very proud of those accomplishments,” he said. “But none of those accomplishments will ever compare to the feeling you get from being part of a team that won a world championship. Like Albert (Pujols), said there’s nothing like winning a World championship