CLEARWATER, Fla. - Alex Rodriguez has no plans to waste time worrying about what Jose Canseco said about him in Canseco's new book, “Vindicated.”
Addressing a pack of reporters for the first time since Canseco's allegations came out (Rodriguez spoke to Newsday and several others Tuesday), Rodriguez responded to the first question about Canseco Wednesday by saying: “I'm excited about playing baseball.”
When pressed as to whether he thought Canseco's accusations could be a distraction, Rodriguez said: “It's over as far as I'm concerned.”
In Canseco's book, he claimed to have introduced Rodriguez to a “known steroids supplier.” He also claimed that Rodriguez tried to hook up with Canseco's then-wife, Jessica.
“Guys, anything with baseball I would love to talk about,” Rodriguez said. “Absolutely nothing else on that matter.”
Both General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi said they were not concerned that this matter would be a distraction to Rodriguez.
Cashman said, “I've got a lot of other things to be worried about other than Alex Rodriguez, to be honest. You would like to think he's the least of our worries.”
On Tuesday, Rodriguez talked about how he is trying not to take things personally anymore. But really, allegations from Canseco, who readily admitted that he hates Rodriguez, are low on the distraction-level meter for Rodriguez. Last year alone, he dealt with an assortment of off-field controversies, including tabloid pictures taken of him with a woman other than his wife, the “ha” play in Toronto, and the opt-out clause that hung over him all season.
Girardi has not spent as much time around Rodriguez as Cashman. However, he did know Rodriguez as the Yankees' bench coach in 2005. And from what Girardi has seen of his third baseman this spring, he believes Rodriguez has learned how to better separate his off-field life from baseball.
“I think he's more relaxed and I think he understands his surroundings better now,” Girardi said. “I've always felt that it takes players a little bit of time to figure out New York. I found it to be a wonderful place to play and I loved it. But it takes time - some players, it takes longer than others. Once you figure it out, you realize it's an awesome place to play.”
Rodriguez has been having an excellent spring as he prepares to defend his AL MVP award. He is batting .432 (16-for-37) with three homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored. He reiterated yesterday that he feels great and is ready for the season to start.
Before Wednesday's game, Rodriguez put on an impressive display in batting practice. Even the mostly pro-Phillies crowd oohed and aahed over a couple of long home runs, one of which sailed right over the top of the tiki bar beyond the leftfield wall.
“B.P. I'm pretty impressive,” Rodriguez said with a laugh.
Neither Girardi nor Cashman expect Rodriguez's play to be affected by Canseco's allegations. This is new territory for Girardi in dealing with a star player who attracts controversy. None of the Marlins he managed were in the same tier as A-Rod, celebrity-wise. “He's always going to command a lot of attention,” Girardi said.
Some of it good, some of it bad.
When pressed as to whether he thought Canseco's accusations could be a distraction, Rodriguez said: “It's over as far as I'm concerned.”
In Canseco's book, he claimed to have introduced Rodriguez to a “known steroids supplier.” He also claimed that Rodriguez tried to hook up with Canseco's then-wife, Jessica.
“Guys, anything with baseball I would love to talk about,” Rodriguez said. “Absolutely nothing else on that matter.”
Both General Manager Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi said they were not concerned that this matter would be a distraction to Rodriguez.
Cashman said, “I've got a lot of other things to be worried about other than Alex Rodriguez, to be honest. You would like to think he's the least of our worries.”
On Tuesday, Rodriguez talked about how he is trying not to take things personally anymore. But really, allegations from Canseco, who readily admitted that he hates Rodriguez, are low on the distraction-level meter for Rodriguez. Last year alone, he dealt with an assortment of off-field controversies, including tabloid pictures taken of him with a woman other than his wife, the “ha” play in Toronto, and the opt-out clause that hung over him all season.
Girardi has not spent as much time around Rodriguez as Cashman. However, he did know Rodriguez as the Yankees' bench coach in 2005. And from what Girardi has seen of his third baseman this spring, he believes Rodriguez has learned how to better separate his off-field life from baseball.
“I think he's more relaxed and I think he understands his surroundings better now,” Girardi said. “I've always felt that it takes players a little bit of time to figure out New York. I found it to be a wonderful place to play and I loved it. But it takes time - some players, it takes longer than others. Once you figure it out, you realize it's an awesome place to play.”
Rodriguez has been having an excellent spring as he prepares to defend his AL MVP award. He is batting .432 (16-for-37) with three homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored. He reiterated yesterday that he feels great and is ready for the season to start.
Before Wednesday's game, Rodriguez put on an impressive display in batting practice. Even the mostly pro-Phillies crowd oohed and aahed over a couple of long home runs, one of which sailed right over the top of the tiki bar beyond the leftfield wall.
“B.P. I'm pretty impressive,” Rodriguez said with a laugh.
Neither Girardi nor Cashman expect Rodriguez's play to be affected by Canseco's allegations. This is new territory for Girardi in dealing with a star player who attracts controversy. None of the Marlins he managed were in the same tier as A-Rod, celebrity-wise. “He's always going to command a lot of attention,” Girardi said.
Some of it good, some of it bad.
The Citizens' Say
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