MINNEAPOLIS - Alex Rodriguez raised some eyebrows during his recent appearance on "Goin' Deep," a nationally televised baseball show on Fox Sports Net.

Handed a seemingly softball question by host Leslie Maxie-Leonard - "What's more important, winning or the money?" - Rodriguez, after a pause, gave a surprising answer.

"I think the money at this point is very important to me because I want to take care of my family and the people that I love. Winning is a close second . . . but I have to look out for my family first."

Rodriguez, who makes $4,362,500 this season and will be perhaps the most coveted free agent in baseball history when the season ends, now believes he should have expanded his answer.

"That question was a no-win situation," he said. "You want to be as candid as possible. If you say winning is more important, they call you fake. If you say money, they call you greedy.

"What I was trying to illustrate with that answer is that at this point in my career, because I haven't had the same financial reward as other veteran players, financial is very important. If you told me would you rather take $40 million or be a bum in the street and win a championship, I'm going to say, `I'm taking the 40 million.'

"But if you tell me, am I willing to take `X' amount less and win a championship, absolutely. I would defer money, I would take a lot less money. Trust me, there's no one that wants a ring in a worse way than I do.

"I want to be as truthful as possible to my people and you guys (media). I'd rather sound a little selfish than sound fake. I don't want to ever sound fake, and I don't want to be misleading to my people."

Notes

-- Larry Bowa, the Mariner third-base coach, and Pete Rose were the most glaring no-shows for yesterday's ceremony in Philadelphia honoring the 1980 World Series championship team.

Bowa says he stayed away because of his obligation to the Mariners and not because of a feud with Bill Giles, owner of the Phillies, or his admitted displeasure at not being invited last year to a ceremony commemorating the top 10 Phillies moments of the century.

-- The Mariners have dispatched special-assignment scout Woody Woodward to Nashville to look at left-handed-hitting second baseman Todd Walker, who is playing for the Twins' Class AAA team in Salt Lake City.

How the runs scored

Mariner fourth: Cameron singled to center. A.Rodriguez doubled to left, Cameron to third. Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Huskey, Cameron scored. Olerud walked on a full count. Buhner fouled out to pitcher Milton. On Milton's wild pitch, A.Rodriguez to third, Olerud to second. Bell singled to center, A.Rodriguez scored, Olerud scored. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 3, Twins 0.

Mariner sixth: A.Rodriguez singled to center. Martinez doubled to left, A.Rodriguez to third. Olerud grounded out, pitcher Milton to second baseman Canizaro to first baseman Ortiz, A.Rodriguez scored, Martinez to third. Buhner singled to center, Martinez scored. Hawkins pitching. Bell singled to center, Buhner to second. Oliver singled to right, Buhner to third, Bell to second. McLemore walked on a full count, Buhner scored. Henderson grounded into a double play. 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 6, Twins 0.

Mariner seventh: Lincoln pitching. Cameron singled to right. A.Rodriguez grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Maxwell to second baseman Canizaro, Cameron out. Martinez singled to center, A.Rodriguez to second. Olerud doubled to center, A.Rodriguez scored, Martinez to third. Buhner singled to right, Martinez scored, Olerud to third. Bell popped out. Oliver flied out. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mariners 8, Twins 0.

Twins seventh: Guzman fouled out to first baseman Olerud. Lawton flied out to left fielder Gipson. Coomer infield single to third. Ortiz tripled to left, Coomer scored. Huskey homered to left on a 3-1 count, Ortiz scored. Mesa pitching. LeCroy struck out. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Mariners 8, Twins 3.

Mariner eighth: Bergman pitching. McLemore walked. Gipson doubled to center, McLemore to third. Cameron grounded out. A.Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Lawton, McLemore scored. Martinez singled to left, Gipson scored. Mabry pinch-running for Martinez. Olerud doubled to left, Mabry to third. Ibanez doubled to center, Mabry scored, Olerud scored. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Mariners 12, Twins 3.

Farm report

AAA: Memphis 5, Tacoma (31-38) 1

AA: New Britain 9, New Haven (36-27) 3

A: Michigan 5, Wisconsin (37-30) 4

A: Lake Elsinore 18, Lancaster (39-30) 6