DODGERS NOTEBOOK: SIZING UP AROD FROM UP CLOSE.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer SEATTLE - Let the dance begin, but tentatively. Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975 in New York, New York), commonly nicknamed A-Rod, is a Dominican American baseball infielder. He is the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees, after having played shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Seattle will be a free agent after this season. The Dodgers are expected to make a run at Rodriguez in the offseason. What club with deficiencies in the middle of the infield and deep pockets wouldn't? So this weekend, as the Dodgers face the Mariners, general manager Kevin Malone
Kevin Malone is a fictional character from the US television series, The Office. He is played by Brian Baumgartner. will watch Rodriguez, who will command far more than the $4,362,500 he earns this season. The Dodgers already have a $90 million payroll. The Dodgers had Alex Cora José Alexander (Alex) Cora (born October 18, 1975 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) is a utility infielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. University of Miami career starting at short Friday. Cora, 24, has a bright future, but his bat (.268, 1 HR, 6 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in entering Friday's game) isn't nearly as strong as Rodriguez's .347, 24 HR and 77 RBI. ``This guy might be the best in his position in the history of the game,'' said Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras Scott Boras (b. November 2, 1952 in California) is a sports agent for professional baseball players. He is the president of Scott Boras Corporation, which holds its headquarters in Newport Beach, California. . Ironically, it was Cora's knee that knocked out Rodriguez - literally - during a play in the fifth inning. Rodriguez hit his head against Cora and was taken to the hospital for X-rays. No Dodger official or Boras Bo·rås A city of southwest Sweden east of Göteborg. It was founded in 1632. Population: 60,900. can comment on Rodriguez's plans unless they want to face tampering charges. But this much is certain: Rodriguez likes the color blue, although he was quick to point out the Mariners have blue in their uniform, too. Boras, in town and planning to accompany Rodriguez to the All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games in Atlanta, said his client is as happy as he has ever been in Seattle because the Mariners are winning. Despite the loss of Ken Griffey Ken Griffey may refer to:
``I'm ecstatic about the way things are going,'' Rodriguez said. ``I don't look at it as my free-agent year because we're having so much fun this year. The issue hasn't been me. It's been the whole team.'' That said, there's no guarantee Rodriguez is a Mariner for life. Although Rodriguez said Seattle is his first choice, he wants to play on a team that's committed to winning every year. He wasn't happy that Seattle floundered the past two seasons. Beside, Boras said, two of his other clients, Atlanta pitcher Greg Maddux Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966) is a pitcher for the San Diego Padres. He was the first pitcher in Major League history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years (1992-1995), during which he had a 75-29 record with a 1. and New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of outfielder Bernie Williams Bernabé "Bernie" Figueroa Williams (born September 13, 1968, in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and a guitar-playing jazz recording artist. A switch hitter, Williams has played his entire career (1991-2006) with the New York Yankees. , supposedly were on their way when their contracts expired, yet they're still in Atlanta and New York. So after the season, Rodriguez will assess his and the other interested teams' situations. ``When you commit to an organization, you want the organization to be committed to you,'' Rodriguez said. --Experience factor: Members of the Seattle clubhouse staff wrote on Jim Leyritz's nameplate: ``Welcome home. What took you so long?'' The joke is Leyritz has played more games at Safeco Field • • [ than probably any other visiting player. He was traded from the Red Sox to San Diego last year - just in time to play in the inaugural Safeco game on July 15, 1999. Ten days later, he was traded to the Yankees, who soon enough played at Safeco. This season, Leyritz and the Yankees were here April 7-9. Now, he has returned with his third different club. As is common with playing in a park for the first time, the Dodgers took early batting practice Friday to get a feel for things. Leyritz was there, too, but he already knew plenty. ``One thing, it's not a hitter's park,'' Leyritz said. ``Don't try and hit home runs.'' --Short hops: Infielder Mark Grudzielanek was a late scratch Friday because of the flu. . . . Reliever Gregg Olson, in a rehab appearance Thursday night at Single-A San Bernardino against Lake Elsinore, got hit on the elbow by a batted ball. He stayed in the game and finished the inning, giving up just two hits with a strikeout. Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said Olson will rest for two days and throw again Sunday. A return to the parent club after the All-Star Break remains possible, he said. . . . Dodgers announcer Vin Scully was named ``Sportscaster of the 20th Century'' by the American Sportscasters Association. Scully wins out over the likes of Howard Cosell, Mel Allen, Red Barber and Bob Costas. DODGERS vs. SEATTLE Time: 6:05 p.m., at Safeco Field TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, 610-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish) Matchup: Right-hander Eric Gagne (1-4, 4.55 ERA) opposes right-hander Aaron Sele (10-3, 4.21 ERA) in the second game of this weekend series. Gagne never has faced Seattle. In his last start, against San Francisco, he gave up three earned runs in five innings but had no decision in the Dodgers' 7-6 loss. -Lee Barnathan CAPTION(S): box Box: Dodgers vs. Seattle (see text) |
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