Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez, nicknamed "A-Rod", is an American professional baseball designated hitter for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez was one of the sport's most highly touted prospects and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. During his 20-year career, Rodriguez has amassed a .297 batting average, 696 home runs, over 2000 runs batted in, over 2000 runs scored, and over...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth27 July 1975
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
The team is playing with a lot of urgency right now. We realize how important each game is, and we're taking this as our playoff,
We could fly to Hawaii right now. We could care less. We're just so happy to be playing a Game 5 right now.
I don't think we're seeing colors in the other team's uniforms, ... We know each game is important whether it's Boston or Tampa. We need each game desperately, and we're playing that way.
I love being out on the field, ... I feel it's an important part of us winning games is being out on the field, being consistent and playing both sides of the ball.
This spring, to me, is a little different. I feel like I'm playing catch-up. Once I get my work in, I'll catch up to where I normally am.
This spring is a little different. I feel pretty good about myself. I just feel that I'm behind. I feel like I'm playing catch-up.
Our state of mind right now is that we're feeling good about where we are going. We're playing with a lot of urgency right now. We're playing with a lot of grit.
I said it once that I wasn't playing and then at the end I said I was playing. But between that was ... speculation, back and forth, which I thought was ridiculous.
I like to be out on the field every day, ... playing both sides. Games can be won on the defensive side as well as the offensive side. ... Defense was probably the deciding factor.
He threw me a 2-0 slider and I hit it pretty hard, straight into the ground. I thought it had a chance, but he was playing me to pull. Those are the things. When you have so many different opportunities and don't get the big hit . . .
I don't see it as a big deal at all, ... I look at it as a new challenge. I won two Gold Gloves and an MVP at shortstop. I thought I achieved just about everything personally at shortstop. Now it's time to win. I've always thought of myself as a team player. Playing third base is the ultimate team move.
I know what kind of a crazy competitor I am. If I'm in Lakeland in March and my country is playing Japan in the semifinals in Arizona, I know I'd want to be there. I'm the best guy available to help the team.
The game of baseball has been my whole life. It's given me everything I have. I didn't think this was better for the game, the growth of the game, I wouldn't be playing. I felt that I owe this to the game. I've made the right decision. I'm very proud to be playing for the USA team. I plan to enjoy it.
We've been swinging the bats progressively better the last three days. We have to work on being more consistent.