It’s a beautiful Friday, and I’m sure everyone’s counting down the seconds until the weekend begins. Mike’s chatting, so that will help waste away the final hours at work. If you’re looking for something else, then give this Tyler Kepner article on A-Rod a read. It takes a look at A-Rod’s personal struggles in his first few years playing for the Yankees, and how he created a new persona this season. Apparently it has a lot to do with Alex ditching his army of advisers and listening to the Yanks, especially media relations director Jason Zillo: “Zillo was blunt with Rodriguez, telling him he was probably the only New York athlete to whom reporters wanted less access, not more.” Seriously, read the whole thing.