He isn't mad at Joe Girardi but, make no mistake, Alex Rodriguez is upset over being left out of the Yankees' Game 5 lineup.

"Obviously I'm not happy and, you know, I was disappointed. You want to be in there in the worst way," Rodriguez said about two hours before first pitch of Game 5. "But I keep telling you guys, this is not a story about one person, this is about a team. We have some unfinished business. Our objective is to win one game and keep this thing moving."

There had been widespread speculation that Rodriguez would be left off the lineup card at some point in the ALDS. He's 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series, and he has been pinch hit for twice in the last two days. He was lifted for Raul Ibañez in the ninth inning in Game 3 and for Eric Chavez in the 13th inning of Game 4.

Now that the tables have turned -- Chavez and Ibañez are in the starting lineup -- Rodriguez says ready to help out as a pinch-hitter in Game 5, if needed.

"Without question," A-Rod said. "That's another thing. As you know, with 27 outs a lot can happen. I'll be ready from the first inning on."

Of course, Rodriguez isn't the only Yankee struggling.

Nick Swisher is 2-for-15. Robinson Cano is 2-for-18, Ichiro Suzuki is 4-for-20 and Curtis Granderson is 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts.

A-Rod, though, said he does not feel singled out by Girardi's move.

"No. It is what it is. You don't worry about that. I can't control that. The only thing I can do is go out and try to have quality at-bats and help the team win," he said.

Rodriguez added that he wasn't upset with Girardi's decision.

"It's never about Joe. I always have to look in the mirror and do what I can do to do the best I can. Don't assume that you've heard the last from us, or me," he said.

"We're ready to go tonight. We've got to win one game and I'm apart of this team," he added. "And I'm ready to roll and I'll be ready."

It's worth noting that Rodriguez is 8-for-22 with four homers and nine RBI against Orioles starter Jason Hammel over his career in the regular season.

QUESTION: Do you think A-Rod should have been in the lineup? Will he make an impact in Game 5?