| Alex Rodriguez |
Article Index for Alex |
Website Links For Alex |
Information AboutAlex Rodriguez |
|
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27 , 1975 in New York City ), nicknamed '''A-Rod''', is a Third Baseman in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees . Rodriguez is widely regarded as one of the best players in the Major Leagues, and at a relatively young age, is already being mentioned as one of the greatest players in baseball history. Rodriguez was drafted out of high school by the Seattle Mariners . He later signed an unprecedented $252 million free-agent deal to play Shortstop with the Texas Rangers , where he was dubbed one of a Holy Trinity of Shortstops that played in the 1990's and 2000's. He was then traded to the New York Yankees in 2004, where he moved to Third Base to accommodate Derek Jeter . In 2003 , he became the youngest major-leaguer to reach 300 Home Run s; on June 8 , 2005 , he became the youngest with 400. On November 17 , 2003 , Rodriguez won the American League Most Valuable Player award. It was the second time the award had gone to a player whose team finished last in the league ( Andre Dawson won the award for the last-place Chicago Cubs in 1987 ). The following month, the Rangers tried to trade Rodriguez and his hefty salary to the Boston Red Sox . The Players Association blocked the deal, because the Red Sox wanted to cut Rodriguez's pay. On January 25 , 2004 , he was named captain of the Rangers. Less than three weeks later, he was traded to the Yankees, the first reigning MVP to be traded. On November 14 , 2005 , Rodriguez won his second MVP award as the Yankees' third baseman. BEGINNINGS Born in New York City, Rodríguez moved with his parents to their native Dominican Republic when he was four. They moved to Miami , Florida four years later. There, Alex's father announced he had to go to New York for a short time; he never returned. Rodríguez has said in interviews he can forgive his father for abandoning the family, but that he will never forget. Rodríguez was a star player at Miami's Westminster Christian High School . His skills were rewarded with a baseball scholarship to the University of Miami, but Rodriguez would never play college baseball. He was recruited by the Seattle Mariners , who made the 17-year old the No. 1 pick of the amateur draft in 1993 . He rose rapidly through the Mariners organization and made his major league debut at 18, one of the youngest players to appear in a game at shortstop. EARLY CAREER WITH THE SEATTLE MARINERS After his major league campaign in 1994 was cut short by the players' strike, Rodríguez split most of 1995 between the Mariners and their AAA club, the Tacoma Rainiers , 30 miles away, before joining the major league roster permanently in August. In the Mariners' playoff run, Rodriguez made a pair of Postseason appearances. Memorably, he consoled Second Baseman Joey Cora , who cried after the Mariners' loss in the 1995 American League Championship Series . Rodríguez took over as the regular shortstop the following year and became a superstar, hitting 36 home runs and pacing the American League with a .358 Batting Average . He also led the American League in runs, total bases, and Doubles ; these were great numbers even by the standards of the Kingdome , one of the American League's best hitter's parks. He came close to being the youngest MVP in baseball history, but fell 3 points short to Juan González in the voting. He may have been denied the honor by the two Seattle-area sportswriters who gave him 8th- and 9th-place votes in the balloting. Rodriguez was a favorite with Mariners fans. He Hit For The Cycle with them in 1997 , but hit only 23 home runs and batted .300 that year. the Mariners won the division but were quickly eliminated from the playoffs. Rodriguez recovered with authority in 1998 by becoming the third member of the 40 home run/40 Stolen Base s Club , with 42 HR and 46 SB. In 1999 , despite missing over 30 games with an injury and playing the second half of the season at Safeco Field , a considerably less hitter-friendly ballpark than the Kingdome, he matched his previous year's HR total. A-Rod entered 2000 as the cornerstone of his franchise, which had recently dealt superstars Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey, Jr. Rodriguez put up great numbers as the team's remaining superstar; he hit 41 more HRs and batted .316 while playing in the best pitcher's park in the AL. The Mariners won the AL Wild Card in 2000, and Rodriguez hit well in the playoffs, but his team lost to the New York Yankees in the 2000 American League Championship Series . TEXAS RANGERS Rodriguez became a free agent after the season and declared that he wanted to go to a World Series-caliber team. There were rumors that he would go to the Mets because of an appearance at Shea Stadium during the 2000 World Series (these led some Mariner teammates to call him "Shea-rod"). He eventually chose to sign with the Texas Rangers (last in their division in 2000, but winners of three of the previous four AL West championships). The Rangers gave him what was then the most lucrative contract in sports history (since surpassed by David Beckham , the contract still is the most expensive in American sports), a 10-year deal worth $252 million that also brought publicity to the so-called Jock Tax . Many fans saw this as desertion, and Rodriguez is booed, and sometimes thrown money, when he returns to Seattle. Rodriguez' numbers went up at Texas. He hit 52 home runs in 2001 , and followed that with a major league-best 57 home runs in 2002 , the most ever for a shortstop, while also winning his first Gold Glove Award . The Rangers finished last two years running, a showing that likely cost Rodriguez the MVP award when he finished second in 2002 to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada , who played for a championship-caliber team. (The Mariners thrived without him, winning a record-tying 116 games in 2001.) Rodriguez's last season with Texas, 2003, was another productive year: he hit .298 with 47 home runs, won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award and was named the league's MVP, despite the Rangers remaining mired in last place. Following the 2003 season, the Rangers set out to move Rodriguez and his expensive contract. They were able to agree to a trade with the Red Sox, but the MLBPA vetoed the deal, as it called for a reduction in salary. Assuming that Rodriguez would be staying put, the Rangers attempted to reestablish his position in Texas by naming him team captain. The uncertainty of this situation was reflected in his famous statement to the media: "I'm probably pretty sure it will work out for the best." NEW YORK YANKEES On February 15 , 2004 Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later ( Joaquin Arias ). The terms require the Rangers to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's contract. Since New York already had a star shortstop in team captain Derek Jeter , the trade developed only after New York's third baseman, Aaron Boone , suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball, and Rodriguez agreed to switch positions to third base. Rodriguez also had to switch uniform numbers, from 3, which he had worn his entire career but which is retired by the Yankees in honor of Babe Ruth , to 13. In his first season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .286 with 36 home runs and 106 Runs Batted In , his seventh consecutive season with at least 100 RBI. He finished 14th in balloting for the American League MVP Award . Near the end of the season, Yankees manager Joe Torre moved Rodriguez to the No. 2 spot in the batting order. Although New York Yankees players are generally loathed in Boston, Rodriguez is one of the most hated Yankees, because of his multiple on-field altercations with Boston Red Sox players. On July 24 , 2004 , during an 11-10 Red Sox win, Rodriguez and Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek got into a fight in the third inning. Some argue that Rodriguez was the instigator, and that Varitek restrained Rodriguez from attacking Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo , who had hit him with a pitch. Others say that it was caused by Varitek, who approached and taunted Rodriguez as he walked to first while staring Arroyo down. Regardless of cause, both benches cleared as a result of this. In another infamous incident during Game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship Series , Rodriguez slapped the baseball out of Arroyo's glove during a tag play at first base. Derek Jeter scored from first, but the umpires quickly huddled and called Rodriguez out. The Yankees later lost Game 7, and the Red Sox went to the World Series . Rodriguez took the responsibility for the heart-breaking loss. Rodriguez and the Red Sox had history prior to his being traded to the Yankees. He nearly became a member of the Red Sox organization after the 2003 season, then was traded to New York after the players' union voided the proposed Boston-Texas trade. In his second season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .321 with 48 home runs and 130 RBI. On April 26, 2005, Rodriguez hit 3 home runs off Angels' pitcher Bartolo Colon and drove in 10 runs during the game. It was Rodriguez's best moment as a Yankee. He continued to hit home runs and drive in runs, as he beat Boston's David Ortiz for the 2005 American League MVP Award. But during the 2005 Division Series , Rodriguez went 2 for 15 with no home runs and no RBIs in the Yankee series loss to the Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim . On April 3rd , 2006 , the first game of the 2006 season, Rodriguez became just the fourth Yankee to hit a Grand Slam on opening day. PLAYING STYLE Rodriguez is often referred to as being as close to "perfection" as a player can get; his swing and defensive play are both known for their fundamental soundness. {Link without Title} In the field, he has great range, especially when moving to his right side, which also helps to showcase his strong arm. A tall player with long arms and a crouched stance, Rodriguez can cover most of the strike zone, and can hit almost any pitch for a home run. Rodriguez won Gold Glove s for defensive excellence at shortstop in 2002 and 2003. 2005 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS Rodriguez had one of his finest seasons in 2005. Among the highlights:
MISCELLANEOUS
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|