In ‘Sunday Night’ trial, says he’s objective, on call to Hal
DESPITE HIS side gig as a Yankees special adviser, new ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” analyst Alex Rodriguez said during his first broadcast that he will remain fair and balanced — and is available to Hal Steinbrenner “24/7.”
A-Rod also referred to the Yankees’ young players as “our” before catching himself in his attempt to separate the two jobs he holds, simultaneously working for the team and covering it Thursday in a spring training practice run.
Wasting no time addressing the elephant in the room, er, broadcast booth, A-Rod said his work for the Yankees and ESPN shouldn’t present a conflict, especially when calling Yankees games, as he did Thursday. He also talked, later in the telecast, about PEDs and “personal accountability,” so we are reminded to take whatever the tainted Rodriguez says with a grain of salt.
That doesn’t mean A-Rod was bad. As expected, he was pretty good, as he always has been on TV.
In the first inning, the new-look “Sunday Night Baseball” crew that also includes Jessica Mendoza, Matt Vasgersian and Buster Olney, got right down to business. Vasgersian set up A-Rod with the burning question, putting ARod on the hot seat about his perceived conflicts of interest.
“I’ve been there since 2004 and this is my second year as a special adviser to Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman,” Rodriguez said. “You know, my role is interesting. It’s a big brother/mentor role to a lot of our — a lot of the young players here with the Yankees. Gary Sanchez, for one, I took a special interest last year spending a little time, trying to mentor him a little bit, just some of my experiences, the ups, the downs, and my role will be exactly the same this year.
“My job, as I work here for ESPN, is to tell you the what and the why, same thing as Jessica,” he said. “My job is to do it objectively and fairly.”
“What if we’re in Houston doing a Rangers-Astros game and Hal calls and says, ‘I need you to talk to Gary Sanchez today?’” Vasgersian said.
“Any time Hal calls, I’m available 24/7,” A-Rod said.
An inning later, Rodriguez’s love life was the topic when Twins first baseman Logan Morrison said he had “an illustrious career on AND off the field.” During the game, ESPN published a clip online of A-Rod snorting at a Vasgersian joke, and an old one of Aaron Boone imitating him when he was a part of the booth.
In the eighth inning, A-Rod spoke about the importance of new Yankee Giancarlo Stanton being “honest and genuine.”
“Leaning in and telling your story and trying to control the narrative a little bit will be your best friend, versus trying to hide from it,” A-Rod said. “The biggest mistake you can do is you can go 0-for-4 or you’re in a streak of 1-for-12 and go hide in the training room. I know Big G would never do that. No one should do that, especially in New York City.”
A-Rod is no stranger to TV and being in the awkward position analyzing the team that employs him. His work for Fox the last few years has been roundly praised. As usual, Rodriguez was polished and loose and insightful.
The highlight of his first game may have come in the fifth inning when noted A-Rod troll and former Yankees teammate Phil Hughes, who started for the Twins, was interviewed. His Twitter persona, where he has made a sport of razzing A-Rod down to the time he tucked his pants into his socks, is an extension of the guy Hughes was in the Yankees’ clubhouse.
“He enjoys it. At least I think he does,” Hughes said of the ribbing. “We had a good time and it showed on the field. You gotta be able to do that during a long season like this otherwise you’re going to get so sick of each other.”
So what were some of the best digs he used against A-Rod?
“Where do I even start?” Hughes said. “Whether it was listening to (former flame) Madonna in his headphones, there wasn’t any lack of material when it came to this guy. You guys are going to enjoy him up in the booth.”
A-Rod and Hughes plan to “squad up” to play some video games together, too. Priceless.
Yes, it was quite the love fest with A-Rod, a guy who continues to rebuild his image in his post-playing life. At times, it was hard to differentiate between an afternoon spring training game and an episode of “This is Your Life.”
A-Rod’s maiden ESPN broadcast opened with comments about Boone, who he is replacing in the booth.
In the bottom of the third, Boone conducted an interview with the broadcasters. A-Rod asked if Boone can handle “the pressure cooker of New York City. Once you get up to New York, obviously the fans are expecting really big things this year. How do you think it was different and are you ready for that?”
“Yeah,” Boone said. “I know what I signed up for.”
Then Boone reversed roles and sent a question up to A-Rod: “Hey, how’s the booth going?” he asked. “They are absolutely carrying me,” A-Rod said.
After one practice game behind the mic, it’s clear that A-Rod, forever a human lightning rod, will certainly bring a lot to “Sunday Night Baseball.” And it remains to be seen if his love affair with the Yankees and the whole special adviser schtick will rub some viewers — looking at you, Boston — the wrong way.