[新聞] A-Rod still in New York state of mind
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061116&content_id=1741511&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Rodriguez has no plans to leave Yankees after 2007 or beyond
NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez is never surprised by anything he hears regarding his future with the Yankees.
One day, he's the subject of trade talk. The next, people are wondering whether he'll exercise an option in his contract which allows him to void the final three years of his contract after the 2007 season.
Time and time again, he has said that he plans to play the final four years of his contract -- and, hopefully, the rest of his career -- in New York.
Wednesday was no different.
Rodriguez stressed his "100 percent" desire to remain in pinstripes for the upcoming season and beyond, saying that he had no plans to leave the Bronx anytime soon.
"It must be fun writing it or fun reading it, because people love to write it and people love to read it," Rodriguez said. "Options are made for protections and choices; my choice is to play in New York and to help this team win."
The latest questions came in the wake of a Wednesday newspaper report that detailed A-Rod's contractual clause that would permit him to void the final three years and $81 million next winter.
J.D. Drew, who, like Rodriguez, is represented by Scott Boras, just voided the final years of his deal with the Dodgers, prompting speculation that Rodriguez could do the same next year if he truly wanted out of New York.
"It didn't surprise me; it's New York, so people are going to talk about something," Rodriguez said. "I'm very proud of being a New York Yankee and I want to be here a long time. I realize that as long as I'm here, if we lose, I'm going to be someone people look at. I just want to be part of the puzzle that is a winning, championship team."
Wednesday night, Rodriguez co-hosted a charity poker tournament with Jay-Z at the rapper's 40/40 Club in Manhattan. Several celebrities were on hand for the event, including teammates Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada, as well as former teammate Gary Sheffield, who was dealt to the Tigers last week.
Rivera came to Rodriguez's defense a couple of weeks ago, saying that it was unfair to blame the third baseman for the Yankees' playoff disappointment. A-Rod appreciated the support, though he added that he isn't concerned with his place in the Yankees' clubhouse.
"Mo is one of my best friends; I know the way guys feel about me," Rodriguez said. "Guys are going to write what they're going to write -- I know I make a great villain -- but at the end of the day, I know how my teammates feel and how I feel about my teammates."
"Everybody in that clubhouse is there for each other," Posada said. "There's not one person that means more than anything. Everybody is there for each other."
In his first three years with the Yankees, A-Rod has averaged 39 home runs and 119 RBIs during the regular season, even capturing the 2005 American League MVP award. His postseason career with New York even got off to a hot start, as he led the Yankees past the Twins in the 2004 Division Series with a .421 average.
Since then, however, the postseason has brought nothing but disappointment for Rodriguez and the Yankees. They watched as the Red Sox came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS, and then were ousted in the Division Series in each of the next two seasons. In the last two series, Rodriguez is a combined 3-for-29 with no RBIs.
Rodriguez endured more than his share of boos last season, something he refers to as "tough love" from the hometown fans. He doesn't take it personally; he knows it comes with the territory of being the highest-paid player in the game.
"That was the challenge coming in; I knew fans would expect a lot out of me," he said. "My career has been the biggest blessing any man can ask for. Lately in the postseason, I haven't done as well as I'd have liked, but I did really well early on. I feel I'm going to do well again -- I just hope we have more than four games to do it in."
It will take more than a big regular season for Rodriguez to win back the fans, who have watched the Yankees go six consecutive Octobers without capturing the 27th World Series title in club history.
Sheffield, who played the past three years with Rodriguez, thinks it's going to be tough for A-Rod to get the fans on his side. But Sheffield believes that if anyone can do it, it's Rodriguez.
"Trying to win a championship here to get the respect of the fans, his situation is going to be more difficult," Sheffield said. "In my situation, I got it right away. That's the difference; he has to earn it, and all eyes are on him. He's going to do it, eventually, but it's just a matter of time."
Rodriguez called 2006 "the toughest year I've had to go through, both personally and professionally," but he believes that the struggles he went through on and off the field will help make him a stronger player and a better person.
"It was something that I think helped build a lot of character," Rodriguez said. "It was a year that I may be the most proud of. There was so much adversity, so to overcome that in a city like New York, being under such a microscope, it's something I know I'm going to build on. I'm really excited to come out next year, being ready and motivated to do what I do best."
Although he was dropped to the No. 8 spot in the lineup by Joe Torre in the team's final game of the postseason, Rodriguez said he was happy to hear that the manager would be returning for a 12th season in pinstripes.
"It's so unfortunate to get your [rear end] kicked for four games and they want to blame Joe," Rodriguez said. "The bottom line is that we got waxed; it seemed like if we had played 30 games, they would have won 28, because they absolutely dominated us.
"Joe is a Hall of Fame manager; he deserved to come back, and I'm happy he's going to have that opportunity to come back and do it his way. Batting eighth, that's a manager's decision for one game. As long as I'm in that lineup, I'm happy and ready to play."
Rodriguez said that his wife, Cynthia, and their daughter, Natasha, are getting more comfortable in New York. With that in mind, he has no plans to look for employment elsewhere.
"I love the challenges New York brings," Rodriguez said. "Last year was very challenging for me, personally, but I think New York wants to see people go through a tough time, fight through it and come out of it."
"I love being a Yankee," he continued. "I believe we're going to win with me being a Yankee, and I'm going to hopefully be a big part of it and be in the middle."
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※ 編輯: hzc0725 來自: 211.76.85.41 (11/19 14:04)
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