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Yankees' Rodriguez takes another shot at playoffs

Alex Rodriguez's choice of music in spring training was perfectly fitting for his personality. As he prepared for the season, he played the Pat Benatar song Hit Me With Your Best Shot over and over, at high volume, in his earphones. The message was purposeful and motivational.

As Rodriguez was running sprints, lifting weights, or simply blocking out the news media, he was letting those words shower over him. Of course, as he said in a light moment with reporters last week, he did not need the inspiration for long.

"I've got to confess, now that we're coming down to the end, the earphones -- they never had music on, but they kept you guys away," Rodriguez said. "They ran out of batteries on April 15, but I still had them on. It worked out good, though."

It worked out to a sensational season in which Rodriguez hit .314 with 54 home runs and 156 RBIs. He had 85 extra-base hits -- 23 more than last season, when players like Ray Durham and Nick Johnson had more.

Rodriguez took the best shot that fans and reporters had and responded with overwhelming production. He even seemed more natural in the clubhouse, forming stronger relationships with young players, repairing any hint of a rift with manager Joe Torre and even playing host to a Labor Day barbecue at which Torre was the last to leave.

"Alex never gets the credit he deserves for being a great teammate," Johnny Damon said.

"People just know him as a great ballplayer, but he's much better than that," he said.

Then Damon added the disclaimer that haunts Rodriguez, especially this week -- he has never won a championship. With the Yankees starting their division series tomorrow in Cleveland, Rodriguez is under immense pressure to prove he is more than a regular-season wonder.

After first-round knockouts the last two seasons, Rodriguez wants a longer opportunity this fall.

"What I'm looking for is more than a handful of at-bats," Rodriguez said.

"We need the team to play well, play deep into October. There's been stretches this year where I've been 1 for 12, 1 for 10, 2 for 18; that's just part of it. I'm hoping to get 50 or 60 at-bats and help the team win," he said.
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