"The healthy confidence Alex Rodriguez carried into Spring Training last year prompted at least one observer to wonder aloud if the Yankees third baseman was heading toward a reprise of his 2007 American League MVP Award campaign.

There was a bounce in Rodriguez's step, a viciousness to his swings, and hitting coach Kevin Long didn't think a huge year was out of the question. That obviously didn't work out, but the Yankees expect Rodriguez to come back healthier and on a mission when camp opens next month.

"I think the most disappointing thing was, coming into Spring Training, how good he felt and how everything was there," Long said. "Once we got going into the season, it just seemed to kind of fall apart on him. It's only going to make him stronger, it's only going to make him better." "