Posted on Wed, Aug. 03, 2011 06:30 PM


This can't be good for Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Apparently, Major League Baseball plans to interview Rodriguez as it investigates allegations that he took part in illegal celebrity poker games. And this was no ordinary celebrity poker game (at least it didn't involve Dave Foley calling the action, that is).

Star Magazine (yes, Star Magazine!) reported last month that several people saw A-Rod playing at one of the games hosted at Hollywood hotels and private residences; his spokesman denied then that he participated.

According to the Star Magazine story, which was quoted by ESPN.com, Rodriguez played in at least two of the games, one of which took place at the Beverly Hills mansion of a record executive at which "cocaine was openly used" and a fight nearly broke out when one of the players refused to pay after losing "more than a half-million dollars."

That doesn't sound like your average Friday night poker game with the guys. Well, maybe the fisticuffs part. But, hey, if $500,000 is owed, then as Matt Damon said in "Rounders," "It's immoral to let a sucker keep his money."

Major League Baseball said in a statement Wednesday: “We take this very seriously and have been investigating this matter since the initial allegation. As part of the investigation, the commissioner's office will interview Mr. Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez was put on the disabled list July 14 after surgery on his right knee.

| Pete Grathoff, pgrathoff@kcstar.com


Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/03/3055240/talking-points-a-rod-and-poker.html

A-Rod sharp in second day of rehab



By Chris Girandola / Special to MLB.com | 08/05/11 3:57 PM ET



TAMPA, Fla. -- Day 2 of Alex Rodriguez's rehab assignment featured far less media and much less fanfare, but it showcased the surprisingly quick progression the slugger might just take in rejoining his teammates in the Bronx after looking sharp during the increased workload.

Rodriguez expressed optimism on Friday after his on-field workout at the Yankees' Minor League complex in Tampa.

"The first two days have been good," said Rodriguez, who underwent surgery on July 11 in Miami to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. "Again, I think it's how I feel when I wake up, how the body reacts in a week or so, but the first two days have been good, and we'll just go from there."

(VIDEO in article)
A-Rod injury update

00:01:00

7/9/11: Alex Rodriguez adresses the media in regards to an injury to his right knee


Between his infield work and hitting in the cage, Rodriguez spent a good portion of his workout, which lasted a little less than an hour, in the 92-degree heat shaking hands with every member of the Gulf Coast League Braves, who were waiting to play the Yankees' GCL affiliate.

"Pretty awesome," said Zach Jadofsky, a Braves pitching prospect in his first year with the organization. "We thought we were just going to get to see [Mark] Prior, but this turned out to be pretty nice."

Rodriguez began the workout by stretching and warming up with two lateral slides, three 15-yard backward runs and three forward 20-yard jogs. He then made 46 throws from a variety of distances, ranging from 25 feet to about 140 feet, with Pat Roessler, New York's director of player development.

He then took 42 grounders on his knees just inside the dirt at third base before fielding 20 grounders at his typical position. The first 10 ground balls came with him semi-crouched along the same line, and the last 10 were deep, with Rodriguez making a throw to first on each ball fielded.

Rodriguez moved to the batting cages after his visit with the Braves and began that workout by hitting off the tee 56 times before finishing it with 63 swings off soft tosses from Roessler. Throughout the hitting regimen, Rodriguez switched between using a short bat and his regular bat while also perfecting his technique with swings using just his left or right hand before ripping the ball with both hands.

Though the increased workload is a considerable step up from Thursday, Rodriguez is hesitant in saying when he would begin taking live batting practice.

"Depends how I feel," Rodriguez said when asked if he thought Sunday would be the first day.

Rodriguez's original prognosis was a recovery of four to six weeks, which would land him back in New York's lineup at some point between Aug. 15 and Aug. 30. Based on past events, he doesn't expect it to take long for him to get back to full health, referring to a knee surgery he underwent in 1999 for torn cartilage as a "simple recovery."

Rodriguez is scheduled to work out again over the weekend before the organization decides when he will play in any Minor League games.

Chris Girandola is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110805&content_id=22783462&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

Arse, I was a somewhat Rodriguez fan..............until he admitted to cheating............now he can kiss my butt.

Too bad because the guy had the talent/ tools to do it without help.