Yankees Quietly Take Offense

Whether it’s Troy Percival coming up and in with a fastball against Derek Jeter or Francisco Rodriguez showing a little too much emotion after an exhilarating save, something about Angel closers seems to rub the New York Yankees the wrong way.

For years it was Percival and his knack for backing Yankee hitters off the plate -- former New York bench coach Don Zimmer once called Percival a “headhunter” -- that raised the ire of the Yankees.

Thursday night, Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez seemed to take exception to Francisco Rodriguez’s postgame celebration -- a pirouette off the mound, a number of fist pumps and repeated salutes to the sky -- glaring at the Angel closer as he walked off the field.

Were there harsh words between the two?

“Nope, just watching,” Alex Rodriguez said Friday. “No talking on the field. Never. I don’t do that.” Then, with a sly smile, the Yankee slugger added, “I enjoy watching him. He’s a great player. Wow. It’s something.”

Francisco Rodriguez, who escaped a runner-on-third, one-out jam by striking out Jason Giambi and getting Jorge Posada to ground out, saving the Angels’ 6-5 come-from-behind victory, appeared to bark at Alex Rodriguez but said after the game that no words were exchanged. Still, the 23-year-old closer took exception to A-Rod’s stare-down tactics.

“If Alex has something to stay to me, I’m right here; he knows where I am,” Francisco Rodriguez said. “I was probably a little more pumped because the tying run was on third with one out, and I went with everything I had.... But I’m not trying to be a hot dog. I work hard to do my job, and that’s my passion for the game.”

Percival tried to warn Rodriguez that such passion might rub some the wrong way. “He’ll realize it may come back to haunt him if he does cartwheels off the mound,” Percival said last August.

Rodriguez has no plans to change.

“I respect every player, but when they hit a home run and pump their fist, does anyone say anything? No,” Rodriguez said. “Because I enjoy the way I pitch, should they say something? No. That’s my style of game. If you don’t like it, turn away and don’t watch me.”

There is a fine line between showing too much jubilation and showing up an opponent, but that line depends on one’s perspective.

“If you’re moon-walking or doing cartwheels, yeah, that’s crossing a line,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “But I haven’t seen that yet. What Frankie does is in jubilation of achievement. That’s part of the game. He’s not showing up another player. As a closer, there’s a lot of release when you get it done, just like there’s a lot of frustration when you don’t. Some handle it differently. It depends on the individual.”

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Jered Weaver, the Angels’ first-round pick from 2004, gave up one hit and struck out 10 in seven innings Thursday with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Friday night the right-hander was promoted to double-A Arkansas. Weaver went 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA in seven Class-A starts, striking out 49 and walking seven in 33 innings.... Catcher Bengie Molina, his left wrist sore from absorbing several foul tips over the past week, started at designated hitter for the second game in a row Friday, but Scioscia said Molina should be back behind the plate tonight.... Third baseman Dallas McPherson, on the disabled list because of inflammation in his hip, hit off a tee for the first time Friday, but there is still no timetable for his return.