[轉錄] A-Rod rips three hits after ripping self
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/409518p-346603c.html
MINNEAPOLIS - Alex Rodriguez is usually cool and composed, but in the moments
after Saturday's loss his frustration was evident. Despite knocking in what
would have been the winning run if the Yankees hadn't blown a lead in the ninth
inning, Rodriguez called himself out and said he was letting the team down by
not producing enough.
Yesterday, he responded to his own pep talk.
A-Rod went 3-for-5 with two runs and crushed his third homer of the season in
the seventh inning of the Bombers' 9-3 victory over the Twins.
"I expect a lot of myself," Rodriguez said. "It's important for me to go out
and take responsibility for what I have to do."
Rodriguez had said on Saturday that he'd been "(ticked) at my game for about
a week now" and he's been increasing his already-heavy work load. He arrived
early yesterday and worked in the batting cage with hitting coach Don Mattingly,
perhaps finding "a little something" that he said might help him.
Even with a strong game yesterday, A-Rod said he didn't feel much better about
his swing, but this surely was a step in the right direction.
"I just want to be consistent," he said.
Rodriguez entered the game in a 3-for-17 slide but he stroked a single to left
in the first inning that preceded the first of Jason Giambi's two home runs.
A-Rod grounded out his next two times up, launched his seventh-inning shot over
the left field fence and then barely missed a second homer when his ninth
-inning drive to right-center slammed off the wall for a double.
"I've just found that when I swing the bat really well, the boys roll,"
Rodriguez said when asked to explain why he feels such a responsibility. "It's
contagious."
Joe Torre wasn't surprised to hear Rodriguez was being hard on himself because
he's seen A-Rod "set the bar sky-high" ever since Rodriguez arrived in the
Bronx. Torre sometimes wishes Rodriguez would give himself a break.
"He drives himself to the point of expecting himself to do more than any human
being is capable of doing," Torre said. "Alex is very tough on himself because
he doesn't think he should do anything wrong ever. I don't think we can live
our lives that way."
Rodriguez doesn't figure to change anytime soon. Mattingly said Rodriguez
probably is the player who takes the most batting practice and admires A-Rod's
commitment.
"He never tires of physical work," Torre said. "He's out there constantly,
trying to make himself better. Over 162 games, it takes its toll."
And that's fine. Torre just wants to make sure that Rodriguez doesn't go too
far.
"He expects so much of himself," the manager said. "But that's a big part of
why he's the player who he is."
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