Happy birthday, A-Rod!

Alex Rodriguez turns 40 years old today, although with the way he's been playing lately, you'd think he just turned 30.

Let's take a trip down memory lane for a sec. Back on this very day in 2002, A-Rod gave himself a nice birthday present when he hit a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Oakland A's as a member of the Texas Rangers. Ironically enough, the Yankees begin a three-game set in Arlington tonight.

It's been a busy season for A-Rod, for various reasons. From passing Willie Mays on the all-time home run list, to reaching the 2,000 RBI mark and hitting a home run to achieve 3,000 hits, the company A-Rod finds himself in is impressive. He's passing a name on some list almost every week.

His play on the field has mirrored his clubhouse presence. The one thing we've continuously heard over the years is that A-Rod is a great teammate. He's fully embracing his elder statesman status, especially with the leadership void left by Derek Jeter. A-Rod's year-long suspension seems to have really changed him for the better, and the Yankees are benefiting from it as they currently hold a comfortable 6.5 game lead in the AL East.

A-Rod started his birthday celebration early by smacking three homers and helping the Yankees overcome a 5-0 deficit against the Twins this past Saturday night. Hopefully he and the Yankees can celebrate more tonight in A-Rod's old stomping grounds.

From all of us at Bronx Pinstripes, HAPPY BIRTHDAY A-ROD!