While Rodriguez won the AL MVP award for the second time in 2005, he was booed for stretches at Yankee Stadium last season, when he hit made 24 errors. Some thought that if Jeter spoke out on A-Rod’s behalf, fans would go easier on him.

“Derek can’t stop the fans from booing. They boo all of us,” catcher Jorge Posada said.

And then came another abysmal postseason for Rodriguez. He’s 4-for-41 (.098) without an RBI in his last 12 playoff games dating to 2004. He got just one hit in last year’s playoff loss to Detroit.

“I stunk. And when you stink, sometimes, you have to call it,” he said. “I went 1-for-14 last year with an error and that’s pretty lousy.”

As the Yankees were eliminated in Game 4, he was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the first time in a decade.

“It was very disappointing,” he said. “Yes, I was embarrassed.”

Rodriguez is entering the seventh season of his $252 million, 10-year contract, a deal he signed with the Texas Rangers. He can terminate the agreement after the season, forfeit the $72 million owed in the final three years and become a free agent. He also could pressure New York for an extension.

He said he wants to remain a Yankee, but wouldn’t promise that he will. Like Mariano Rivera, he is thinking ahead to the new ballpark scheduled to open in 2009.

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“My goal is to go in with Derek and Mo and open the new stadium. I’m saying it pretty clear, fellas,” he said.

Steve Swindal, the Yankees’ general partner, saw it the same way.

“I would love to see him end his career here. He’s great. He’s the real deal,” was his reaction.

Rodriguez knows his contract has made him a target, adding to his burden. Still, he doesn’t mind.

“I love being the highest-paid player in the game. It’s pretty cool. I like making that money. You get crushed, but you know what? It’s pretty cool. I enjoy it,” he said. “I was poor and broke when I grew up. I didn’t have that type of money to help out children. Now I get a chance to help out children. Whatever you say is important. People listen to you. That’s pretty cool. Nobody used to listen to me before.”

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