Mike Lupica takes a break from his tepid political coverage to do what he does best — grouse about A-Rod: "And, while we're at it, let's see how much game Alex Rodriguez will bring to his first playoff run since he signed for the $300 million. If he really is going to be the kind of big Yankee he desperately wants to be, now would be a good time to start. Let's see him carry a Yankee team into September and through September the way he did in the spring of '07." [ NYDN]