A-Rod Wants The Other 103 To Remain Anonymous And Doesn't Care If You Like Him

From Mark Feinsand:

In an interview with the YES Network, which will air tonight after the Yankees-Red Sox game as part of a season-preview show, A-Rod told Michael Kay that he doesn't want to see the names of the other 103 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs released.

"Well this is really about my mistake," Rodriguez said. "You know, many nights I fell asleep thinking about who I can blame, and this guy, or that guy. And when I woke up I kept coming back to the same person - it's me. I mean, there's no one to blame. I hope those 103 names never come out."

The actual question Kay asks (via Ed Price) was "Would this be easier on you if the other 103 names were out? That it's not just Alex Rodriguez, there were 103 other guys who did this, why aren't there names out?" So take the into account when reading A-Rod's response.

I've made it clear that I would like to see the other names released, mainly so that all players who didn't cheat aren't lumped in with the cheaters, but with that said I respect A-Rod's opinion. It would be a lot worse had he said, "my name was released so the rest should be released too." The media would kill him for that.

A-Rod also said in the interview that he's given up on trying to make people like him:

"Well, I've given up on that!" Rodriguez said. "I've given up on that; it's just the way it is. I mean, look, I feel like right now, that not too many people like me, so I've given up on that. As long as my teammates like me, and they respect me, and my two daughters love their daddy, I'm going to go out and do the very best I can. Look, I really screwed up, and for that I'm sorry. I'm just happy to be playing baseball again."

I like what A-Rod is saying here and I hope he means it. He kind of sounds little like Manny Ramirez did when he was interviewed recently by ESPN, and in this case that's a good thing.

Now here's a preview of the rest of the interview from Ed Price:

Michael Kay: What do you say to guys like me and fans that were disappointed in what you did?

A-Rod: Well, number one, that I'm very sorry. You know, we're role models, and I think athletics plays a big part in our culture, especially in the world we're in today. There's so much negativity and sadness going on around the world and the U.S. that baseball ... people look at baseball for a savior or for inspiration, and I know that I've let a lot of people down. I know there's kids out there that I've never met before, and I probably never will, that I've hurt them, and for that I'm very sorry. And, you know this Michael, I'm not very good with words, but no matter what I sit here and tell you today, it's not going to express how truly sorry I feel for what I have done.

Kay: What have your teammates meant to you throughout this ordeal?

A-Rod: Well, I mean again, I've apologized to them individually and as a group, and you know, they've been tremendous Michael. I mean, from the emails, to the texts, to the voicemails. Every single one of those guys at one point has reached out to me, and made me feel comfortable and has been very supportive, and I don't think without that support I would be able to get through this. With that said, I hope that we take this crisis that I've put myself under, and this you know, this kind of mess that I've built for myself, and hopefully we can come together and become a tighter team. And hopefully nine months from now we'll be celebrating.

And now for a baseball related question:

Kay: How about this team that they've put together? They've got two great pitchers they've brought in, a former teammate of yours with the Rangers in Mark Teixeira, you've got Nick Swisher. How good could this team be?

A-Rod: I think defensively we've improved a lot. I think our pitching has tremendous depth. Bringing in a lefty like CC Sabathia and an A.J. Burnett, who really come into his own the last few years and has learned a lot from (Roy) Doc Halladay, I think that's also going to help him. I'm excited about our team; I think we have a really good opportunity and since I've been here in my six years, Michael, this is by far the best pitching we've had. And, as you know, that's kind of what it takes to get the ring at the end of the year.