A-Rod Lawyers-Up

I don’t mean that in the judgmental way cops say it. You’d be nuts not to have a lawyer in Rodriguez’s situation. Lucky for him, he has a good one:

Alex Rodriguez has bolstered his legal team, adding Jay Reisinger, who has represented a number of high-profile baseball players who have been confronted with questions about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

According to several people familiar with the matter, Reisinger will work alongside the lawyer James E. Sharp, who has represented Rodriguez since it was revealed two weeks ago that he had tested positive for steroids in 2003.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing matters related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Rodriguez is not the only high-profile baseball player that Reisinger and Sharp have represented together. They represent Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, who is a government witness in the perjury investigation of Roger Clemens. In 2005, Reisinger and Sharp represented Sammy Sosa when he testified at a hearing before Congress. In each instance, Reisinger was the lead lawyer.

If you’re not immediately familiar with Reisinger’s name, it’s because unlike the Rusty Hardins of the world, Reisinger looks to defend his clients’ interests first rather than be the first one to a television camera. There’s a reason why Andy Pettitte didn’t get ensnared in a Clemens-like drama. And though I generally like Pettitte, I suspect it has nothing to do with his own savvy, skill, and guile. Rather, it is because he has been well-advised to tell the truth when the truth is required, and to otherwise go about his business and let his lawyers handle his representation.

A-Rod is often criticized for being too careful and caring too much about how he is perceived. Well, when you’re in trouble like he is, those are wonderful traits to have, and they have led him to make a smart decision in the lawyer he hired.