[新聞] Rodriguez responds to pep talk (April 19, 2006)

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Rodriguez responds to pep talk (April 19, 2006) http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/2006/04/19/1541075-cp.html TORONTO (CP) - Alex Rodriguez has been on a tear since giving himself a tongue-lashing last weekend. Rodriguez homered for the third consecutive game to back a strong start from Mike Mussina as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Wednesday. The reigning American League MVP took himself to task after the Yankees lost 6-5 in Minnesota on Saturday. "I need to elevate my game," he said after Saturday's defeat dropped the Yankees to 6-6. "I have been (ticked) at my game for a week now. I expect a lot out of myself. I have to get better." Since then, Rodriguez has gone 5 for 11 with five RBI and swatted three home runs, boosting his season total to five. Still, the 30-year-old third baseman sees room for improvement. "I'm getting closer," he said after helping the Yankees split a two-game series with Toronto."I never feel real comfortable. I always make sure that I'm not too comfortable. "It doesn't matter about the stats. The stats are going to be there. You just want to make sure that every day you're consistent." New York manager Joe Torre marvelled at Rodriguez's work ethic. "He works hard. We had the first bus leaving this morning at 9:15 and he was in a cab before the bus left. When we got here he was already on his way to the batting cage. Sometimes I think he overdoes it, he refuses to accept not performing." Rodriguez said he's still trying to recover after his spring training was broken up by a stint with Team USA at the inaugural World Baseball Classic. "I always felt like I was playing catch-up," he said. "I probably lacked about 30 or 40 at bats this spring." On Wednesday, Rodriguez drew a four-pitch walk in the first inning and got an intentional pass in the third. In the fifth, he jumped all over the first strike he'd seen from Toronto's Ted Lilly, lining it over the wall in left-centre. The homer was the 434th of Rodriguez's career, moving him into a tie with Juan Gonzalez for 35th place on baseball's all-time list. His baseball resume is long and distinguished, but Rodriguez has never played in a World Series. That's part of the reason he pushes himself so hard. But despite New York's star-studded line-up, he knows getting there won't be easy. "There's probably eight or nine teams that are legitimate World Series contenders in the American League," he said. "That's very unique. It's going to be a lot more competitive overall this year." Notes: New York's Jason Giambi was hit on the left forearm in the seventh inning and replaced by Bernie Williams. X-rays were negative and Giambi could play Friday when the Yankees return home to host Baltimore. a Torre said reliever Tanyon Sturtze, who hasn't pitched since last Friday because of a sore lower back, has loosened up and will be available on Friday. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.254.105.134