SHORTSTOP: Alex Rodriguez, Mariners
Imagine you are Oakland's enormously talented rookie Miguel
Tejada. You dream of playing in the All-Star Game one day. You
might as well try getting Packers season tickets. The line is
long, and it's not moving. Nomar Garciaparra, who turns 25 this
month, Derek Jeter, 24, and Rodriguez, 23 this month and the
best of the bunch, may already be better than the
Ripken-Yount-Trammell triad that preceded them. They've
transformed shortstop into the game's glamour position. Tejada,
22; the Marlins' Edgar Renteria, 22; the Rockies' Neifi Perez,
23; and the White Sox's Mike Caruso, 21, can only add to the
luster.
photo by Brad Mangin
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