National strife marred Rodriquez's off-season - Fame forced k-rod into winter of fear

www.sgvtribune.com122241184998,00.html Article Last Updated: Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 10:43:18 PM MST By Gabe Lacques , Staff Writer

Many Angels were able to parlay their World Series championship into an off-season of fun and opportunity. Francisco Rodriguez mostly stayed home.

The alternative was too dangerous.

For Rodriguez, winning a World Series and the higher profile that comes with it brought not fame but fear. And scrutiny. And the feeling that, if he wandered into the dangerous streets of Caracas, Venezuela, he would be robbed because of who he is.

Rodriguez, who won five postseason games after pitching just five innings in the major leagues last season, arrived Sunday at the Angels' spring training complex, reuniting with teammates for the first time since last autumn.

He pored through a huge stack of fan mail, participated in fielding drills and a 10-minute throwing session, then sat down to a large plate of barbecued beef.

What appeared to be a mind- numbingly routine day felt different to Rodriguez than his American- born teammates. After a winter amid the turmoil of Venezuela, even the simplest things aren't taken for granted.

A national strike protesting the regime of President Hugo Chavez has paralyzed the country, resulting in fuel shortages, unemployment and higher crime.

For Rodriguez, the stakes were different.

He unwittingly became a political pawn. In one week, his grandmother and brother were robbed three times at gunpoint, most likely because of their relationship to Rodriguez, who considers his grandmother his mother. And Venezuela's winter league season was canceled, limiting Rodriguez to two brief appearances.

Of course, no baseball was the least of his worries. Rodriguez escaped severe poverty in Caracas to earn a $900,000 signing bonus from the Angels in 1998, and his newfound fame only made him a bigger target.

"It's hard, especially because the people down there don't have money or have jobs because of the strike,' said Rodriguez, who turned 21 on Jan. 7. "There's a lot of poor people. They want to steal money.'

Or cars. Houston Astros outfielder Richard Hidalgo was shot in the left arm by carjackers on Nov. 21. Did Rodriguez fear a similar fate?

"Sure, man,' he said. "It's tough. Everybody down there recognizes me. They want me to give money, they want my money. They knew it was my mom and my brother. That's what's scary. They pulled guns on them.

"I mostly just stayed in my house. First, there's no gas. Second, it's dangerous in the street. I prefer to stay in the house.'

Chavez was temporarily overthrown in April, but regained power after less than two days. Chavez invited Rodriguez to visit him, but the new national hero is declining for now because he would just as soon stay out of a politically charged situation.

"Not right now,' Rodriguez said. "I want to wait. If I have a chance to meet with him and talk to him when it calms down ... but not right now. The (situation) stinks. I don't want to get involved with anything.'

Rodriguez arrived to training camp a day late because of transportation problems, and he's probably fortunate he got out that soon. The U.S. embassy was open for just one day last week, so it was unclear whether Rodriguez's visa paperwork would get processed in time.

But it did, and finally, after a 12- hour flight Saturday, he could concentrate on baseball.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Rodriguez will assume the same role he had in the postseason setting up closer Troy Percival while occasionally pitching as many as two innings. With the sudden fame he achieved last October, it's easy to forget Rodriguez has just 5 2/3 regular-season innings to his credit.

But Rodriguez struck out 13 in that limited span. And his postseason already is part of baseball lore. He won five games, tying Randy Johnson's record. He struck out 28 in 18 2/3 innings. And in Game 2 of the World Series, he put on an unforgettable performance, pitching three perfect innings and throwing 22 strikes in 26 pitches in a pivotal 11-10 victory.

"Frankie showed last year, with a litmus test that was as tough as you could get, that he had the ability to have success and not only pitch in the major leagues, but pitch in the toughest situations,' Scioscia said. "His perspective in talking to him is where it needs to be. He wants to be here for a long time. He understands the need for consistency, to do it not for six or eight weeks, but for one out at a time for years to come.

"I think you will see some improvement in consistency, and it's admirable he has that perspective. This kid's focused and he's driven. He's said he's not just basing his whole career on four weeks.'

Pitching coach Bud Black said the team will "do a good job keeping Francisco grounded,' not that it's necessary, because "Frankie's a realist. He knows what he has to do.'

Rodriguez reiterated during the Series that he was in a dreamlike state, and he might always feel that way about the most significant month of his career. But he's also ready to move on.

"I don't realize what I did yet,' he said. "Sometimes, when I watch TV, I'll realize what I did in the postseason. Now, the World Series is in the past. I'm a little bit worried because I want to show the Angels, show the fans, who is Francisco Rodriguez and what I can do for a full season.'

Assuming his arm holds up during the rigors of a six-month season, the results could be huge for the Angels. Rodriguez and Percival's presence at the back end of games will be significant for a starting staff that completed eight or more innings just 18 times last season.

Rodriguez also has different goals for this season. He wants to move his grandmother and many of his siblings he counts 13 in all, but some are actually his uncles out of Venezuela.

That might take time, given the limited capabilities of the embassy there. If and when it does happen, his mind might finally be at peace.

"It would be much better,' he said. "Feeling good, knowing what she's doing, not worried about all the problems down there.'

With that, he tugged on his cap and headed out to the field, ready to start a new season and put behind him a most unsettling off-season.

-- Gabe Lacques can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2239 or by e-mail at gabe.lacques@sgvn.com .