After angrily storming out of his arbitration hearing this morning, Alex Rodriguez took his case to a sympathetic ear: Mike Francesa. In an intense and resolute interview on WFAN this afternoon, Rodriguez assailed Major League Baseball's investigation, bemoaned a system set up against the players, and for the first time I can remember, came straight out and denied the PED use he's accused of.
We've put together some of the highlights into the video above. Among them:
- Rodriguez calls Bud Selig "the man from Milwaukee," and claims he offered multiple times to meet with the Commissioner. (For coffee or brunch at Selig's house!) "He doesn't have the courage to come see me and tell me, 'This is why I'm going to destroy your career.'"
- On the arbitration process: "I'm done. I don't have a chance."
- Rodriguez says people in the streets come up to him to say "I hate your guts, [but] you're getting railroaded."
- Calling the arbitration hearing a "kangaroo court," Rodriguez notes that he could face even more punishment if he testifies on his own behalf. "If [MLB] thinks I lied, they can give me say another 100 games. Now you're to 311. So now I would appeal that. In the appeal process I would say, 'I didn't do it.' So now you're up to 411. And this can go on for the next seven or eight years."
- Rodriguez admits a relationship with Tony Bosch, but maintains it was solely for nutrition and weight loss supplements. He claims to have evidence that "backs me up 100 percent."
But the most fascinating part was being asked point-blank if he's guilty of the things he was accused of. One exchange:
Were you guilty of any of these charges?
No.
Did you do anything wrong?
No.
Did you do any PEDs?
No.
Did you obstruct justice, any witnesses, did you do anything that they accuse you of doing?
No.
Nothing?
Nothing.
Rodriguez closes the show by reiterating his innocence.
The fun's only beginning.
[YES Network]