Notebook: A-Rod calls Boeing letter 'a mistake'
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If he had to do it over again, Alex Rodriguez might not allow his name to be used on a letter urging Boeing to make its planned move to Dallas-Fort Worth.
"Boeing was a mistake," the Ranger shortstop said. "But what would you do if your boss asked you to do something? Mr. (Texas owner Tom) Hicks asked, the first time he asked me to do anything for him. My mistake was not saying no."
The result of Rodriguez's acquiescence was three days of intense negativity from 120,000-plus fans who filled Safeco Field for the Texas series.
And it appeared that the boos affected him, certainly in the first two games, with as many errors (two) as hits, both singles.
Did the crowd break his concentration? "It's been an emotional time here," he said. "It's been more than I anticipated."
As loud and long as the boos have been, however, Rodriguez said he has heard nothing nasty or vicious.
"They're good fans, supporting the team," he said. "It's a good team, too."
Rodriguez also acknowledged that the Mariners made a good business decision for them by not trying to compete with Hicks' offer of $252 million over 10 years.
"So I don't understand why in every media story there needs to be a villain in this," he said. "Obviously when you portray it like that, there is going to be a response from the fans. But if you can say the Mariners made what was a good economic decision for them, why can't you say Alex made a good economic decision for him?"
He anticipates that the vitriol will fade.
"I think people will remember that all this time I took the high road and handled it with class, even though the first two games I played like a schmuck."
Notes
• Right-hander Paul Abbott had a good outing yesterday in his first start with the Mariners' extended spring-training team in Arizona. He worked four innings and threw 44 strikes among 56 pitches, allowing only one hit, no runs, no walks and striking out six.
• Ichiro said he had heard of the $2 million bounty reportedly offered by a Japanese Web site for a picture of him naked. "That's why I dress in another room, not the clubhouse," he said.
• Ichiro homered to extend his hitting streak to 13, breaking the club's rookie record. His groundout in the first snapped a string of hits in five straight at-bats, three shy of the Mariner club mark. shared by Darnell Coles (1988), Harold Reynolds (1989), Ken Griffey Jr. (1989) and Joey Cora (1997).
• Mariner closer Kazu Sasaki was hit in the face by a batted ball during batting practice. Sasaki left the field and had precautionary X-rays on his bruised right cheekbone, but was cleared to play.
• John Olerud's solo homer in the second was his first off a left-hander since June 1999 and only the 32nd of his career off a lefty in nearly 5,400 at-bats.
• Texas closer Tim Crabtree had an MRI on his back Tuesday and could wind up on the disabled list. Jeff Zimmerman and Mike Venafro will close in his absence.
How the runs scored
Ranger first-- Greer grounded out, shortstop Gipson to first baseman Olerud. Velarde struck out. A. Rodriguez doubled to left. Palmeiro homered to right on a 0-1 count, A. Rodriguez scored. I. Rodriguez flied out to center fielder Cameron. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rangers 2, M's 0.
Ranger second-- Galarraga walked on four pitches. Caminiti singled to right, Galarraga to second. Curtis flied out to center fielder Cameron, Galarraga to third. Mateo hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Ichiro, Galarraga scored. Greer singled to right, Caminiti to third. Velarde grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Bell to second baseman Boone, Greer out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 3, M's 0.
Mariner second-- Olerud homered to right on a 2-1 count. Boone struck out. Sanders popped out to first baseman Palmeiro. Bell walked on a full count. Wilson singled to center, Bell to third. Gipson struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 3, M's 1.
Ranger fourth-- Curtis homered to left on a 2-0 count. Mateo walked on a full count. Mateo stole second. Greer walked on a full count. Velarde sacrificed, catcher Wilson to first baseman Olerud, Mateo to third, Greer to second. A. Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Sanders, Mateo scored. Palmeiro walked on a full count. I. Rodriguez flied out to center fielder Cameron. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 5, M's 1.
Mariner fourth-- Olerud singled to right. Boone singled to center, Olerud to second. Sanders struck out. Bell singled to right, Olerud to third, Boone to second. Wilson was credited with a double when the base runner was thrown out, Olerud scored, Boone to third, Bell out. Gipson struck out. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 5, M's 2.
Ranger fifth-- Galarraga doubled to right. Caminiti doubled to center, Galarraga scored. Curtis singled to right, Caminiti to third. Mateo infield single to third, Caminiti scored, Curtis to second. Greer popped out to second baseman Boone. Velarde popped out to shortstop Gipson. A. Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Bell to second baseman Boone, Mateo out. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 7, M's 2.
Mariner fifth-- Ichiro grounded out, shortstop A. Rodriguez to first baseman Palmeiro. Cameron safe on Caminiti's error. Martinez walked on a full count, Cameron to second. Olerud flied out to center fielder Curtis. Boone singled to right, Cameron scored, Martinez to second. Sanders struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Rangers 7, M's 3.
Mariner sixth-- Bell homered to left on a 2-1 count. Wilson flied out to left fielder Greer. Gipson flied out to left fielder Greer. Ichiro homered to right on a 0-1 count. Mahomes pitching. Cameron struck out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rangers 7, M's 5.
Mariner eighth-- Martin pinch-hitting for Sanders. Martin lined out to pitcher Mahomes. Bell doubled to right. Javier pinch-hitting for Wilson. Javier infield single to short, Bell to third. McLemore pinch-hitting for Gipson. Venafro pitching. McLemore hit a sacrifice fly, safe on Porter's fielding error, Bell scored, Javier to second. Ichiro fouled out to third baseman Caminiti. Zimmerman pitching. Guillen pinch-hitting for Cameron. Guillen flied out to center fielder Porter. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 2 left on. Rangers 7, M's 6.
Ranger ninth-- Guillen in as shortstop. Lampkin in as catcher. Javier in as center fielder. McLemore in as left fielder. Paniagua pitching. Caminiti grounded out, first baseman Olerud to pitcher Paniagua. Porter singled to left. Mateo was hit by a pitch, Porter to second. Greer singled to left, Porter scored, Mateo to second. Velarde struck out. A. Rodriguez fouled out to shortstop Guillen. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rangers 8, M's 6.