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Rodriguez Happy Meeting Done

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

JUPITER - Alex Rodriguez says he's happy to put behind him a meeting with baseball officials about his use of steroids more than five years ago.

The New York Yankees slugger reported to the Dominican Republic team Monday and took part in its first workout in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. The practice came a day after Rodriguez met for two hours with Major League Baseball officials about his positive drug tests in 2001-03 while with the Texas Rangers.

"It's really good to get yesterday behind me - another one of the big steps," Rodriguez said. "For me, now the focus is the WBC."

Rodriguez declined to say what happened at the meeting, or what he expects regarding any follow-up.

He found a way to take advantage of all the photographers following him, though, posing for pictures with his two daughters before taking the field with his Dominican teammates. The children arrived at the practice with Rodriguez's ex-wife, Cynthia.

He said he sees his children at least once a week.

"I wish they were around every day," he said.

Rodriguez nuzzled 4-year-old Natasha and 10-month-old Ella as cameras clicked and Cynthia watched. She filed for divorce in July, and the sides reached a settlement in September.

The Dominican team worked out at the spring training complex used by the St. Louis Cardinals and will play its first exhibition game today against Florida.

Rodriguez arrived 3 1/2 hours before the early-afternoon practice. He emerged from a Maybach - an elite German car that sells for $350,000 - driven by his brother and carried a Yankees equipment bag into the clubhouse.

ATHLETICS: Oakland is close to signing free agent Orlando Cabrera to a $4 million, one-year contract, likely ending former AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby's disappointing tenure as the team's starting shortstop. Cabrera played for the White Sox last season.

BONDS CASE: The perjury trial of Barry Bonds has been delayed at least through July and likely beyond, as an appeal filed by prosecutors concerning key evidence for the trial winds through the legal system.

Federal court officials Monday set a schedule for prosecutors and Bonds' lawyers to submit legal written arguments to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals debating the admissibility of three positive drug tests, so-called doping calendars and other evidence allegedly linking Bonds to steroids use.

Jury selection for Bonds' trial had been scheduled to start Monday, but was delayed last week after federal prosecutors announced they would appeal U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston's ruling barring them from showing that evidence to a jury.

MARLINS: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez on Monday said he has instructed County Manager George Burgess to stop working on the stadium plan until city commissioners reach a final vote on the ballpark proposal. Alvarez also asked County Commission Chairman Dennis Moss to hold off on the county's vote on the deal, which would bring a 37,000-seat stadium to the city's Little Havana neighborhood. County commissioners were expected to take up the proposal next week.

OBITUARY: Tom Sturdivant, who pitched the New York Yankees to victory in Game 4 of the 1956 World Series on the day before Don Larsen's famed perfect game, has died. He was 78.

PADRES: Right-hander Heath Bell, who's taking over for departed closer Trevor Hoffman, was added to the United States' roster for the World Baseball Classic.

TIGERS: Manager Jim Leyland says starting pitcher Jeremy Bonderman was sent to Detroit for medical testing because of shoulder stiffness. Leyland says it is a precautionary measure. Bonderman was expected back in Lakeland by Monday night.

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