Alex Rodriguez was inside the superstar-studded Yankees clubhouse less than five minutes Friday when he turned to Robinson Cano and announced, ''Estamos en mi casa,'' which translates in English to, ``We're in my house.''
And, in a figurative sense, who could argue the point, because to look around Dolphin Stadium on Friday night was to see 150 of Rodriguez's friends in the stands filled with Yankees jerseys and caps and more displaced New Yorkers than can be found in the Hamptons on a summer weekend.
The kid that left Miami Westminster Christian as Alex Rodriguez in 1993 is now A-Rod and his first game here after 15 years gave his fans what they came to see: He doubled in the third inning and homered in the fifth.
But let's not kid ourselves. This spring training windup was a homecoming only in name and not substance, because the truth is Rodriguez will never play truly meaningful games in his hometown.
There were rumors this past offseason when Rodriguez opted out of his Yankees contract that maybe the Marlins, claiming temporary financial insanity, might make a bold, brash bid for baseball's best player on the chance that he could bring, you know, bodies into Dolphin Stadium.
The idea was crazy, yes, but definitely more defensible than thinking the ridiculous Mermaids female cheerleaders or the more ridiculous Manatees male cheerleaders could attract people to a baseball game.
The Rodriguez rumor was only a whisper. But it was loud enough that it reached Rodriguez at his South Florida offseason home.
''You heard it,'' Rodriguez said of the rumors.
WORK, HOME DON'T MIX
Of course, after about two seconds of not-too-serious consideration both the Marlins and Rodriguez dismissed the notion. ''My mind was truly focused on staying in New York,'' he said.
That is not where Rodriguez ended his thought but we pause here to give appropriate warning of what is coming next: Rodriguez's view of South Florida as a place to live and South Florida as a place to play baseball for the local team.
One is great. The second is open to interpretation.
''Miami is a place where I plan to be for the rest of my life,'' Rodriguez said. ``It's a truly special place. It's part of who I am. It's a great home.
``But I don't know that mixing the two would really work for me. I love Miami. But the idea of playing here has never really crossed my mind.''
And why should it? Rodriguez plays for the most storied franchise in sports. He plays in front of sold-out houses at home and on the road. He plays for a team with loyal fans, a team that rewards that loyalty by investing in players and scouting and its minor-league system.
The Marlins?
They had a great crowd of 30,227 on Friday night and as many seats could be filled for Saturday's game against the Yankees. But after Monday's Opening Day against the Mets, a game that is still not sold out, the team's season will return to the margins of South Florida sports.
We'll check back with the Marlins after the NFL Draft.
And the NBA Draft.
And the Dolphins' third minicamp of the summer.
So it is understandable that A-Rod would never think of playing in the house that Joe Robbie built instead of the house Ruth built -- even though it would make sense if we had a truly competitive, well-financed baseball team to offer.
Rodriguez, well versed in avoiding controversy, did not say Florida is lessened by its enduring limited resources. And the Marlins, well versed in positive spin, say someday when this young team matures and a new stadium is built, they will again be competitive with teams like the Yankees.
''I think we'll be there soon,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ``There's no envy whatsoever. There isn't. I mean it is what it is. Besides, who knows what might happen.''
A-ROD ADMIRES
What will happen when this season begins is Rodriguez will begin collecting checks that will total his 2008 salary at about $27.5 million. The entire Marlins player payroll will be about $20 million.
''It's amazing,'' Rodriguez said of that sad number. ``And they still seem to find a way to be competitive and have a great core of talent. They've made some unbelievable trades. They have some great personnel people here.
``To win two world championship in 11 years is really admirable. I'm very proud of that organization, being from Miami.''
But for Alex Rodriguez, that pride is best felt from a professional distance.
