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Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodríguez (born
July 27, 1975, in New York City), is an American baseball player. He is
currently the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees, after
having played shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners.
He has won two MVP Awards, also finishing
second in the voting twice. He has led the American League in home runs
4 times. He has often been cited as the best all-around player currently
in baseball, but his playing woes have also been much analyzed.[1]
Rodríguez is known for signing the richest
contract in sports history, a 10-year, $252 million dollar deal.
****
New York Yankees — No. 13
Third base
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
July 8, 1994 for the Seattle Mariners
Selected MLB statistics
(through September 19, 2006)
AVG .305
HR 463
RBI 1342
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1994-2000)
Texas Rangers (2001-2003)
New York Yankees (2004-Present)
****
Background
Rodríguez was born in the Washington
Heights section of New York City. When he was four, Rodríguez moved with
his parents to their native Dominican Republic. After the family moved
to Miami, Florida three years later, Rodríguez's father announced his
intention to return to New Jersey for a short time. He never returned,
leaving his wife and young Alex to struggle in their new environment.
Rodríguez was a star player at Miami's
Westminster Christian High School. Rodríguez signed a letter of intent
to play baseball for the University of Miami and was also recruited by
the university to play quarterback for its football team. Rodríguez
turned down Miami's baseball scholarship and never played college
baseball, opting instead to become eligible for the amateur draft at the
age of 17.
He was drafted first overall by the Seattle
Mariners in 1993. Rodríguez rose rapidly through the Mariners
organization, and made his major league debut in July of 1994 at the age
of 18.
Seattle Mariners
Alex Rodríguez's first major league
campaign lasted just one month; the season was cut short by the 1994
baseball strike. Rodríguez then split most of 1995 between the Mariners
and their AAA club, the Tacoma Rainiers. Rodríguez joined the major
league roster permanently in August, where he got his first taste of
postseason play, albeit in just two at-bats.
The following year, Rodríguez took over as
the Mariners' regular shortstop and emerged as a star player, hitting 36
HR (home runs), driving in 123 RBI (Runs Batted In), and pacing the AL
(American League) with a .358 batting average. He also led the AL in
runs, total bases, and doubles. Rodríguez came close to becoming the
youngest MVP (Most Valuable Player) in baseball history, finishing
second to Juan González in the voting by three points, 290-287.
In 1997, Rodríguez's numbers fell somewhat,
hitting 23 HR with 84 RBI and a .300 batting average that year.
Rodríguez rebounded in 1998, however, becoming just the third member of
the 40 HR/40 SB (Stolen bases) club, with 42 HR and 46 SB. In 1999 he
again hit 42 HR, 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.
Rodríguez entered 2000 as the cornerstone
player of the Mariners franchise, which had recently dealt superstars
Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey, Jr.. Rodríguez put up great numbers as
the team's remaining superstar; he hit 41 HR with 132 RBI and batted a
.316 batting average. He hit well in the playoffs too, but Seattle lost
to the New York Yankees in the ALCS (American League Championship
Series) despite Rodríguez's .409 batting average and .773 slugging
percentage.
Texas Rangers
Rodríguez became a free agent after the
2000 season. After several playoff disappointments with the Mariners, he
declared his intention to go to a World Series-caliber team. During his
free agency, Rodríguez's agent Scott Boras met with New York Mets
officials, who were considered the favorites to sign the All-Star
shortstop. Boras made extravagant contract demands, reportedly including
the use of a private jet for road trips, personal office space usually
reserved for managers and executives, a personal tent to sell A-Rod
merchandise, and more billboard advertising space than crosstown Yankee
shortstop Derek Jeter. Pulling out of negotiations, the Mets GM Steve
Phillips took the unusual step of publicly announcing that he no longer
had interest in pursuing the slugger's services. Some felt this was the
Mets' way of saving face for not meeting media and fan expectations, but
the squabble helped fuel the perception that Rodríguez and his agent
were greedy.[citation needed]
Rodríguez eventually signed with the Texas
Rangers, who had fallen to last in their division in 2000, but had won
three of the previous four AL Western division titles. The contract he
signed was then the most lucrative contract in sports history: a 10-year
deal worth $252 million. The contract was harshly criticized because it
was believed that once the Mets pulled out of running, no other team had
come close to offering that amount of money, and thus Texas had topped
the next highest offer by as much as $50 million. (Rodríguez's contract
remains the most lucrative in American sports history.) The deal is
worth $63 million more than the second-richest baseball deal, the $189
million contract Derek Jeter signed in February 2001.
Rodríguez's power hitting numbers improved
with his move to Texas. He hit 52 HR in 2001, and followed that with a
major league-best 57 HR in 2002 (the most ever for a shortstop), while
also winning his first Gold Glove Award, awarded for outstanding
defense. However, the Rangers finished last in the AL Western division
in both years, a showing that likely cost Rodríguez the MVP award in
2002 when he finished second to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose
103-win Oakland A's won the same division.
Rodríguez's last season with Texas, 2003,
was another productive year. He hit .298 with 47 HR, led the AL in
slugging and runs scored, and won his second consecutive Gold Glove
Award. Following five top-10 finishes in the AL Most Valuable Player
voting between 1996 and 2002, Rodríguez won his first MVP trophy.
The Rangers, however, remained mired in
last place. Some laid the blame on Rodríguez's contract, which allegedly
monopolized the team's resources, leaving them with little chance to pay
other quality players. Others attributed that same criticism to Rangers
owner Tom Hicks' "buyer's remorse," and general jealousy of the
record-setting contract.
Following the 2003 season, Texas set out to
move Rodríguez and his expensive contract. The Rangers agreed to a trade
with the Boston Red Sox, but the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Players
Association) vetoed the deal because it called for a voluntary reduction
in salary by Rodríguez. Despite the failed deal with the Red Sox, the
Rangers named him team captain during that off-season. This designation
did not last long, however, as the New York Yankees had taken notice of
the sudden trade availability of Rodríguez.
New York Yankees
On February 15, 2004 Rodríguez was
successfully traded to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso
Soriano and some dome. The Rangers were obliged to pay $67 million of
the $179 million left on Rodríguez's contract.
However, New York's third baseman, Aaron
Boone, suffered a knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball
which sidelined him for the entire 2004 season. Rodríguez agreed to
switch positions from shortstop to third base, paving the way for the
trade. Rodríguez also had to switch uniform numbers, from 3 to 13; he
had worn 3 his entire career but that number is retired by the Yankees
in honor of Babe Ruth.
In his first season with the Yankees,
Rodríguez's numbers dipped from his numbers with Texas. He hit .286 with
36 HR and 106 RBI, his seventh consecutive season with at least 100 RBI.
He finished 14th in balloting for the AL MVP Award. Near the end of the
season, Yankees manager Joe Torre moved Rodríguez to the No. 2 spot in
the batting order.
In July of 2004, after being hit by a
pitch, Rodríguez and Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek scuffled,
leading to a brawl between both teams. Many later interpreted the event
as the turning point of the Boston Red Sox' season. Boston won that game
with a 3-run rally in the bottom of the 9th inning, and their fortunes
improved from that date.
In the 2004 ALDS, Rodríguez was a dominant
hitter against the Minnesota Twins, batting .421 and slugging .737 while
delivering two key extra-inning hits. Following the series win,
Rodríguez's first season with the Yankees had culminated in a dramatic
playoff series against the team he had almost ended up playing for: the
Yankees' bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox.
One of the most talked-about plays of
Rodríguez's career caused controversy late in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS
(American League Championship Series). With one out and Derek Jeter on
first base in the bottom of the 8th inning, Rodríguez hit a slow roller
between the pitcher's mound and the first base bag. Red Sox pitcher
Bronson Arroyo fielded the ball and ran towards Rodríguez to apply a
tag. As Arroyo reached towards him, Rodríguez slapped the ball out of
Arroyo's glove. As the ball rolled loose, Jeter scored all the way from
first as Rodríguez reached second on the play, which was initially ruled
an error on Arroyo. However, the other umpires quickly huddled, then
ruled that Rodríguez was out for interference. Jeter was sent back to
first base, his run nullified. The Red Sox were able to escape the
inning with no further damage and eventually won the game 4-2, tying the
series at 3 games apiece. Rodríguez's behavior, being perceived as
unprofessional, would inspire much derision from Red Sox fans.
In 2005, his second season with the
Yankees, Rodríguez's numbers improved, as he hit .321 with 48 HR and 130
RBI. An offensive highlight of his season came on April 26, when
Rodríguez hit 3 HR off Angels' pitcher Bartolo Colon and drove in 10
RBI. Rodríguez also set several marks for power during the 2005 season.
Rodríguez became the Yankee righthanded hitter with the most home runs
in a season, supplanting Joe DiMaggio and Gary Sheffield. His 48th and
final home run tied him for the most homers by a third baseman (along
with Mike Schmidt and Adrian Beltre). Rodríguez now holds the records
for most HRs in a single season at two positions, shortstop and third
base, becoming the only major leaguer ever to accomplish this feat. 2005
also marked the tenth straight season that Rodríguez scored at least 100
runs.
Rodríguez beat out Boston's David Ortiz for
his second AL MVP Award in three seasons. He became the fifth player to
win an MVP award with two different teams, joining Mickey Cochrane,
Jimmie Foxx, Frank Robinson and Barry Bonds. Rodríguez was also named
the shortstop on the Major League Baseball Latino Legends Team. However,
Rodríguez hit .133 without an RBI as the Yankees lost in the Division
Series to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was argued that since
A-rod played in the field he was more valuable than the MVP runner up
David Ortiz, a designated hitter.
On July 27, 2005, Rodríguez turned 30 years
old. In his career to that point, Rodríguez had more home runs, more
runs batted in, more runs scored, and more base hits than all-time
leaders Hank Aaron (HR and RBI), Rickey Henderson (runs scored), and
Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 30th birthdays.
Rodríguez's 2,000th hit, on July 21, 2006,
was also his 450th home run. Six days shy of his 31st birthday,
Rodríguez became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 450
home runs (surpassing Ken Griffey, Jr. by 267 days). He also became the
eighth player to reach 2,000 hits before turning 31. Ty Cobb reached the
mark while still 29, while Rogers Hornsby, Mel Ott, Hank Aaron, Joe
Medwick, Jimmie Foxx and Robin Yount all got their 2,000th hits at age
30. All seven of the players are members of baseball's Hall of Fame.
Criticisms
Despite Rodríguez's talent, history, and
continued production, he is the most criticized player on the Yankees.
It seems that any success Rodriguez may have as a player is sometimes
disregarded by the failure of Rodríguez to play in a World Series or to
win one. While Rodríguez won the 2005 AL MVP and had a pivotal role in
defeating the Minnesota Twins in the 2004 ALDS, his relative struggles
in 2004 and 2006 and failures in postseason play have left the fans with
a bad taste. For example, in the postseason of 2005, Rodríguez had a
meager .133 batting average and struck out 5 times. Also, he performed
extremely well for most of the 2004 postseason but he (alike many
Yankees) ceased to be an offensive threat during the final four games of
the 2004 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. His struggles in the 2006
season have only made matters worse for the Yankees and Rodríguez. Other
than a decrease in offensive statistics in all categories, his fielding
has taken a drastic turn to the worse. Rodríguez has almost doubled his
amount of errors compared to his 2005 season.
Rodriguez derives much criticism for being
unable to perform by getting a hit with runners in scoring position or
other clutch situations. However, from 2003 to 2005, Rodríguez's batting
average with the bases loaded is .371 with an on-base percentage of .422
(in 2006 so far, the numbers are .467 and .524 respectively).
Rodríguez's other batting lines over this period include a .432 average
with a runner on third (.385 in '06), .381 with a runner in scoring
position (.413 in '06), and .392 with a runner in scoring position and 2
out (.489 in '06).[2] Despite putting up gaudy numbers in the usual
situations where pitchers struggle, Rodríguez's struggles seem to be
more memorable than his successes. His contract, and his sub-par (for
himself) season in 2006 bring out these struggles to the greatest
extent. To add yet another aspect to evaluating Rodríguez in the clutch,
Bill James' definition of "clutch" dictates that Rodríguez has out
perfotmed David Ortiz in 2006 with a 3.0 Clutch factor compared to
Ortiz's -7.0.[3] In the end, the argument is that Alex Rodríguez will
put up the numbers at the end of the season but never seems perform when
his team needs him most.
This argument was in question during the
2005 AL MVP race. Alex Rodríguez would win the award over the Boston Red
Sox' David Ortiz. Although the overall scope of Rodríguez's statistics
was superior, Ortiz had a flair for the dramatic; recording several
memorable game-tying or game-winning hits that season. The drama of
Ortiz's performances was frequently contrasted with Rodríguez's
statistics, and some critics began to claim that Rodríguez put up his
best offensive numbers when they were needed least. Rodríguez received
16 first-place votes compared to Ortiz's 11. Ortiz was handicapped in
the voting due to being a designated hitter. No full-time designated
hitter has ever won a Most Valuable Player award in Major League
Baseball history. Rodríguez was also helped from his arguably good
defense (by recording a low 12 errors in the field), whereas Ortiz
played just 10 games in the field in 2005 and is considered a poor
defender.
Another aspect in this argument is
Rodríguez's lackluster postseason performance. However, over the course
of his career, Rodríguez's postseason numbers are statistically
indistinguishable from his regular-season record.[4] Also, his career
postseason statistics are comparable to that of Reggie Jackson, Derek
Jeter, and David Ortiz. Alike his performance during the regular season,
Rodriguez is able to put up the numbers but fans still do not believe
that Rodriguez has done anything memorable during the course of those
games.
In May 2006, Rodríguez finally responded to
the criticism directed at him. He said,
"I could care less. In my career, I've
been hearing it for a long time. It will never stop until you win five
or six World Series in a row, and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a
lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be
considered clutch, it's an injustice. I don't take anything personally;
I enjoy it, it motivates me and I think it's comical. I think (for)
anyone that drives in over 130 runs numerous times in his career, it's
impossible not to be clutch." [5]
During a September 20th, 2006 issue of
Sports Illustrated, Rodríguez surmised new reasons why he has become an
apparent magnet for criticism: "When people write [bad things] about me,
I don't know if it's [because] I'm good-looking, I'm biracial, I make
the most money, I play on the most popular team. [6]" Ironically, those
qualities embody New York's most popular player Derek Jeter.
Nonetheless, sportswriters alike fans have
debated Alex Rodríguez's performance in the clutch. Some writers like
the New York Post's Joel Sherman have asked, "How do you disregard your
eyes completely? How do you ignore that at the most intense moments
Rodríguez seems to be carrying his 32-ounce bat and the weight of the
world into each at-bat?"[7] Other sportswriters like ESPN's D.J. Gallo
openly mocked Rodríguez's harshest critics while discussing an off-day
in the Yankee schedule: "Typical A-Fraud -- the Yankees manage to win
back-to-back games against the Red Sox and he needs a day off.
Pathetic."[8]
Teammate Jason Giambi proved to be a verbal
opponent to Rodríguez in Tom Verducci's critical September 20th, 2006
article in Sports Illustrated.[9] Giambi remarked,
"...you've got to get the big hit. ...
You fucking call those hits? You had two fucking dinkers to rightfield
and a ball that bounced over the third baseman! Look at how many pitches
you missed! When you hit three, four or five [in the order], you have to
get the big hits, especially if they're going to walk Bobby [Abreu] and
me. I'll help you out until you get going. I'll look to drive in runs
when they pitch around me, go after that 3-and-1 pitch that might be a
ball. But if they're going to walk Bobby and me, you're going to have to
be the guy.[10]"
He also told New York Yankees manager Joe
Torre, "it's time to stop coddling him." [11] However, Rodríguez and
Giambi would imply that the story was taken out of context. Jason Giambi
said the comments were part of a "pep talk," not an argument, because he
"was just trying to find a way to help him out."[12] Rodríguez would
agree, "This is the most support I've ever gotten [sic] from any team. I
couldn't be more proud."[13]
Miscellaneous
In 2003, Alex Rodríguez gave $3.9 million
to the University of Miami to renovate its baseball stadium. The new
facility will be named 'Mark Light Field at Alex Rodríguez Park.'
Rodríguez remains an ardent University of Miami fan and can frequently
be found at Hurricane sporting events, as well as working out at the
school's athletic facilities in the off-season.
He married Cynthia Scurtis on November 2,
2002. The couple's first child, Natasha Alexander, was born on November
18, 2004.
After vacillating between playing for the
Dominican Republic and the United States, Rodríguez, on January 17,
2006, declared he would play for the U.S. in the World Baseball
Classic.[14]
In 2005, Vladimir Guerrero and A-Rod
appeared together in a television ad for Pepsi.
In 2005, The Sporting News published an
update of its 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Rodríguez did
not make the original edition, but for the 2005 update, with his career
totals considerably higher, he was ranked at Number 70.
Rodríguez played on the same high school
football team with Kansas City Royals first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz.
Missy Elliott's "Lose Control" is one of
the songs played before his at-bats in Yankees Stadium.
Career Statistics
Alex Rodriguez (Updated as of September 25,
2006) Games AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA
Career 1742 6754 1353 2059 361 26 463 1342
240 .305
****
Notes and References
-
^ http://villagevoice.com/nyclife/0635,barra,74310,15.html
-
^ ESPN.com - Alex
Rodriguez Playing Card
-
^ See http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/stats/players/?lastName=rodriguez&firstName=alex
and http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/stats/players/index.php?playerId=745&firstName=David&lastName=Ortiz
-
^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodrial01.shtml
-
^ MLB.com - A-Rod sticks
it to Sox, May 24, 2006.
-
^ [1]
-
^ http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/time_to_face_facts__a_rod_simply_doesnt_have_it_yankees_joel_sherman.htm
-
^ http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/060530&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1
-
^ [2]
-
^ [3]
-
^ [4]
-
^ Tyler Kepner, As the
Yankees' March Continues, a Reminder of a Summertime Swoon in New
York Times, 20 Septembe 2006, D3.
-
^ Ibid.
-
^ http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spbase0118,0,6309821.story?coll=ny-top-headlines
****
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URL of Original Article:
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Date Article Copied:
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