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| Stats League Leaders Who's Hot Standings Rankings Team Rankings Position Rankings Overall Rankings Analysis Team Insight Player Insight Draft Day Tips+Strategies Sleepers Who to Take Who to Avoid Free Cheat Sheets Transactions Trades Free Agents Analyists Taylor R. Dan Barile Daniel Paulling J.R. Fenton Fanntasy Links Yahoo Fantasy Baseball ESPN.com MLB.com |
| Player In The Spotlight: Alex Rodriguez |
| Pt. 2 |
| "Physically, he tends to amaze on a daily basis," Texas outfielder Gabe Kapler says. "Every day he seems to create some other phenomenon on the baseball field." Kapler went on to talk about Alex in the clubhouse. "Alex is the best kind of teammate. He's the type of guy who puts in a tremendous amount of effort, and he leads by example. Yet he also says the right thing at the right time. He really has a grasp for the game of baseball. "And I think he has an extreme desire to teach. He breaks down each and every aspect of the game, and manipulates game situations to turn out in favor of the team." Second baseman Michael Young on his double play partner: "He's the best player in the game, and it takes a lot for a person to go out there and hear it all and not to let it get to him. I know he's appreciative of the money he makes. Everybody knows how much money he makes, but that doesn't stop him from going out there every day and trying to win, working hard every day to improve. His main motivation is to be a great teammate and to win. "He's been like my big brother on the baseball field and off the field. When I was first called up, I was amazed how much time he spent with me. I never took it for granted that I had the best player in the game to my right every day. I appreciate how lucky I am. "From the first day I was called up, Alex has always been in my corner giving me pointers. We talk baseball all the time. He gave me support when I was struggling, and he gets on me to make sure I don't get complacent when I have success. He just makes sure I'm working as hard as I can to get the most out of my ability." When the Rangers acquired catcher Todd Green in May of this year, he joined the team in Chicago. Waiting there for him was none other then Alex Rodriguez. "When I got here, he went out of his way to make me feel comfortable, and he started asking a lot of questions about my experiences with other teams that will help him and our team. He's always trying to learn more about it. It's refreshing to see one of the game's superstars care about the game like that and love the game like he does. "And really, for such a talented player like Alex to ask questions from a player like me is something." First baseman Rafael Palmeiro on Alex Rodriguez: "It's not easy being Alex Rodriguez, not with his contract. But he's gone out and played every day, he's been productive, he's a leader, and the most important thing to him is winning. "He's everything that's been advertised. He's the best there is." Manager Jerry Narron on his superstar shortstop: "He's a player who gives everything for a full nine innings, and he works extremely hard off the field. He's arguably the greatest shortstop of all time and he's a better person off the field, a guy who helps other players and works with our young guys." Owner Tom Hicks loves Alex Rodriguez. "As we build this team around Alex, I think the fans in Dallas and Fort Worth will come to absolutely love him. He's a dynamic leader. This signing will pay huge dividends for this team, and it will pay dividends for Alex and the city." A few years ago, Alex took 27 of the minor leaguers in the Spring Training camp to lunch and picked up the tab. The total? Over 1,000 dollars. But that's just the kind of guy he is. An excellent teammate, a great ballplayer and an intelligent man. |
| By Daniel "The Razor" Paulling |