After playing four years in the city that never sleeps – a place that never lets its superstars off the hook – Alex Rodriguez has learned a thing or two. So it came as no surprise Monday that he was in total command as the latest chapter of the A-Rod soap opera unfolded.
During a national conference call set up for the New York Yankees third baseman to talk about running away with his third American League MVP, A-Rod turned proactive. He declared he would not discuss his ongoing contract negotiations with the Yankees, his perceived rift with agent Scott Boras or his reasons for opting out of his contract in the first place.
“There is a finish line in sight,” Rodriguez said about renewed negotiations that are heading toward a reported 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees. “We should know more by next week.”
Asked why he bolted the Yankees in the first place, Rodriguez said, “There will be a time and place for that.”
A-Rod was more than happy to talk about winning the MVP, making him the fifth AL player to win the award three times. Rodriguez got 26 out of 28 first-place votes, with Detroit’s Magglio Ordoñez, who came in second, getting the other two. A-Rod also won MVP in 2005 with the Yankees and in 2003 with Texas.
“I worked on my game all during the offseason, and I felt like back in January that I was ready to have a world championship-type season,” Rodriguez said.
His instincts were dead on. A-Rod began the season with 14 homers in his first 18 games and led the major leagues with 54 homers, 156 RBIs and 143 runs. In four seasons in New York, Rodriguez has hit 173 home runs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only player to hit more home runs for the Yankees during a four-year span was Babe Ruth, who hit 209 between 1927-30.
Rodriguez, 32, helped the Yankees make the postseason for the 13th consecutive season. However, he’s still never been to the World Series.
“There is definitely a huge hole in the résumé,” he said. “This is my third MVP, and I’m here to say that I would trade all three for one world championship.”
Rodriguez said he’s even had a long talk with Broncos legend John Elway, who claimed Super Bowl titles in the final two seasons of his 16-year career.
“I’m a huge Elway fan, and I know how much it meant to him to finally win it,” A-Rod said. “His career wasn’t complete until he won those Super Bowls.”
AL MVP stats
Statistics for AL MVP winners since 1995:
(AB R H HR RBI Avg.)
2007 A. Rodriguez, 3b, NY 583 143 183 54 156 .314
2006 Mourneau, 1b, Min 592 97 190 34 130 .321
2005 A. Rodriguez, 3b, NY 605 124 194 48 130 .321
2004 Guerrero, of, Ana 612 124 206 39 126 .337
2003 A. Rodriguez, ss, Tex 607 124 181 47 118 .298
2002 Tejada, ss, Oak 662 108 204 34 131 .308
2001 Suzuki, of, Sea 692 127 242 8 69 .350
2000 Ja. Giambi, 1b, Oak 510 108 170 43 137 .333
1999 I. Rodriguez, c, Tex 600 116 199 35 113 .332
1998 J. Gonzalez, of, Tex 606 110 193 45 157 .318
1997 Griffey Jr., of, Sea 608 125 185 56 147 .304
1996 J. Gonzalez, of, Tex 541 89 170 47 144 .314
1995 Vaughn, 1b, Bos 550 98 165 39 126 .300
AL MVP votes
Top vote-getters for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points:
(Player 1st 2nd 3rd Total)
Alex Rodriguez, NY 26 2 – 382
Magglio Ordoñez, Det 2 22 4 258
Vladimir Guerrero, LA – 3 10 203
David Ortiz, Bos – 1 11 177
Mike Lowell, Bos – – 1 126
Jorge Posada, NY – – – 112
Victor Martinez, Cle – – – 103
Ichiro Suzuki, Sea – – – 89
Carlos Peña, TB – – 2 64
Curtis Granderson, Det – – – 51
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
