It was bound to happen.

Yesterday, A-Roid was finally forced to leave the comfortable cocoon of Legends Field and face his not-so-adoring fans at Dunedin Stadium, the Blue Jays’ Spring Training complex.  Not surprisingly, they didn’t exactly roll out the red carpets.  There were boos, taunts, and off-handed remarks about ‘boli and Madonna.

But, whatever.  He laid his bed.  Now he has to sit on it.

Head case though he may be, A-Roid played through the persecution, delivering a two-run shot during his second at-bat of the game.  (For the record, he also drew two walks.  It’s important to note that this is a totally worthwhile contribution, though significantly less appreciated by most.)  In the end, A-Roid’s efforts helped lead the Yanks to their 6-1 victory over the Jays.

As Reggie Jackson had more or less predicted on Tuesday during his dinner with A-Roid, in the world of sports, forgiveness  is basically a matter of winning.  He told The Roid, “Hit the baseball and hit it when it counts.  That’s really about all that matters now.”

And he appears to have been right.  Because A-Roid’s two-run dinger in the fourth shut that crowd right the hell up.  Not that he cared much either way.  He claims not to have been bothered by all the jeering, saying, “I thought the fans were okay, actually.  I’d like to invite a bunch of them out to Fenway this summer.”

Ah, how I admire his gusto. He is the bleach that frosts the tips.

After the game, in an effort to stimulate the economy, A-Roid hired a driver to come and meet him at the stadium.  He obviously has to be transported everywhere in a Suburban because he is the least original person on earth, but I respect that he’s doing his part to help out with the employment crisis.

Except, is Dunedin the only place in America where there is actually an over-employment issue?  I only ask because it’s the only logical explanation that I can come up with for the fact that A-Roid had the chutzpah to get into a car with Yuri Sucart-the cousin.

To which I can only respond, “Seriously?”

I mean, I get that they’re related, but does it really have to be explained to him that this is like the stupidest time ever to have him anywhere near a stadium of any kind?   There are other ways to keep the familial bond intact.  Have a barbecue.  Invite him.

It’s 2009.  Loosey-goosey went out of fashion with Natalie Imbruglia.  Get with the program.

I mean, seriously?