 02/14/2004 10:22 AM ET
Q&A with Alex Rodriguez
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| Alex Rodriguez talks to fans at the Rangers' Mini Plan Open House on Feb. 7. (Texas Rangers)
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At the Rangers' Mini Plan Open House on Feb. 7, Alex Rodriguez sat down with radio man Eric Nadel and a theatre full of fans to talk baseball. Eric asked some questions, then let the fans get into the act. Rodriguez discussed his travels, his eventful winter, his excitement about the upcoming season and a number of other topics. Read a transcript of the exchange below.
Eric: How did you enjoy Europe? I understand you went to a few places?
Alex: It was a very relaxing winter for me. As everyone must know, it was quite a soap opera. Pretty enjoyable, huh? I had some good travels. I spent some time in Mexico on my first-year anniversary with my wife. This was my first year to be married, and I said, 'Honey, I promise, the next 30 years will not be like this winter.' Then I had a very unique opportunity, for the first time ever, to go to Europe. It was a very humbling experience. It was very humbling to be an American and see all the old churches. It was amazing and I can't wait to take my kids some day.
Eric: Did people recognize you over there?
Alex Rodriguez
/ 3B |
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Alex: In about 10 days, I only had about 30 or 20 people [recognize me]. So, it was almost no one. But the ones that did, it was groups of Americans. Syracuse University and Columbia University had groups of kids that do the exchange program. So I would see them in a bar sometimes and it would be Boston Red Sox fans or Ranger fans or Yankee fans.
Eric: I know that you're always interested in talking to college students. You're somebody who signed straight out of high school with the Seattle Mariners. I know you go out of your way to, so what is so intriguing to you about talking to college students?
Alex: Well, I've attended school two offseasons already. And my schedule has gotten so busy that I haven't really been able to go back and attend school. But my goal is to go get my masters from college like my wife. Hers is in psychology and I want mine in business. I love talking to college students because I feel that the only way to get better in life is to further your education, read a lot and be equipped for life. I think if you do that with college, then you have the opportunity to influence kids who are in the midst of trying to reach their own personal goals in their particular life.
Eric: When you made the decision to sign out of high school, you were actually just about enrolled in the University of Miami. Tell the story about how you came down to the deadline there, how classes were starting and how you had to decide either to show up to class or sign the contract.
Alex: I remember we were in the midst of very tough negotiations and it was to the point where they were offering about $800,000 and my mother wanted about $1.5 million, and it kind of just stood there. I come from a very humble background and I said, 'Mom, $800,000 is more than I'll ever see' -- and boy was I wrong. So I'm going to class, and I have my book bag, and it's the slowest walk to class. Because I know the ramifications are that if I walk into that classroom, then I cannot go pro for three years. So I was walking, almost backwards, over there. When I get very close, one scout from the Seattle Mariners jumps out from behind a tree and says, 'We have one more offer, can you call your mother?' I said absolutely. I didn't have a cell phone at the time, so I went to a public phone, and I said, 'Mom, they want to talk to us one more time.' She said great, and so we met at local place at Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida. We met there at about 10 a.m., and we inked that contract at about 2 a.m. And we ended up signing ... so that is my little story.
Eric: Did you spend that whole time at Coconut Grove?
Alex: That whole time, with the exception of lunch. We were there for about 12 hours trying to work a deal out.
Eric: Now the rest of the story about the offseason, I'm sure people are interested in all that. So how did it all come down about you being traded and what were your feelings while this was going on?
Alex: Well, I was approached in October by ownership about a couple of possibilities. And I basically said that I was open for discussion, and I was willing to listen. The opportunity came, and I started talking to Boston, and our ownership started talking with their ownership. We almost had a deal together. We almost did it, and then the players union came in. I should really write a book about the whole thing because I can't really describe what happened over the course of two months in five minutes. It's just the business side of baseball, and it's not the side that I like or enjoy to talk about. But it's a very real side of the business. What I like is what we are about to do in Spring Training in Arizona: get ready for a good year and an energetic year.
Eric: Sometimes the best deals are the deals that you don't make. We think that is certainly the case here in the case of the Rangers. There was a meeting in New York when you accepted the Most Valuable Player trophy. You, Mr. Hicks, John Hart and Buck Showalter all got together and had a five-hour meeting. What was that meeting like?
Alex: It was an outstanding meeting. I really feel that in any business family -- in a baseball team, in a basketball team-- I think the most important thing is communication. Now as the captain of the team, I have to be an olive branch to Buck, and what he wants and what his system is. I think that it is important for me to understand it, and know it, and to be in direct communication with Buck at all times so that our young players know where they stand and where we are going. It was also an opportunity for me to express my feelings about where we are, and where we are going, and what are the plans. And it was their chance to tell me what I was doing right or wrong. I think it was very healthy. I think that it is very important for us to continue this as we move forward, and not wait three years until the thing is breaking down. But basically maintain the relationship over the course of three months meet and say, 'What are we doing, where are we at? Are we at 50 percent of our goals ... are we at 70 percent? What can we do to get better?' I think that players have great input. Managers have incredible input. And I think that ownership has great input. I think that together it is a formula for a championship team.
Eric: You came out of that meeting as the captain of the Rangers. How did that all come about, and what does that mean to you?
Alex: Buck mentioned something to me last year about it, and said that he's been talking to John Hart about it back and forth. Tom [Hicks] loved the idea. And to me, it was the most flattering thing that I've received. To be the captain of the Texas Rangers is something that I take very seriously and I feel very responsible. Leading is something that I enjoy to do. We have a very good young group of players here, and it's easy to lead this group of young players because they are so good. I'm going to enjoy wearing my 'Captain.' I want to see some jerseys with the 'C.' That will be fun.
Eric: Are you going to wear the 'C'?
Alex: Absolutely! I'm very proud of that 'C.'
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Derek Jeter / SS
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Eric: Have you talked to Derek Jeter or another captain about fulfilling that role?
Alex: I have not talked to Derek about it. We filmed that commercial a few weeks ago. He doesn't wear his 'C,' but I'm going to wear my 'C.'
Eric: Let's talk about that commercial, it's Alex, Derek, and Josh Beckett ... and Cynthia, if I'm not mistaken, has a little cameo in there. Where was that filmed?
Josh Beckett
/ P
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Alex: That was actually filmed somewhere close to the Hamptons in New York. My wife was so upset with me this winter, so I put her in a commercial so that we can find a remedy to all this craziness.
Eric: How long did it take to film that commercial ... I know that sometimes it takes a really long time.
Alex: I'll tell you, I have had some really awful experiences. And I think they drive you crazy over the course of three days for a 30-second spot. But this one was very efficient in time. We did this one in about three and a half hours. We knocked it out, it was cool.
Eric: You guys are good?
Alex: I don't know about that.
Eric: Last night, when you accepted the American League Most Valuable Player Award at our banquet, you talked a bit about Rudy Jaramillo. Talk about what makes him so good as a hitting coach. Every hitter that comes through here talks about Rudy being the best hitting coach that they've ever worked with. What is it that he does that makes him so good?
Alex: Last night, I broke down a little bit just because Rudy has been so special to me, and he's gone through some rough times in his own personal life. I think that all the players and the staff have been very supportive. And through all these tough times, he's been as relentless, as passionate and he never showed us he was down. Although we knew he was. And he showed us a dimension of his personal life and his heart that was second to none. Sometimes you don't win championships, but sometimes your character, and your heart and your effort is of a world champion. Sometimes it's not translated in wins and losses, or in finances, or in the size of your house or how nice your car is. But sometimes you measure your heart by the effort and determination, and your outlook on life. And that's something that Rudy really inspired me this year. As far as a hitting coach, he's just the greatest. He's just the greatest. He's very positive. His work ethic is off the charts. He just has a knack to get inside your heart and push you when you think you can't even do it yourself.
Eric: What is it that excites you about the 2004 Rangers?
Alex: Well, a lot of things. I like our energy. I think this is the youngest team that we've had. I also like our team speed. I think that we are going to be a team that goes from first to third more often. I like our defense, I like our depth. We don't have the star power that we had before. It reminds me a little of before when I was in Seattle and Griffey left. Everybody thought that we would be a bad team, but we got younger, had more energy, better defense, better pitching. I think that Jeff Nelson is a great addition. He's the toughest right-hander that I've ever faced coming out of the bullpen. He's 6-foot-7, a submariner, very difficult, and also throws 93-94 mph. And he has four world championships to back that up. And Kenny Rogers ... I think that it's great that he's back as a Ranger. I think this is where he should retire and finish his career on a good note.
Brad Fullmer
/ 1B
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Eric: Brian Jordan and Brad Fullmer: a couple of the hitters who have been added. David Dellucci as well, and Eric Young. It's a young team on one hand, but on the other hand, these guys have been around for a long time.
Alex: I think that this is the best offseason that we've had since I've been here. It's been the most subtle, but yet the most prudent offseason in my opinion. And most cost efficient. I can't believe the players that we got for what we've spent. I think that it was great for us. I like Jordan; he's been a proven winner. Fullmer's got a world championship, and is a very good hitter, and a good base runner. Dellucci is a great player that can wear many hats. He can play all three outfield positions. And our infield: I've challenged our three young guys ... our three young horses -- [Mark] Teixeira, Hank [Blalock], and Mike [Young]. I said, 'Hey, the honeymoon is over, boys. You guys had a wonderful season, but it's time for you guys to elevate your game to the next level.' It's kind of a conversation that Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner had with me when I was a young man. They told me the same thing, and I took it as an inspiration to get better.
Fan: Dr. Brown said that A-Rod and Mike Young have the best relay arms of any second base/shortstop combination that he'd ever seen. This is Dr. Brown who played on the Yankees' four world championship teams in the 40's and 50's and has watched a lot of baseball.
Alex: How many people come out to the ballpark to watch batting practice? So Mike, he came from Toronto, and when I first met Mike, every time when I would see him he would have a bag of ice on his right arm because it was always hurting him. And I said, 'Mike what's the problem, it seems like you're always hurting. So what's the problem?' And he said, I never throw, I never throw. I said, 'Well, OK. Starting tomorrow I want you to meet me at the line after stretch and we're going to long toss. I'm going to stand on the line because I'm the veteran and you're the rookie, so you're going to walk. He said, 'Well, OK, how far am I going to walk?' And I said, 'We're not going to start very far but in about two weeks I'm going to get you at the warning track in left-center field.' So we're going to throw almost 300 ... and you see us throw all the time on the road. And we never miss long toss. And my point to Mike is you've got to use it, or you'll lose it. And that goes for speed, you've got to run. If you want to be a great hitter, you have to hit. If you want to throw, you have to throw. And so we've been throwing every day for the last three years. And Michael's got a better arm than me right now, so I want him to slow down a little bit.
Fan: When fielding, what do you use to determine where you stand against a certain opponent?
Alex: That's a good question. Basically you have a scouting report. I'm going into my 10th year now so I know a lot of the players. I know their history. I know what they do in certain counts. A lot of hitters are pull hitters when they have zero strikes because they are more aggressive. When they have two strikes, they like to punch the ball the other way. Sometimes you move yourself accordingly before the pitch. You obviously don't want to give out any decoys on where you're moving to tell them what pitch, or where the pitch location may be. But count is what I go on most in my scouting report on them.
Fan: If you could go back in time, what game would you most like to play in?
Alex: I'll tell you, after 9/11 I envied not being in Yankee Stadium watching those walk-off home runs. I felt very bad for Byung-Hyun Kim who gave up the home runs to Tino [Martinez], Jeter, and [Scott] Brosius. Just because I think that captivated what the American dream was all about. It seemed like God was looking down upon us through baseball and touching all our hearts. I was very proud of our game and the joy that it brought us through those sad times in our lives.
Fan: It seems like last year you were hurt most of the year. How close to 100 percent are you this year?
Alex: I've worked at being 100 percent and believe that I am. I had to start my offseason by basically taking two weeks off and then I went right to work like a maniac to get ready for the 2004 season. Health is something that you can never take for granted. Last year, to be really honest with you guys, I never really felt like I was even 80 percent. It was a very tough year, and it was the most proud year of my career. To be able to play 161 games and kind of grind through the pain. I made it a purpose that I didn't tell anyone. A lot of times, my trainers didn't even know the pain that I was under. But I'm glad that's behind me now, and I'm at 100 percent, and I'm looking forward to a great 2004.
Eric: You could see the improvement in the second half of the season. Clearly you felt better as the year went on.
Alex: No doubt about it. If I had to do it again, I would have missed probably six weeks, and then I would have had a solid season. But there was a time there after the All-Star Game where I think it clicked. I felt a lot more confident in my shoulder and in my neck, and I caught fire there for a while ... and it felt good.
Fan: How old were you when you knew that you wanted to play baseball?
Alex: How old is your boy there next to you? Seven ... He's a good looking young man. My father was a baseball player, and he was a catcher. I was raised in New York City, and I remember as a young man ... Maybe 1, 2, or 3 years old, I can always remember baseball being part of our lives, part of the background. In my household, having a Dominican background, it was just like a religion. So I knew ever since I was about your boy's age, maybe younger ... 5 (years old). I remember working with my glove and my big red bat ... just boom, knocking everything in the house. So I felt at that age that baseball was in me. And I always dreamt of being a baseball player, or a Major League player, but I never dreamt quite this long into the dream of my life now. So all this is kind of a blur to me, I pinch myself every day.
Eric: Did you put up posters in your room of baseball players?
Alex: I did, I had a huge picture of Cal Ripken right behind my bed. And if you go back to my mother's house today, that poster is still behind my bed. I brought Cal over one day, and he started to laugh ... 'Why do you have my picture in your bedroom?'
Young fan: How do you get your swing to get more power?
Ichiro Suzuki / RF |
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Alex: A lot of hard work, and a lot of swings. I think again, Rudy comes into play where he teaches mechanics. And I think being a strong man, and being a flexible young man is going to help you. As you get older using weights, flexibility and maybe yoga. And we're getting so technical now ... Not to sway away and I'll get back to you. Everyone knows who Ichiro is? Ichiro's wife is Yumiko. And Yumiko is about five years older than Ichiro. And Yumiko is a Japanese correspondent. So Ichiro takes me to his house in Bellevue in Seattle. And we're having dinner and they're cooking sushi for us, which was such a nice gesture of them. We started reminiscing back to when we played back in 1996 in Japan: The USA versus some Japanese All-Star teams. And he comes out and he tells me that he wants to play until he's 50 years old. You have to remember that your (Eric Nadel's) age group is 35. Our age group is 40, if you're really really special like [Rafael] Palmeiro and [Roger] Clemens. And I think the next age group is going to be 45, and that's going to be spearheaded by Barry Bonds. So the next group after that might be 50. And the reason why, is that as you get older, I don't think there is a reason to get older, I think it's a mental state of mind. I think that if you eat right, and sleep right, and you exercise, then you can live until you're 110. And that's what Ichiro was telling me. He said that technology is better. The food is better. The trainers are better. Why should we stop at 40? We should play until 50, and you should play at 50, too. And I said that I was going to start trying. So I think that's where the game is headed, and I think that as humans, we can we can strive to live better and longer.
Fan: Who are you worried about when they are running from first to second to break up a double play?
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Brian Jordan
/ RF
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Alex: You know, early in my career, it was Kirk Gibson. I mean he was saying every bad word in the game, and I said, 'I am just getting out of the way of this Michigan Tornado.' And I can honestly remember praying to God and saying, 'God, please don't hit a ground ball to Joey Cora or Tino Martinez.' And sure enough when you pray that, the ball goes right to Joey Cora. And currently the guy that we have on our team is a wild man, Brian Jordan. He has a football background. And one guy that I am really glad never came into me because I wouldn't be standing here right now is Bo Jackson. I am glad that he never came into me because I would have given up the base, I would not have gotten in the way.
Young fan: Do you have any brothers and sisters?
Alex: I do. I have an older brother, and an older sister. And I'm the baby in the family. I do have a brother that's a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, who last year threw out the first pitch. And he's responsible for putting all the missiles and all the bombs onto where they're going. He's an engineer and has like five degrees. So I bring out my Webster's Dictionary every time he's talking to me.
Fan: Standing just 60 feet from the pitcher doesn't leave you a lot of time to think, what goes through your head when the pitch is coming?
Alex: Well, I told you that you pray a lot on the baseball field. When you have Randy Johnson ... you wish that you could go straight to church. I think that it gets to the point where it's muscle memory. And you build this confidence within you where you just know that you're going to get it done. And that's a special feeling, when you're prepared. I think that everything is built around preparation. We put in so many hours down in the tunnels that when we go out on that stage, that it's just an opportunity to show our talents in front of all these good people, and it's just a great forum to go out and perform, and show your God-given gifts.
Transcribed by Stuart Birdseye. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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