Silencio Es Dorado

One of the big news stories of the week was big non story in that A-Rod isn't talking about his contract anymore.

"It can come up every day of the year," Rodriguez said Thursday before departing for a road spring training game against Cincinnati. "I'm going to give you the same answer. Nothing has changed. I'm not going to talk about my contract."

No where in the universe can someone with a .299/.396/.549 line and 119 homers and 357 RBIs over three seasons be on a fan bases' bad side but in New York with Alex Rodriguez. Producing has a way of making nice with fans, but strangely enough, A-Rod is perceived as an under achiever and not many Yankee fans would be terribly upset should he actually use his opt out clause.

Of course, this is because A-Rod has a knack for saying all the wrong things. After the above statement, most writers and fans were left wondering why he did not just say that earlier in the year. Instead he said it was up the fans to accept him and the team to decide if he comes back. In other words, he wants some love and attention.

We all say things that we know is a mistake right after we say it. When I was with my ex, during a fight I turned to her friend and said, "your friend (meaning my ex) is a real c*nt". Well, that's one of those things that leave your mouth and there is instant remorse. I got on the phone and called my friend and said I was coming over to sleep on the couch. Was my anger founded? Yes. Did I say what I wanted to because I thought it was warranted? Yes. But sometimes you have to use that thing in between your ears.

In A-Rod's case, he is right. The guy has put up eye popping numbers over the last three seasons and gets booed and receives little respect. Is he right to be annoyed at the fans? Fuck yeah. Is it natural that he is going to have some negative feelings towards the fans like Carlos Beltran did after all the prolonged booing? Yes. However, sometimes you have to be a professional and be a bit smarter. Use silence as a tool and become more media savvy. I can say without a shadow of a doubt, if A-Rod used the David Wright/Derek Jeter standard line gig (as much as I do not like the standard line thing, it is a must for some people), he would be in a different place.

Last year, he was clueless in the Red Sox series when he failed to produce at all. He said he thought he did pretty good while even some of his own teammates called him out. Instead of saying, "we didn't win and I just didn't get the job done", he was talking about how he didn't think he did too bad. Earlier in the year, a guy who has a quarter of a billion dollar contract was looking for adoration from the public and media despite being clueless to the atmosphere he created for himself.

It's kind of one of those head scratching situations that confound you. He seems to have such a distorted view of reality and this dates back to his Ranger days. Of course, his antics and general ignorance would not matter if he is playing in a market that does not have a rabid media and that is probably where he should go. I think Boras and A-Rod know this and ultimately that is why he will not be a Yankee in 2008 ending what was truly a weird four years.

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Milledge seems to have the right outlook.

"I've already proved what I can do," Milledge said Friday. "Personally, I feel I deserve a chance. It might fall into the numbers game. I did everything I can do to make it possible for me to make the team. It's all up in the hands of the front office now."

You cannot control everything, but you can control the way you play. If you just go out there and do your thing, everything else will eventually fall into place. Right now, Milledge just needs to produce and his time will come sooner rather than later.

In related news, Green lives on another planet.

His batting average now is .145, down nine points from the previous day. And even with his first 15 at-bats -- all fruitless -- removed from the equation, Shawn Green is batting .200 this spring. But the numbers conceal some positives and muddle the picture.

Green was hitless Friday in three at-bats in the Mets' 2-1 victory against the Cardinals. He flied out and grounded out twice. But the fly ball headed for the berm beyond right field before the March wind interfered.

And Green still hasn't become accustomed to the changes in his swing. He's been getting to pitches too quickly, he says.

"I know how it looks," he said. "But I'm still excited about the progress I've made."

Riiiiiiigggghhhttt.

Congrats to Carlos Delgado!

Pedro is feeling good.

Pedro Martinez said yesterday that his rehab "is going to perfection right now, and I can't be any happier with the way things are going."

The Mets' ace, who is rehabbing his torn rotator cuff, said he is throwing at 75 feet.

The Duque shows some positive signs.

If Pedro speaks, I would listen.

While Martinez is taking his time in what still is an August timetable for his return, he said Sanchez shouldn't be thinking of throwing off the mound, but instead he should just be concentrating on building up his strength.

"I tried to seduce him to joining me down there," Martinez said, referring to the Mets' minor-league complex.

"If you ask me, I wouldn't let him throw (off the mound). He should be doing more to rehab his shoulder."

The Mets have the depth to make it through a month or so without Duaner and the big picture must be kept in mind. It's not about having Duaner back as early as possible, it's to have him pitching in the playoffs.