M’s teammates say A-Rod has character

  • KIRBY ARNOLD / Herald Writer
  • Monday, December 11, 2000 9:00pm
  • Sports

By KIRBY ARNOLD

Herald Writer

Alex Rodriguez has taken his 40-some home runs, his 100-plus runs batted in and his .300-plus batting average to Texas.

Behind those numbers, some of his former teammates say, the Seattle Mariners have lost a player who impressed them just as much with his knowledge of those around him.

Pitcher Paul Abbott recalled a moment last season when he was on the mound and Rodriguez seemed troubled at shortstop.

"I’m in the stretch with a runner on second base, and Alex is over there shaking his head at me," Abbott said.

Abbott stepped off the rubber, called time out, and Rodriguez approached the mound.

"He wanted to know what I was thinking, what I was going to throw and why I was going to throw it," Abbott said. "He wants to know what we’re thinking."

Unlike many players, Rodriguez has always wanted to know the inner thoughts of his teammates.

"He likes to know character," catcher Tom Lampkin said. "A lot of the way pitchers pitch is determined by their character. If you just sit there and let a guy pitch for a season and never talk to him, you don’t know how he likes to think. It’s important for a catcher to find out about his pitchers, but Alex has shown that it’s just as important for the infielders.

"Alex was always talking to me about catching, he’s always talking to the pitchers and he was always talking to John Olerud about hitting. There are so many resources on a team worth taking advantage of, and Alex used them."

  • Draft day: On the day they lost Rodriguez, the Seattle Mariners added Sosa.

    Jorge Sosa, that is.

    Sosa, an outfielder, was one of three minor-legue players the Mariners selected Monday in baseball’s annual Rule V draft. They also picked pitcher Jason Ellison and infielder Joe Funaro.

    Sosa, 22, hit .230 with four home runs and 26 RBI for the Rockies’ Class A Portland franchise.

    Ellison, 25, was 1-1 with an 8.68 earned run average and four saves in 10 games with Class AA Norwich in the Yankees organization.

    Funaro, 27, batted .282 with 22 runs in 49 games with Class AA Portland, Maine, and Class AAA Calgary in the Marlins’ organization.

    The Mariners lost two minor leaguers in the draft, infielder Jermaine Clark to Detroit and left-handed pitcher Denton McDaniel to the White Sox.

    In the Rule V draft, players who aren’t on 40-man major league rosters can be selected for a $12,000 fee.

  • Youth program continues: the Mariners announced Monday that they have renewed their partnership with The Boeing Company to improving youth baseball and softball fields in the region.

    Boeing will contribute $225,000 to the Boeing Mariners Care Athletic Field program over the next three years. Each year, a community will be selected to receive a $75,000 grant to renovate youth fields.

    In September, the grant was awarded to Pacific Little League of Lynnwood and Edmonds to improve the complex at Lynndale Park.

    Communities that have received grants the past 16 years also include Mukilteo and Stanwood.

    Talk to us

    > Give us your news tips.

    > Send us a letter to the editor.

    > More Herald contact information.

  • More in Sports

    Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

    Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

    Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
    Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

    The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

    Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

    Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

    Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

    Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

    Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

    Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

    Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
    Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

    Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

    Prep boys basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

    Lake Stevens passes Mariner in league standings to take final district slot.

    Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
    No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

    The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

    A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
    Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

    With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

    Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

    Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

    Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
    Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

    More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

    Palmer Mutcheson chips onto the green during the Men’s Club Championship at Snohomish Golf Course. Mutcheson won the tournament and carded a nine-under-par 63 on Aug. 4, 2024, which set a new course record. (Photo courtesy Kiana Richards, Snohomish Golf Course)
    Tee off in style: The top three golf courses in the Snohomish County

    From scenic fairways to championship-level greens, these courses are a golfer’s dream!

    Support local journalism

    If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.