One of the biggest items to come out of last week's All-Star Game was the report that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez wants to play for the Dominican Republic team in next Spring's World Baseball Classic.

The news was met with mixed reactions in part because representatives for A-Rod say he has not made a decision.

Here's what he said to a television station, according to an ESPN Deportes report:

"I want to represent my country, I am going to play for the Dominican team."

Later, he said, "I was born in Washington Heights (New York), but my parents are 100-percent Dominicans."

Trouble is, the initial report did not identify the television station, prompting eyebrows to rise all over this country and others in Latin America.

But according to Enrique Rojas, the most renowned baseball writer in the Dominican Republic, all of the reports are true.

"He told me and I believe him," Rojas said when asked about Rodriguez's desire to play for the Dominican Republic. "It's true. It's true."

Rojas interviewed Rodriguez for Univision television and later wrote a piece about his comments for the publication, "Hoy."

In the "Hoy" piece, Rojas writes that Rodriguez said, "I am going to play for the Dominican Republic, and I hope it makes the Dominicans feel proud."

"I want to say this very strongly. I am Dominican," he added.

Strong words. Very strong, but after the All-Star Game, Rodriguez said "It would be a privilege for me to represent the U.S., and it would be a privilege for me to represent the Dominican Republic. Right now, it's in Bud Selig's hands to say what the rules are, and whatever they are, I'm going to follow."

Indeed, Major League Baseball will have the final say over the makeup of the rosters, but will give players with dual citizenship the right to choose which country to represent. According to the ESPN Deportes' Web site, the Dominican constitution grants citizenship rights to children born out of the country to Dominican parents, and Rodriguez qualifies.

"I have to follow the rules. I wasn't aware of them when I talked [to the media]," Rodriguez said. "I have not decided anything. It's in Bud's hands right now. ... He told me that it's really in his hands and not in mine. I was corrected."

But the fact that Rodriguez expressed his willingness to represent the Dominican Republic, regardless of his knowledge of the rules showed many Spanish media outlets his desire to be recognized as Latino. Among the Spanish media, Rodriguez is sometimes criticized (unfairly) for being too American.

It's a challenge most Hispanic Americans face, but it can be compounded with star status like A-Rod's. In the U.S.A, he can be viewed as not being American enough. In the Dominican, he is not Dominican enough.

His premature declaration also puts baseball in a unique position. One country -- either the U.S.A. or the Dominican Republic -- will be disappointed that Rodriguez is not on the team.

It's out of Rodriguez's hands -- which some conspiracy theorists believe he wanted all along -- and he is going to come out looking great either way.

Rodriguez is sitting in the catbird seat. Regardless of which team he plays for next March, his desire to play for the Dominican team is enough.

He said it!: "I'm just here to be Vlad's batboy." -- Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, joking about appearing in Tuesday's All-Star Game with Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.

Mexico: Mexico's Professional Baseball Hall of Fame (Salon de la Fama) will induct five new members into its halls during a ceremony in the gardens of the Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma in Monterrey on Monday.

Enrique Aguilar, Herminio Dominguez, Cecilio Acosta, Rafael García and Alvaro Lebrija will be enshrined for their participation in the Mexican Leagues, capping off a day of festivities.

The Salon de la Fama is divided into the Hall of Immortals, a history section, an interactive area and an exhibition hall. There are 182 inductees, 80 of which are still alive. Broken down, there are 134 Mexicans, 16 Cubans, 11 players from North America, and one Puerto Rican in the Salon de la Fama.

By the numbers: Rafael Palmeiro, as of July 17, 2005

Games: 2,810

Doubles: 583

Hits: 3,003

Home runs: 566

RBIs: 1,826

Batting average: .289

Age: 40 (he turns 41 on September 24)

Angel in infield: Los Angeles Angels shortstop Orlando Cabrera and his wife Eliana spent the All-Star break in Colombia visiting family and giving back to his community.

The infielder donated $200,000 to repair streets in Los Caracoles, his old neighborhood, on behalf of the Orlando Cabrera Foundation and said he plans to invest in the building of a hospital, specifically an emergency care facility, in the neighborhood.

"I just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to be with my people," he said.

Cabrera was activated from the disabled list Saturday after being sidelined since June 26 with a right elbow strain. He hit .243 in his first 71 games for the Angels after signing with them as a free agent during the offseason.