Alex Rodriguez will of course play his final game with the Yankees (and very likely the final game of his major-league career) on Friday in the Bronx. As is typically the case with such contests of note, the secondary ticket market provides the best snapshot of "supply and demand" on this front. So how's A-Rod's pinstripe finale looking? Via TicketCity.com, some early returns for the Aug. 12 game between the Rays and Yankees ...

  • At Yankee Stadium, tickets to Legends Suite 15A and 15B for Saturday's game -- i.e., the day after A-Rod's final game -- are going for $920 and $765 per seat, respectively. That sounds pricey to us mortals, but consider ...
  • Tickets to Legends Suite 15A and 15B for Friday's game -- i.e., A-Rod's Last Ride -- are going for $3,000 and $1,500 per seat, respectively. Consider that to be the ... #ARodEffect.
  • The average Yankee Stadium "nosebleed" ticket this season clocks in at $47 at TicketCity. Friday's, though, are going for $80.

All of that sounds pretty impressive. By way of comparison, though, the average ticket price to Derek Jeter's final game was a whopping $845. Jeter was a much more beloved figure than is A-Rod, and Jeter of course was a Yankee lifer. So it's to be expected that his finale would be more of a draw than A-Rod's.

However, we also need to consider context. Jeter announced before the season began that 2014 would be his final campaign, so there were months upon months for momentum to build up. Also, Jeter was retiring of his own volition, whereas A-Rod is being nudged aside to make way for a Yankee youth movement. That's probably playing a role, as well. Also, prices to the A-Rod game are expected to spike further before Friday, so this isn't the final word.

So, sure, A-Rod's not Jeter-grade colossus when it comes to ramping up demand on the secondary ticket market, he's still making his presence felt. So good job, A-Rod.