[新聞] Piniella has sweet advice for beleaguered Rodriguez
From: http://myurl.com.tw/h9a1
Naturally, the most resentful of New Yorkers are giving Alex Rodriguez the
business big time these days. It has gotten so bad that he's not even getting
the old Bronx cheer. Of course, most Yankees fans relentlessly jeer a mortal
Hall of Fame lock for 252 million other reasons, but that's beside the point.
Perhaps A-Rod — now called E-Rod for a suddenly scattershot arm — should
rely on the counsel of his first major league manager, a man who has
uncovered something after four decades in baseball.
"I told him to relax, have some fun and not blame himself," said Lou
Piniella, who played 11 seasons in New York. "It's the same thing I'm telling
myself as a manager. I understand the picture better."
Piniella paused. "You know, the booing doesn't help. I think the more the
fans embrace him, the better he'll do."
The whole thing sounds like a great concept and a sensible Rx — if someone
wound as tightly as A-Rod (or Sweet Lou) can keep refilling the prescription.
Of course, pressure largely is created from within, and that pinstripe
pressure cooker that the Yankees' perfectionist third baseman finds himself
boiling in at the moment is a different kind of stress than his equally picky
mentor confronted as a player and a manager.
Sunday in Toronto, A-Rod was fitted for another 0-for-4 collar as the Yankees
lost 13-5. A night earlier, he whiffed four times as a DH — one less than
the number of errors he made last week at third base, where he returned
Sunday. He now has 18 boo-boos, six more than he made last season, currently
the most at his position and unbefitting a defending league MVP.
Last week, A-Rod had to fend off rumors of a possible trade to Philadelphia,
telling reporters he would veto any deal that would jettison him from New
York.
The beleaguered Yankee is getting well-intentioned advice, solicited and
otherwise, from many sources. Any day, I half expect A-Rod to say he is
channeling Joe D. for guidance. Perhaps you couldn't blame him.
Rodriguez might end up with the most bittersweet career of any player ever.
Friday night, he became the youngest player in history to swat 450 home runs.
He also rapped out his 2,000th career hit, making him only one of eight
players to reach that plateau by the age of 30. Yet, for what do many
remember him?
That record-smashing $252 million contract.
Criticizing Derek Jeter.
Brawling with Jason Varitek.
Slapping Bronson Arroyo's glove.
And the ultimate failure: no World Series ring.
Sure, A-Rod switched positions and gave up his number, but he didn't really
have a choice. But he has not been able to change the lingering perception
that his shoulders are not broad enough to produce when needed most. What he
needs is a little perspective. He needs to listen to Lou. Because when his
formerly uptight manager and Fox baseball analyst returns to the dugout, it
will be as a changed man and manager.
"I had never been to the ballpark where I saw dads and kids tossing a
baseball or having a hot dog and enjoying themselves," Piniella recently told
us. "When I walk in now, I may go to the concession stand or into the stands.
When you manage or play, you get that foxhole mentality. It's about winning
today. Winning is important; baseball is a business. But more than anything
else, it's entertainment."
Few men in the dugout have amused us the way Piniella has. The temper
tantrums of Piniella, a disciple of the late Billy Martin, are legendary:
throwing bases, covering home plate in dirt, kicking his cap. He has wrestled
with players and, yes, some inner demons.
Few men are harder on themselves — or others. He is a likable son-of-a-gun
but also is an uncompromising stickler who is brutally honest. One night in
June, Rodriguez chatted with him until 2 a.m. It was a visit he later
described on Yankees radio as an "angel coming from heaven to save me." The
next day, he blasted a winning homer.
"I saw this young man grow up from a pup to a megastar. I probably know him
better than anyone," Piniella said. "He was struggling. We talked hitting. We
talked confidence. He just wanted someone to talk to. He has a lot of pride.
That is why he's as good as he is. It's not his fault that he's the
highest-paid player ever."
Maybe not, but heaven help one of the game's premier players if he doesn't
soon start playing like it.
E-mail Jon Saraceno at jons@usatoday.com
Posted 7/23/2006 11:27 PM ET
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 61.217.146.68
A-Rod 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
