By Jason Klein
Just four years ago, I compared Mark Sanchez, to Derek Jeter.
Now, he more closely resembles Alex Rodriguez.
It’s a shame, really.
Like a young Jeter, Sanchez once exhibited confidence, poise and passion. He also found ways to win big games.
Big playoff games.
Both Sanchez & A-Rod will face hostile crowds, for different reasons.
Now, like A-Rod, he’s all alone.
He has the majority of his own fan base, and people within his own organization seemly rooting against him. He’s saddled his team with an immovable contract, been involved in controversial plays on the field, and controversial situations off it.
Yet, Sanchez takes the field tonight in Detroit looking to prove all doubters and dissenters wrong.
Sanchez against the World.
A-Rod begins a similar fight tonight in the Bronx, but for much different reasons, obviously.
A-Rod cheated his organization. Sanchez was simply cheated by his.
A-Rod made his own poor decisions. Sanchez was a victim of those made by others.
A-Rod deserves the ridicule. Sanchez deserves a fair shot to prove he can win again with proper support.
Tonight, two well-paid, and well-famed New York athletes will take center stage. Both are polarizing figures. Both will be booed by their home crowd. At 38 years-old, A-Rod is simply playing out the string. At 26 years-old, Sanchez potentially has his best years ahead of him.
If he’s going to spend them playing in New York, the kid from SoCal needs to be confident, poised, and passionate again. He’s got to find ways to win big games again.
He’s got to be more like the face of the Yankees.
Less like the face of Biogenesis.
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