| Being 18 Isn't Easy in Pro Camp Most Fun Places Want ID and Mom Frets About Me by Alex Rodriguez I don't know any other moms whose 18-year-old sons live so far from home, but my mom probably is typical. She wants to know what I'm eating, if I'm getting enough sleep, if I'm being taken care of and how I'm doing. I call her three or four times a week to fill her in, but never collect because she would kill me. She also asks what I'm doing when I'm not playing baseball. I tell her I'm going to Suns games because America West Arena is one of the few places I've found that don't require an ID. Being 18 is tough, believe me. I assure her that everything is fine, and she has nothing to worry about. In fact, this camp is going better than I expected. I am playing a lot more than I thought I would and had three hits in Sunday's "B" game. I'm not even homesick. If I get sent to Appleton (Wis.) and the weather is cold, then I might get homesick. Being from Miami, I enjoy warm weather. If I get sent down to Riverside, Calif., I won't miss Miami as much as I would if I was sent to Appleton. My girlfriend, Ysha Schettini, was here for a few days, but she went home. So it's me, Felix Fermin, Luis Sojo and the boys. We found a great restaurant - the Havana Cafe. Great food and lots of it. My favorite is Palomilla, a thinly-sliced beef that comes with rice and beans. The meal money is terrific. We get $55 a day plus expense money, and I'd be fat if I spent all the money on food. But that will change. Ruben Santana told me minor league players get $20 a week. My signing bonus will come in handy. I wonder about how long I'll be here before I get sent down. The longer the better, but I know it's going to come. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |