from the New York Times

Alex Rodriguez never budged from third base on shots drilled toward the pitcher's mound, properly figuring there was no way he could help corral a ball that was speeding in a different direction several feet from him. He thought he should remain anchored near third, a position he is still learning.

But after Rodriguez fielded a bullet that deflected off Kevin Brown and caromed to him last Tuesday, Luis Sojo offered him the latest lesson in Playing Third Base 101. The specifics of the advice proved just how advanced Rodriguez has become. For Rodriguez, Third Base 101 has swiftly escalated into Third Base for Future Gold Glove Winners.

Sojo, who was a slick-fielding major leaguer and is now the third-base coach for the Yankees, told Rodriguez that he should never be flatfooted. Sojo implored Rodriguez to rush toward the pitcher when a ball is laced in that area because being in motion will put him in better fielding position.

"You have to attack like you're going to go catch the ball up the middle," Rodriguez said. "And if the ball ricochets, it could come right to you. Those are little things that come with time. That's very intricate. That's the next level."

The next level of playing third has already arrived for Rodriguez. There are probably major league third basemen who will never be good enough or smart enough to worry about how to react in the milliseconds before balls rattle off pitchers, a freakish sort of play that Rodriguez said had happened four or five times this season and a play that happens so rarely it could be ignored.

But Rodriguez, a neophyte third baseman in games only, is good enough and smart enough to be focusing on the minute aspects of a position he is mastering at a rapid rate. Rodriguez has looked almost as comfortable at his new position as he used to look at shortstop. He is leading all third basemen in the American League in total chances and made only his third error yesterday. He is on pace for 13 1/2 errors, an impressively low number, and, if he stays this consistent, could fashion one of the best defensive debut seasons by a third baseman in baseball history.

"He's a student," Sojo said. "He studies the game. It's like he's going to school every day. If he has a test next week, he's not going to forget what you told him. Since I told him, he's been talking about that play every day."

It will take 100 games to feel relaxed about the shift from shortstop to third, said Cal Ripken Jr., who made the same change. One hundred games before Rodriguez feels comfortable about having glided about 50 feet to his right and about 20 feet closer to the batter. Rodriguez never disputed Ripken's estimate, but he has lampooned it with his steady and sometimes dazzling defense.

Rodriguez has been smooth while charging in for slow rollers, he has used his quick feet to move well laterally, he has used his soft hands to handle the tricky in-between hops, he has shown terrific instincts in making diving plays and he has used his strong arm to help rescue him on close plays. He has become acclimated to third in a third of the time that Ripken expected. Or less.

"It took him five games in spring training," Sojo said.

Jason Giambi, a lumbering first baseman who is actually a former third baseman, said, "I noticed how good he was the first day of spring training."

Even Yogi Berra, the Hall of Fame catcher, said, "He's surprised a lot of people, I think."

Rodriguez credited nine seasons at shortstop as the perfect preparation for tackling third because there is no play he did not have to handle at short. That deep background as the most important player in the infield allowed the 28-year-old Rodriguez to shuffle to another demanding position with confidence and grace.

The Navy Seal crazy workout, Rodriguez's name for a spring routine that began with dozens of monotonous grounders at 8 a.m., also helped him physically and mentally in the transition. He thinks and acts like a third baseman now, too.

"I can honestly say there's not one inch of appetite for shortstop," Rodriguez said. "I thought I would miss playing shortstop more and I really haven't. I've been so consumed with trying to be the best third baseman I can be. That's a part of this that has really surprised me."

Sojo said that Rodriguez told Manager Joe Torre that if shortstop Derek Jeter ever sustained a major injury, the Yankees should not approach him about filling in because he is committed to third.

"Since he's been playing third, he's totally forgotten about shortstop," Sojo added. "He said, `Listen, I'm the Yankees' third baseman and I want to be the best third baseman in the world.' "

Both Sojo and Willie Randolph, the Yankees' bench coach and another former infielder, said Rodriguez could be all-World, but there are still some aspects of playing the new position that he has to refine.

Randolph said Rodriguez must read balls better off the bat and get quicker jumps on moving toward them. Sojo said Rodriguez sometimes plays too close to the third-base line, which is natural because he is worried about lasers flying by him into the left-field corner.

When Rodriguez is creeping in close for a possible bunt with one strike, Sojo said he occasionally backpedals to a normal depth prematurely and reveals his positioning to the hitter. Randolph added that Rodriguez needs to become as adroit at charging in for rollers so that making the plays will feel as routine as throwing the ball around the horn.

"It's getting comfortable with things," Randolph said. "It's not `Can he or can't he do it?' Once he got used to the angles, the speed of the ball and being comfortable with being in, I knew he'd do what he's doing right now."

One thing Rodriguez is doing is giving Oakland's Eric Chavez formidable competition for the American League Gold Glove. Chavez has won the last three at third while Rodriguez has snared the last two at shortstop. Rodriguez said the award is a distant goal and not something he dwells on. Others think he could dwell on it.

"Chavez and those guys are Gold Glove third baseman, but, to me, A-Rod is right there right now," Randolph said.

Giambi, Chavez's former teammate, added: "I've watched Chavey play and he's won the Gold Glove for a couple of years. A-Rod's made all of the plays. He's playing at that level."

On Chavez's first day of spring training, he smiled when he was quizzed about Rodriguez's becoming a third baseman and said: "There goes my fourth Gold Glove Award. So much for the All-Star Game, too."

Chavez, whom the A's converted from shortstop after drafting him in 1997, said it took him four years to learn the position. Interestingly, Chavez feels third is the tougher position because of the different depths a third baseman has to play and the scant reaction time.

"Alex has adjusted to the position a lot quicker than I thought he would," Chavez said. "There are so many angles and so many spins and so many topspins. But he looks confident over there, like he's been there a long time."

Rodriguez was sitting in the players' lounge during a rain delay when Sojo told him about reacting to balls near the mound last Tuesday. Sojo thought about telling him a few days earlier, but did not want to burden Rodriguez with such a snippet of advice. Rodriguez chided Sojo and instructed him not to withhold any more wisdom. He is a third baseman now. He needs to know everything.

"You know what makes him so good?" Sojo said. "Even though he knows he's a superstar and we all know that he's a superstar, he wants to learn about this game every single day. He's amazing."