Alex Rodriguez was booed, then homered in his first game since admitting he took performance-enhancing drugs. The New York Yankees slugger started the spring training season with a two-run homer and two walks Wednesday against Toronto. The third baseman left in the fifth inning.
There were a lot of cheers, a smattering of boos and occasional cat calls from hecklers. Rodriguez recently said he used banned substances from 2001-03 while with Texas. Many in the crowd at the Blue Jays' facility in Dunedin, Fla., cheered as he circled the bases after homering in the fourth inning. By the third time he went to the plate, hecklers who earlier shouted "Hey, A-Rod, where's your cousin?" and "Madonna" were drowned out by applause.
"When you're playing, it's hard to focus on standing ovations or boos,'' Rodriguez said. "I didn't see anything that was bad at all."
His day was not without controversy, though. He left the facility in a vehicle that, according to two media outlets, was driven by Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart — who allegedly bought steroids and injected Rodriguez.
DODGERS — The team made a fourth bid for Manny Ramirez, this time offering the outfielder a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010. That is similar in dollars to a previous $45 million, two-year offer with a buyout or a club option. The new offer gives him a chance stay with the Dodgers in 2010 or become a free agent again.
INDIANS — Closer Kerry Wood hasn't thrown off a mound since last weekend because of a sore back, and manager Eric Wedge says the team will give him a few more days of rest. Wood, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract in December, has a long history of injury problems.
TWINS — Pitcher Boof Bonser is expected to miss the season after arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder detected partial tears in his labrum and rotator cuff.
ROCKIES — Pitcher Jeff Francis has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder and is expected to miss the entire season.
BREWERS — Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. said he could miss up to a month of spring training because of a right shoulder ailment.
There were a lot of cheers, a smattering of boos and occasional cat calls from hecklers. Rodriguez recently said he used banned substances from 2001-03 while with Texas. Many in the crowd at the Blue Jays' facility in Dunedin, Fla., cheered as he circled the bases after homering in the fourth inning. By the third time he went to the plate, hecklers who earlier shouted "Hey, A-Rod, where's your cousin?" and "Madonna" were drowned out by applause.
"When you're playing, it's hard to focus on standing ovations or boos,'' Rodriguez said. "I didn't see anything that was bad at all."
His day was not without controversy, though. He left the facility in a vehicle that, according to two media outlets, was driven by Rodriguez's cousin, Yuri Sucart — who allegedly bought steroids and injected Rodriguez.
DODGERS — The team made a fourth bid for Manny Ramirez, this time offering the outfielder a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010. That is similar in dollars to a previous $45 million, two-year offer with a buyout or a club option. The new offer gives him a chance stay with the Dodgers in 2010 or become a free agent again.
INDIANS — Closer Kerry Wood hasn't thrown off a mound since last weekend because of a sore back, and manager Eric Wedge says the team will give him a few more days of rest. Wood, who signed a two-year, $20.5 million contract in December, has a long history of injury problems.
TWINS — Pitcher Boof Bonser is expected to miss the season after arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder detected partial tears in his labrum and rotator cuff.
ROCKIES — Pitcher Jeff Francis has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder and is expected to miss the entire season.
BREWERS — Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. said he could miss up to a month of spring training because of a right shoulder ailment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment