Steinbrenner ‘disappointed’ in A-Rod

NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez has let down Hal Steinbrenner.

The New York Yankees’ managing general partner on Monday expressed his disappointment in Rodriguez’s behavior at times during the star third baseman’s career in pinstripes.

“There have no doubt been times when we’ve been disappointed in him and we’ve conveyed that to him and he understands that,” Steinbrenner said. “But look, everybody’s human and everybody makes mistakes. If you’ve got a guy over the course of 10 years, there’s going to be times any of us make mistakes.”

Steinbrenner spoke one day after Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told ESPN he didn’t think Rodriguez could live up to his record $275 million, 10-year contract that runs through 2017.

“It’s a big contract,” Steinbrenner said. “We all hope he’s going to act like a Yankee and do the best to live up to it.”

Rodriguez, 37, has been as much a lightning rod for back-page fodder and the subject of Major League Baseball investigations as he has been a force on the field since joining the Yankees in 2004.

Rodriguez was benched during last season’s playoffs and has been ridiculed for repeatedly failing in October. In 2009, he admitted using steroids while with the Texas Rangers. The Miami New Times reported this year that Rodriguez bought human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing substances in recent years from a now-closed clinic near his offseason home. His name has also been mentioned in connection with illegal poker games.

But Rodriguez has also won two MVP awards with New York, been selected to seven All-Star teams and practically carried the club to its most recent World Series title, in 2009.