Quick Hits: A-Rod, O's News and Stuffage

A-Rod, Pulitzer Prize Winner? Ok, hmm … no. Joining the annals of athletes who have become children’s book writers such as Ronde and Tiki Barber, and Terrell Owens is New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Questionably the best all-around player in the game, Alex Rodriguez, has penned a children’s book called “Out of the Ballpark” and it’s about a boy aptly named Alex. Young Alex is in the playoffs in his baseball league (think Little League) and makes a crucial error in a game.

Therefore, he puts pressure on himself and instead of rising to the occasion, he plays even worse.
I have not seen the book, but I am going to assume it’s a parable on his career, especially during his tenure as a New York Yankee. I figure he wants kids to understand the pressure of being a star or having the spotlight on you, well, much like Alex has.

Perhaps he might want people to gain a further perspective of what it’s like to be a star, & to face pressure that could be seen as insurmountable.

Look, I don’t know A-Rod, and I personally think the New York fans are real hard on him, mainly because of the expectations that the fanbase and media have on the team, and especially a player with the stature and contract that he has. From article in the New York Daily News, he obviously worked on the book and not sound like a homer for him, it’s a piece of himself.

In the end though, as long as he is who he is, the pressure will always be on him and fantasy should hopefully become reality.

More on some old friends - Bruce Chen & Eric Byrnes: Bruce Chen is now a Texas Ranger, and he’ll be missed (ok, not on the mound). He was the jokester who didn’t have a punchline and not much of a sense of humor, but for one year, he lived up to his potential on the mound.

Then, the disaster of 2006. We won’t go into it here, but he was just bad.

He’s going to Arlington, Texas where the ballpark is not conducive to pitchers like Bruce. I’m hoping him the best and that he makes the Rangers roster, but there’s a reason why he’s been with 8 teams.

Well, I think the Orioles should not have gotten rid of Eric Byrnes. Although he struggled after he came from Colorado in ’05, he seemed to be one of the few guys who seemed generally happy to be playing and gave a full effort out on the field, whether he was good or bad.

He was no doubt a great left-fielder, but could not get it done with the bat and was sent on his way. I’m glad he was able to get himself together in Arizona and become a leader on that young team.


More A-Rod Love: From New York Newsday: “Alex Rodriguez yesterday was asked for his thoughts on his contractual clause that allows him to opt out of pinstripes after the 2007 season. Curiously, he opted to dodge the question. "My situation and my only goal is to win a world championship," he said. "I'm going to take it day-to-day and that's about it."

Ok, wow. I’m going to say there’s more than a 50-50 chance he’ll leave New York and opt out for, um, more money and get himself from the crazy glare of Yankeedom.

An update from the Biggest Mercenary in Sports: Well, Jeter thinks Roger Clemens will be back, he quips:

"The only thing I'll say about Rocket is he hasn't decided if he's going to come back yet. If you ask me what I think, I would think he would," Jeter said yesterday after a pre-spring training workout. (The Baltimore Sun)

Ok, he’ll be back. For sure, as maybe a Yankee? Or is it the Astros? Or the Red Sox?

Papelbon: Stud Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon will probably start according to Terry Francona, Red Sox manager. Papelbon was thrust into the closer's role as a rookie in 2006 when Keith Foulke struggled to recover from back, elbow and knee injuries. Papelbon saved 35 games in 41 tries and was the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year despite a shoulder injury that caused him to cut his season short in September.