[新聞] Yankees' offseason moves force A-Rod to rebuild routine

看板A-Rod作者Ally1213 (迷上FILA = =)時間17年前 (2008/02/26 17:55)推噓3(3推 0噓 2→)

留言5則, 4人參與討論串1/1

http://tinyurl.com/2tvegb Yankees' offseason moves force A-Rod to rebuild routine TAMPA, Fla. - A baseball player in the midst of a hot streak will invariably say that he has found his comfort zone. Then there's Alex Rodriguez, who last season built the five-star Comfort Zone Hotel, Casino and Theme Park on River Avenue in the Bronx. A man of unerring routine, Rodriguez developed an inner circle of players, coaches and team employees who helped him have one of the greatest individual seasons in baseball history. From workout partners before games to dinner companions afterward, Rodriguez had his days carefully planned out. The result was a .314 batting average with 54 home runs, 156 RBI and 143 runs scored. Rodriguez was nearly a un- animous choice for the American League Most Valuable Player award. The steady habits started during spring training when Rodriguez arrived early almost every day to work on his fielding with assistant coach Larry Bowa. One of the best coaches in baseball, Bowa also used his acerbic wit to needle Rodriguez during the season or motivate him during his few cold streaks. Then came work in the batting cage with hitting coach Kevin Long. When Rodriguez was finished, clubhouse attendant Cesar "Heat" Caceras was waiting with a cold drink and his favorite fruit. When Rodriguez wanted to avoid reporters, he would have Caceras get him what he needed from his locker and bring it to a back room. "I had my niche last season and I stuck to it," Rodriguez said yesterday. "Obviously the results were there. I didn't want to change too much. I'm trying to do the same thing this season." Rodriguez eventually drew Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano into his entourage, getting the two young players to join him for workouts. "It was good for me and Melky," Cano said. "You see what Alex is doing, and when he asks you to go with him, you have to do it. He knows what works. He has a good routine." Rodriguez even brings his own lunch to the park every day so he can stay on the program designed by a nutritionist. Nothing is left to chance. But the well-crafted comfort zone is showing some cracks. When Joe Torre left the Yankees for the Dodgers, Bowa went with him. The Yankees also decided not to keep first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, Rodriguez's former high school teammate. Mientkiewicz, who is in Pittsburgh's camp on a minor-league deal, often accompanied Rodriguez to dinner on the road. "Alex and I can talk about anything," Mientkiewicz said. "I think my being around helped him to some degree. I was somebody he could trust." Rodriguez also lost the services of his close friend Mike Borzello, the Yankees' bullpen catcher for 12 years. Borzello was literally the quarterback of Rodriguez's inner circle, throwing him footballs in the outfield as part of his pregame workout regimen. Borzello also was Rodriguez's driver and was close enough to the third baseman to offer him criticism when the need arose. When Rodriguez needed a laugh, Borzello would often invite his friend Brody Stevens, a stand-up comic from Los Angeles, to spend a few days around the team. Borzello and Rodriguez even spent time together during the offseason when Rodriguez visited California. But Borzello's loyalty also was with Torre, his godfather. Like Bowa, he accompanied him to the Dodgers. Now Rodriguez has to rebuild his "team." He said yesterday that he is getting familiar with new infield coach Bobby Meacham. "I'm sure he's a good coach," he said. But the other positions on Team A-Rod have yet to be filled. "I need to find somebody to throw me those footballs," Rodriguez said, laughing. "I'll have tryouts." Of greater concern to the Yankees is who serves as Rodriguez's conscience. Borzello, Bowa and Mientkiewicz had the ability to talk Rodriguez through slumps or suggest changes when needed. "It's baseball; people come and go," Long said. "Alex will have to make adjustments, but that's always the case. I think he's going to be fine. He's proven he can handle everything that happens in New York." Rodriguez answered a few questions for this story, then looked at a clock and walked away. It was 11:45 a.m., time for a lunch in the comfort zone. -- Tell me you love me like a star Tell me you need me with every beat of your heart Tell me you breath me 'til your last breath Liar, Liar http://www.wretch.cc/album/AllyDai -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 203.71.94.31