Lightning A-Rod shrugs off frequent criticism

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published May 1, 2005

It's all about A-Rod.

That was expected when he was with the Rangers. But even as part of the superstar-laden Yankees, everything seems to revolve around Alex Rodriguez.

A 10-year, $252-million contract will do that.

Still, even Rodriguez is taken aback by how much New York's fortunes are tied to his own. The Yankees' collapse in last season's ALCS was in some ways pinned on him. And there was even a debate, spurred by Red Sox players of all people, about whether Rodriguez is a real Yankee.

News flash: When a player knocks in 10 runs in one game, he's for real - anywhere.

"I have no idea why. No idea," Rodriguez told Fort Worth's Star-Telegram when asked about the negativity. "It doesn't bother me. Ever since, and you remember going back to Texas, for some reason I've been, I don't know what you want to call it, a lightning rod. I'm used to it by now."

Not that there isn't some good fodder for debate.

Rodriguez, whose Yankees begin a four-game series at Tropicana Field on Monday, went 2-for-17 in New York's four ALCS losses to Boston. The teams he left (Mariners and Rangers) improved in their next seasons. He was willing to go to the Red Sox before New York, and the Yankees are off to a terrible start.

"And he makes a lot of money," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Some people think with all that comes the necessity to know about it. Pete Rose got booed in every single ballpark he went to other than his own. I don't think it will lessen."

Rodriguez, always gracious, seems unflustered.

"I have six years left on my contract, and I feel a lot more comfortable than last year," he said. "It takes a year to adjust. Just the lifestyle and getting used to New York. When I go to bed at night, and when I wake up, all I think about is being a world champion with the New York Yankees."

UNDERRATED: Outspoken White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is tired of hearing so much about Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior and not enough about White Sox hurler Mark Buehrle.

Why doesn't Buehrle, 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA, get more attention in the Windy City?

"Because he plays for the White Sox and doesn't throw 100 mph," Guillen said. "If he threw hard like Randy Johnson or Kerry Wood, he would be one of the top No. 1 guys in baseball. He'll never win the Cy Young (Award) because he plays for the wrong team. He doesn't play with Boston, New York or the Cubs, and that's why nobody talks about him."

Except Guillen.

"We have a couple players on the other side (of town) who are real big in this town who are not doing even close to what Buehrle does," he said.

FOR THE FUTURE: When the Indians on Wednesday signed pitcher C.C. Sabathia to a two-year, $17.5-million contract, he was the fifth Cleveland player given an extension since January at a combined price of $53.1-million.

Owner Larry Dolan said it is part of a long-term plan. It also counteracted whispers Dolan was not willing to spend.

"Part of our plan was to identify a core group of players and then try to lock them up for as many years as we could," he said. "We identified those players and were willing to step up."

RARE OCCURRENCE: Reds centerfielder Ken Griffey has just one home run in 82 at-bats. But he wondered if anybody understands he had rare surgery that used three screws to reattach hamstring and bone.

"Nobody else has done this," he said. "Who do I talk to about it? Nobody. Every team has a bunch of pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery and they can compare notes."

Griffey has not backed off defensively and made a rolling catch Tuesday against the Cubs.

"My teammates gave me a 9.5 on the catch but only a 4.7 on my dismount," he said. "They gave me an overall 7.7."

ETC.: It appears the Twins will get a new stadium in St. Paul, next to the Xcel Energy Center that houses the NHL's Wild. But the 42,000-seat facility, scheduled to open in 2009, won't have a roof. Keep the mittens handy. ... Want to know why the White Sox are off to a 16-7 start? Its starters had a league-low 2.85 ERA. Next best: the A's at 4.06. ... The Rangers were the only major-league team to open the season with games on 20 consecutive days. They went 10-10.

Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

[Last modified April 30, 2005, 23:59:18]