A-rescue

What a difference a few weeks make.

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball had this message for Alex Rodriguez and agent Scott Boras: Shame on you.

Boras announced during Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night that A-Rod was opting out of the final three seasons of his contract with the New York Yankees. The timing left baseball officials livid, and Boras apologized Monday evening, just after Rodriguez filed with the players’ association and became a free agent for the first time since 2000.

“We were very disappointed that Scott Boras would try to upstage our premier baseball event of the season with his announcement,” Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said Monday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

That was then, this is now.

Major League Baseball officials suddenly have a new rooting interest. His name is Alex Rodriguez.

Officials don’t like what they’re hearing about the contract Rodriguez is negotiating with the Yankees — 10 years for about $270 million. But they like another number associated with A-Rod: 518.

That’s the number of home runs he has, and when he hits 245 more — in six years, perhaps — he will supplant Barry Bonds in the record book. That is what officials will root for.

Who says Alex isn't "clutch?"