Embattled Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez further improved his image among MLB fans Wednesday afternoon when he stormed out of an arbitration hearing upset over the notion that Bud Selig will not be forced to testify.
“I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process,” Rodriguez said, apparently referring to MLB’s chief witness against him, Tony Bosch. “This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the Players Association refused to order Selig to come in and face me.
“The absurdity and injustice just became too much,” Rodriguez’s statement read. “I walked out and will not participate any further in this farce.”
Of course this all comes from A-Rod effectively trying to reduce his 211 game suspension over his alleged use of PEDs and connection to Biogenesis founder Tony Bosch. And in addition to Selig, A-Rod also directed his scorn towards MLB COO Rob Manfred.
(via ESPN New York)
This is ridiculous,” Rodriguez is said to have shouted after Horowitz issued his ruling shortly before noon at MLB’s offices on Park Ave. Rodriguez then pointed his finger at Manfred, who directed baseball’s investigation into the Biogenesis clinic suspected of being a source of supply of illegal PEDs to ballplayers, and said “You know you’re full of s—!”
But it didn’t stop there.
In the hours after his hissy fit in front of the arbitrators, Rodriguez made his way to Mike Francesa’s radio show on WFAN where the usually outspoken host proceeded to serve up beach balls as questions.
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A-Rod continually called Selig “the Man from Milwaukee” and later conveyed his belief that the MLB commissioner “hates my guts”. But then again who doesn’t at this point? Not to mention how bad do you actually have to be when you begin to make Selig look like the good guy?
Rodriguez also said that Selig hated going to New York.
Here’s further highlights from the interview via The Big Lead:
- “I know you don’t like New York, but you gotta come face me.”
- “I exploded much worse than Paul O’Neill.”
- “And (Selig) doesn’t have the courage to come and tell me this is why I’m gonna destroy your career?”
- “I’m so pissed off right now I can’t even think straight.”
- “People have told me I hate your guts, but what MLB is doing to you is disgusting.”
- “He’s trying to destroy me. To put me on his big mantle on the way out, that’s a hell of a trophy.”
Whether you believe him or not at this point what does Rodriguez really have to lose?