4C
SPORTS/®tc CJatlolte #o«t
Thursday, July 27, 2006
MiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiM
A-Rod’s sloppy defense hurting Yankees, frustrating fans
By Mike Fitzpatrick
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
: NEW YORK - Alex
Eodri^ez’s throws are wild
and swings are late. And now
tJie New York Yankees star is
bade in Tfexas, where he can
^ways count on a cold recep-
tion.
• He must be getting used to
those.
Playing in the Big Apple
with a record $252 million
oontract, Rodriguez is con-
^antly under the microscope.
Every failure is magnified,
fodder for the back pages of
the city tabloids or talk radio.
A-Rod has been booed at
Yankee Stadium nearly all
season for failing to come
tVirougb at the plate. Now, it’s
ms shoddy defense that’s
finstrating fans and _ more
importantly - hurting his
team.
“I’m working through it,”
Rodriguez said recently "It’s
not easy that’s for sure.”
It’s almost strange to hear
him say something like that.
So many things appear to
come so easily to A-Rod on a
baseball field.
But lately he can’t even
make a routine throw to first
base. Or second. Or home
plate.
The two-time MVP commit
ted five errors in a five-game
span last week and led the
American League with 18
going into Monday Not exact
ly what you’d eqject fiem the
most talented all-aroimd
player in Major League
Baseball.
In fact, it got so bad that
manager Joe Tbrre made
Rodriguez the designated hit
ter on Saturday in Tbronto -
even with New York trying to
snap a three-game losing
skid.
It didn’t help his offense
any Rodriguez went O-for-4
with fom strikeouts, includ-
ir^ one with the bases loaded,
during New York’s 5-4 victory
He finished O-for-4 again on
Sunday in a 13-5 loss and
was on a 4-for-27 slide going
into Monday’s series opener
against the Tfexas Rangers,
his former team.
What’s wroi^ with A-Rod?
One major flaw is his foot
work at third base. But the
biggest obstacle is probably in
his head.
Rodriguez made a pretty
smooth transition fiom short
stop to third base when he
joined the Yankees in 2004.
He worked hard that sprii^
to get comfortable and made
only 13 errors all season -
plus some dazzling plays.
He committed 12 errors last
year, and his strong defense
was a big reason he beat out
Soriano wants to play in Washington
By Howard Fendrich
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Alfonso Soriano says he
wants to stay with the Washii^ton Nationals,
but he doubts he’ll reach an agreement on a
new contract before the July 31 trade dead
line.
‘T don’t think so. I think that my agent and
the club, they have to talk a lot,” Soriano said
after homermg in Washington’s 7-1 victory
over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday ‘Tf we have
something working, we need a little bit more
time.”
The five-time All-Star said he spoke with
incoming team president Stan Kasten on
Thursday but they didn’t discuss contract
details. Soriano added that he doesn’t think
his agent, Diego Bentz, has discussed num
bers with the Nationals, either.
Reached by telephone, Bentz wouldn’t say
whether contract proposals have been extend
ed by him or the club.
“That doesn’t really mean anything. The
bigger question is: T)oes he like it there or
not? Does he feel comfortable there?’
Obviously You can teU by the way he’s play
ing,” Bentz said.
In celebration of National Business Women’s Week, join us at
WomenCoimect! 2006 —.•
Unleashing Your Opportunities
Charlotte’s 9'*’Annual NBWW event,
dedicated to all business and professional women.
Since the 1920s one week in October has annually been
recognized as National Business Women’s Week (NBWW).
During this week state and local organizations, and the
business community acknowledge the accomplishments of
workingwomcn. NBWW Charlotte is proud to be the host
sponsor for WomenConnect! 2006.
WomenConnect!, provides an inspiring and infomiative dialogue
as a catalyst to unleash personal and professional networking
opportunities for women throughout the greater Charlotte area.
Connect with hundreds of women, over 50 women’s
businesses, professional resources, and interact with
our panel of exceptional women.
Panelists
• Rai Glover, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
• Bridget Ann Hampton, President, JHR & Associates, LLC,
Member of the NC Lottery- Commission
• Ramona Moore Big Eagle, Dare to Soar Enterprises,
Storyteller and Speaker
• Elisa Rodriguez, Allstate insurance, Latin American
Chamber of Commerce
• Patricia Shafer, President, Compel Consulting International
October 12, 2006
Marriott City Center — 100 West Trade Street
10 -12 registration, networking and showcasing 50 exhibitors
12-2 lunch & interactive forum with panelists
Early bird registration by September P* is $35
After September P‘ registration is $55
Seating is limited. Register today atwww.nbwwcharlotte.org
For more information or sponsorship opportunities
contact Beverly Grant at 704-609-5793 or
info@nbw^wcharlotte.org.
Sponsors
NSWWCharl^tie
CONSOLIDATED
Iife3Q29
tlT^e Clbarlotte
Oiarlofelman
Boston designated hitter
David Ortiz for AL MVP.
But right now, there’s a
kink in Rodriguez’s footwork.
He drops down, submarine-
style, to make his throws
across the diamond - some
thing many major league
infielders do. It’s not how
Little League coaches teach
you to do it but it’s a stjie that
plenty of big league players
have perfected, including
Rodriguez.
The probl^n now is that,
without proper footwork, his
throws are often tailing high
and to tile right. like a slice
off a ri^t-handed golf swir^.
“He hasn’t had that feel,”
Tbrre said.
Watch closely and you can
see it. A-Rod is opening up his
fiiDnt shoulder too far and
planting his left foot wide of
the target, instead of directly
toward the target.
Overcompensate, and he
hooks his throw too far to the
left.
‘It’s definitely mechanics,”
said Rodriguez, a Gold Glove
shortstop in Tfexas. ‘It really
becomes stayir^ on top of the
baseball. Pitchers, catchers,
everybody does it at some
point. You’ve just got to get
your target, get your footwork
and stay on top of the base
ball.”
That’s the easy part,
thou^. 'The bard part for
Rodriguez is not lettii^ all
the miscues afiect him men
tally
It seems they already have.
You can almost see him try
ing to aim his throws fixim
third. He doesn’t look natur
al. And once an infielder
begins thinking, T can’t throw
this ball away’ tiiat’s exactly
what he’ll often do.
With his rec^t struggles,
some have even suggested A-
Rod will want out of New
York soon.
“That couldn’t be further
fi-om the truth. 'That’s a
ridiculous thought,” he said.
But the Yankees, who trail
first-place Boston in the AL
East division, have a more
pressing concern. Missing
three injured All-Stars, they
need Rodriguez to rediscover
his form - quickly - so they
can stay close in a tight pen
nant race.
“I don’t know what’s going
on,” pitcher Mike Mussina
said- ‘T know he’s disappoint
ed in the way he’s playit^. It’s
just not him ri^t now. We
need him back the way he’s
supposed to be.”
Associated Press Writer Rob
Gillies in Toronto contributed to
this report.
Soriano joined Washington last offseason in.
a trade fixrm Tbxas, and the Nationals shifted
him fix)m second base to left field. He’s batting
-288 with 31 homers, 62 RBIs and 25 steals.
Soriano is slated to become a fi^ agent at
season’s end; the Nationals figure to be able to
get top prospects in return if they deal him
During Sunday’s game, Kasten said he’s
had “numerous conversations” with Soriano
and his agent.
‘T have been told unequivocally, fiom both of
them, they would like to remain- here. No
doubt about that,” Kasten said.
“We love Alfonso, we love what he does - lots
of people do. Let’s face it: He’s a potential
MVP candidate. It goes without saying that
he’s a superior player,” Kasten added. “But,
you know, our No. 1 mission is getting to be
the best team we can as soon as possible.”
One potential s-tumblir^ block if the sides
try to agree on a new contract: Soriano said he
wants a no-trade dause, something Kasten
pointed out Sunday he refused to include in
contracts he negotiated in recent years while
an ececutive -with the Atlanta Braves, the
NBA’s Hawks and the NHL’s Thrashers.
Go beyond the score
Clie Cljarlotte
9th Annual Titus L.. Ivory, Sr.
Memorial Golf Tournament
August 4, 2006
EJirkdale Golf Course, Huntersville. NC
H.L. McCrorey
Family YMCA
Tournament Information
• Registration: 8:00 a.m.
• Shotgun Start: 9:00 a.m.
■ Format: Captain's Choice
• Register as an individuai or as a team
• Captains are responsibie for registering
teams and submitting fees and appiications
• Teams consist of (1) Captain and
(3) other piayers
• Muiiigans avaiiabie for $5 each
Registration includes-
• 18 holes of golf
• Range balls
• Golf Cart rental for the team
• Signature event golf shirt
• Continental breakfast
• Lunch delivered to you during the •
tournament
• Awards dinner in air conditioned Pavilion
following the tournament
• Contests
Hole in one
Longest Drive
Closest to the Pin
• Goodie Bag
• Program Booklet
• Door Prizes and Giveaways
In Memory of Titus L. Ivory, Sr.
Titus L. Ivory, Sr. demonstrated the
principles of character development
promoted by the H.L. McCrc^rey Family
YMCA.Hisillustratlon of earing,.- -
i^ponsibility, faith, honesty, and respect
was.manifestedm the life.he led-arsd the-
legacy that remains. Titus’ commitment
to God. family, career, community,
fes-otherhood- and the Uf^ifting of his -fellow
man, is a true testimony of his character.
Thank you for taking the time to iom us fo
fellowship and ramembrance of our dear
: friend and staunch supporter.^ ■ '
Mission
To put Christian principles into practice
..^through programs that buSd healthy, s^riL
mind end body for at!.
Location:
Birkdale Golf Club
16500 Birkdale Commons Parkway
Huntersville, NC 28078
www.birkdale.com
Contact information:
: Please mail registration form and check
payable to:-
H.L. McCr^ey Family YMCA
3801 Be^:aes Ford Road,
Charicrtte, ,NC 28216
. Attn. Daniel Stafford:
Or contact Daniel Staftord at:
Phone: (704) 71S-6510
Fax? : (704) -716-6S01