Nobody was backing off before the Yankees won the rubber game of the rather dreadful series (take cover, the Sox' lead is down to 9 1/2 games).
Rodriguez said, "It was a hard slide. It was an awkward slide. We're struggling for every run. I may have come up [with my elbow], but I didn't roll. They have their opinion over there, but I don't take exception . . . I'm not going to go in like a little baby and try to hug him."
Pedroia smiled when the comment was relayed to him.
"He better get down next time," said the rookie. "If he doesn't he's going to get hit by the ball . . . I wouldn't slide into Derek Jeter like that. I slide in hard, but low. I wouldn't try to hurt Derek Jeter."
While Pedroia was speaking, Kevin Youkilis (actually, it might have been Steve Garvey -- hard to tell them apart these days) strolled by and asked about the play.
"Is everybody talking about it just because it's A-Rod?" Youkilis asked Pedroia.
"No," said the kid. "He threw up his elbow."
Sox players love to rip Rodriguez. Remember the frenzy of A-Rod bashing in the spring of 2005? Rodriguez's purse slap of Bronson Arroyo was still on everyone's mind, and Trot Nixon got the ball rolling by saying he didn't appreciate A-Rod claiming to be the only ballplayer who worked hard during the offseason. Nixon called A-Rod a "clown." Johnny Damon piled on next. Arroyo had his say. And of course, Curt Schilling -- the final word on everything -- weighed in heavily.
It's like Schill always says, "There are good people and there are bad people."
Does A-Rod get weary of playing the piñata?
"I haven't been a piñata this year," he countered. "I've actually been a pretty good guy."
What about Pedroia changing his arm slot next time A-Rod is steaming toward second?
"That's a good idea," said Rodriguez. "I played shortstop a long time. This is just part of the game. I try to go in hard and clean.
