Keep in mind, ladies of Motown, that I-Rod is a single man. From the Detroit News’ Lynn Henning :
Pudge Rodriguez was back with the Tigers Saturday following a one-day unexcused absence.
The reasons for his extended layoff — earlier in the week he had served a four-day suspension imposed by Major League Baseball — remained unclear.
“We’re going to keep it in-house,” Tigers manager Alan Trammell said after Rodriguez rejoined his team for Saturday night’s scheduled game at Kauffman Stadium — a game postponed for the second straight day because of rain. “It’s a team matter.”
The Rodriguez episode led to an extended clubhouse meeting Saturday between Trammell, his coaching staff and the Tigers players, including Rodriguez, who wasn’t volunteering details about a Colombian getaway.
Rodriguez said he intended to be in Kansas City well ahead of Friday’s Royals-Tigers game. Beyond being “very disappointed” in Rodriguez’s failure to show Friday, Trammell was irked that Rodriguez didn’t play safe with his travel plans and arrange a Thursday arrival in Kansas City.
It is not normal procedure for a player handed a short suspension — Rodriguez got overheated during a dispute with an umpire at Oakland three weeks ago — to not remain with his team.