NEW YORK -- For the past 13 years, Alex Rodriguezs tenure with the New York Yankees has been the biggest reality show in baseball filled with home runs and numerous controversies. Soccer Jerseys Outlet .For the last month, speculation about the end of Rodriguezs tenure has been rampant.On Friday, it officially ends when Rodriguez and the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium in front of a crowd that will include his mother and two daughters.Rodriguez will be making his last appearance for the Yankees in something many thought was inevitable once his presence from the regular lineup began getting phased out in late-June. The Yankees made it official Sunday when they announced Rodriguez would be released and join the team as an advisor in the 2017 season.The announcement was kept secret until minutes before Rodriguez began his own press conference where he grew emotional and expressed appreciation for managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who came up with the idea last week.Unlike the farewells to Derek Jeter in 2014 and Mariano Rivera the previous year, Rodriguezs career is concluding quietly, though he will be honored with a ceremony before the game.The celebrations of Jeter and Riveras careers are a stark contrast for Rodriguez.While he has 696 home runs, three MVPs and 14 trips to the All-Star game, Rodriguez also involved in two performance-enhancing drug scandals, including a record 162-game suspension in 2014 for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.Since returning from the ban last year, Rodriguez has steered clear of controversy and few teammates had difficulties finding positive things say to about the 41-year-old Sunday.Hopefully Friday will be a great day for Alex, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said. Were going to support him every step of the way and were going to miss him and thats from the bottom of our hearts. Were going to miss Alex in this clubhouse.His IQ is off the charts, his baseball IQ is very high and he knows so much about the game, catcher Brian McCann said. From the pitching side to the hitting side, too. Picking up little things. Its incredible his attention to detail.Despite the praise from teammates Rodriguez is going out quietly because of his struggles at the plate. He is batting .199 after going 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout in Thursdays 4-2 win at Boston, which gave New York a 58-56 record and put the Yankees within 3 1/2 games of the second wild card spot.Rodriguez had a .223 average when the Yankees began phasing him out and has started 13 of New Yorks 41 games since June 25. Since June 25, Rodriguez has seven hits in his last 55 at-bats and when his occasional start resulted in unproductive at-bats it gradually led to rookie Gary Sanchez becoming part of the designated hitter mix.One thing Rodriguez will not be doing Friday is playing third base. He asked manager Joe Girardi about playing third base but had the request turned down.It was a fun request, and I dont have any problem with Joe saying no on that, Rodriguez said. I wouldnt make a big deal out of it. Thats not fair to anyone. It was just a fun request. Hes probably saving me some embarrassment, so thats not a bad thing.Still Girardi will find a way to give fans time to cheer Rodriguez.Theres a way that youd like to see him go out where the fans can show him the appreciation, Girardi said. And then I will try to accommodate that the best I can.When Rodriguezs time with the Yankees is done, only three members of the 2009 championship team will remain.One of them will be on the mound when CC Sabathia takes the mound. Sabathia has struggled recently by going 1/3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts and also has struggled at home, going 1-6 with a 4.82 ERA in nine starts.Sabathia last pitched Saturday against Cleveland when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss.The Rays have been no stranger to notable events in recent Yankees history and are embracing their role in Rodriguezs final game with New York.Hes played for as long as I can remember, Rays first baseman Brad Miller told MLB.com Wednesday. Its history Friday when were there.David Price gave up Jeters 3000th hit in 2011 and Mariano Riveras storied career ended with an appearance against Tampa Bay.Tampa Bay also was the opponent when the Yankees unveiled the plaque to late owner George Steinbrenner in 2010 and when the Yankees played their first home game following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.Chris Archer was on Tampa Bay when Riveras career ended and the right-hander will be the final starting pitcher Rodriguez faces. Rodriguez is 2-for-15 off Archer and both hits are home runs.Hes already got two off me, Archer told MLB.com. Those are the two I hope he has. Im on his list. Im in his book twice.Tampa Bay has won five of nine meetings with the Yankees, including a three-game sweep at home two weeks ago which. Those wins by Tampa Bay resulted in New York officially becoming sellers at the non-waiver trade deadline.Since sweeping the Yankees, the Rays have dropped six of 10, including a 7-0 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season. Soccer Jerseys China . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Normally, an opposing team would be grateful not to face world football stars Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.The French duos clubs Juventus and Atletico Madrid are bound for Melbourne in a weeks time to take part in the International Champions Cup.But the pair, who dazzled on their way to the European Championships final last week, wont be heading to Australia.The host nations run to the finals means the pair arent expected to travel to Melbourne, instead focusing on recovering their fitness for the arduous club season ahead.Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat believes the absence of the mega-stars will only make the matches tougher.Im just spewing that France didnt get knocked out earlier so Pogba and Griezmann could be here, he told AAP.Make no mistake, its going to be a lot harder because were going to have the players here that want to be the next cab off the rank.Itll be a good challenge and one were embracing.English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur complete the trio of travelling sides, which will boast serious international firepower for the three MCG matches, with Victorys date with Atletico to be played at Simonds Stadium.The three visiting clubs will confirm their travelling squuads in the coming week. Replica Soccer Jerseys. Victory are no strangers to international competition as five-time Asian Champions League participants and hosting several glamour friendlies in Melbourne in seasons past.Next Saturday, theyll be re-united with their first guest, Juventus, which visited in 2007 for a 4-1 win at Etihad Stadium.Muscat said it was always a pleasure to keep international company, as they will again in the ICC series.Victory didnt play in last years series - which included Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester City - but they still benefited from the event.Spending time last year when Rafa Benitez was here they invited us to training and we made some contacts, he said.It opens a few doors. Its great.Were honoured to be involved.VICTORY AGAINST THE WORLDMelbourne Victorys record in glamour friendlies against visiting international sides.2007 - lost 1-4 to Juventus (Italy)2009 - lost 0-3 to Fulham (England)2010 - lost 0-1 to Boca Juniors (Argentina)2011 - lost 0-1 to Celtic (Scotland)2012 - lost 1-4 to Olympiacos (Greece)2013 - lost 0-2 to Liverpool (England) ' ' '