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NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball is investigating him, the Yankees are angry with him and Alex Rodriguez is miffed. A-Rods strained relationship with his team hit another low on Thursday when he kept pushing to be activated from the disabled list and New York kept pushing back. He wound up having a lawyer join in when the sides discussed how to rehabilitate his slightly injured leg. Already a target of Major League Baseballs drug investigation, the third baseman angered the Yankees when he obtained a second medical opinion on his strained left quadriceps this week without informing the team in writing, a step required by the sports collective bargaining agreement. The Yankees intend to discipline him, most likely with a fine. "Do you trust the Yankees?" Rodriguez was asked Thursday during an interview on WFAN radio. A-Rods answer was telling. "Um. You know, Id rather not get into that," he responded. "Im just frustrated that Im not on the field tomorrow." Sidelined since hip surgery in January, Rodriguez issued a statement saying he wanted to be activated for Fridays homestand opener against Tampa Bay. But that wasnt in the Yankees plans. "We agreed that a protocol would be followed that is necessary when you return somebody from a quad injury," general manager Brian Cashman said during a conference call with the teams beat writers. "That protocol will include further treatment, which hell continue tomorrow with some light conditioning, and then expand to more functional work from the 27th through the 31st. Our hope, as well as Alexs hope, without any setbacks or new complaints, that would put him in a situation to have either a simulated game or a rehab game on Aug. 1." A-Rod went public with his disenchantment. "Obviously Im very, very disappointed," he said. "I know I can help my team. Obviously, Im frustrated but I agreed to this five-day plan, and on we go." He repeatedly said he told the Yankees he was ready to return. "Tomorrow night would be the perfect night to come back and get in the lineup," he said. Whether he gets back on a big league field any time soon or ever plays for the Yankees again remains to be seen. MLB has been investigating Rodriguez as part of its probe of the closed Biogenesis clinic in Florida accused in media reports of distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs. A suspension appears likely, but Rodriguez could ask the players association to contest a drug penalty -- making it possible he might not have to serve any time until next year. He is among the dozen or so players under investigation by MLB; he has said in the past that he used PEDs from 2001-03 while with Texas but maintained he has not used them since. The Yankees intend to discipline A-Rod for seeking a second medical opinion without their permission, a person familiar with the teams deliberations said. The exact penalty had not been determined, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no statements were authorized. A fine appeared to be the most likely option. Meantime, Rodriguezs return from hip surgery has created more drama than most players experience in their entire careers. Seemingly days away from rejoining the Yankees, Rodriguez injured a leg last weekend and was sent to New York for an MRI on Sunday. Team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad diagnosed a grade 1 strain, the least severe level. Dr. Michael Gross, the orthopedic director of The Sports Medicine Institute at Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center, was retained by Rodriguez and said on WFAN on Wednesday that he examined an MRI and could not detect an injury. Gross, who never examined Rodriguez personally, was reprimanded this year by New Jerseys board of medical examiners over steroid prescriptions, fined $30,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in costs. Rodriguez was re-examined Thursday by Dr. Daniel Murphy, the Yankees orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, Fla., who confirmed Ahmads diagnosis. Cashman said Murphy determined there was "clearly some improvement." Yankees President Randy Levine and Cashman got on a 15-minute conference call with Tim Lentych, the head athletic trainer at the player development complex in Tampa; Rodriguez; and Jordan Siev, co-head of the U.S. commercial litigation group at Reed Smith, a law firm used by A-Rod pal Jay-Z. "Just want to make sure that everything is documented properly," Rodriguez said. Rodriguezs statement infuriated Yankees management, which already had told him it determines his return schedule. "I think the Yanks and I crossed signals," the three-time AL MVP said in the statement issued by spokesman Ron Berkowitz. "I dont want any more mix-ups. Im excited and ready to play and help this team win a championship. I feel great and Im ready and want to be in the lineup Friday night. Enough doctors, lets play." Rodriguez, who turns 38 Saturday, earns $153,005 each day during the season, and while he remains on the disabled list much of the money is covered by insurance. Rodriguez has hit .200 (8 for 40) with two homers and eight RBIs in 13 minor league games. About a week before he began the injury rehab assignment on July 2, Rodriguez tweeted that the surgeon who operated on his hip "gave me the best news - the green light to play games again!" Cashman memorably responded: "Alex should just shut the ... up." Rodriguez said hed like to rehab with the major league team, as captain Derek Jeter is doing as he comes back from a quadriceps injury. But the Yankees seem to regard A-Rod as toxic. "Obviously, Im an employee," he said. "I have to follow my bosses." What is a good website to buy sports jerseys . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. 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LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Paul added 19 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago 102-95 on Saturday night, snapping the Bulls four-game winning streak.Maurice Speights scored 11 of his season-high 16 points in the fourth for the Clippers, whose only two losses have come at home to Oklahoma City and Memphis.Speights biggest assist came with 49 seconds left. Jamal Crawford missed a 3-pointer and Speights got the rebound. He fed Crawford for a driving reverse layup that restored the Clippers lead to five points.Dwyane Wade led Chicago with 28 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, making 11 of 12 free throws.But the Bulls made just one field goal over the final 6:30, keeping it close on seven consecutive free throws, including five by Butler. Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer to draw them to 97-95 with 44 seconds left.Butler fouled Griffin with 20 seconds to go and he made both for a 99-95 lead. Wade missed a pullup jumper before Taj Gibson and coach Fred Hoiberg were hit with technical fouls in the closing seconds.Wade scored 10 of the Bulls first 12 points to start the second quarter, pushing their lead to 19 points before the Clippers suddenly awakened.They outscored Chicago 21-7 to head into halftime trailing 52-47.Griffin scored eight points, highlighted by his dunk over Robin Lopez off a bounce pass in the lane from Paul. Griffin elevated, with his left hand on Lopezs shoulder, and slammed the ball down, drawing a foul. Wades wife, Gabrielle Union, grimaced from her fourth-row seat while the crowd roared.Lucc Mbah a Moute followed with a 3-pointer, one of three by the Clippers in their spurt.ddddddddddddTIP-INSBulls: They shot 68 percent in the first quarter, their best in a quarter this season. ... They are 0-3 in the first game of a back-to-back and 1-1 in the second game.Clippers: Griffin has scored 20-plus points in seven straight games. ... Since their home opener on Oct. 30, they have played 12 games in 20 days, most in the league in that span. They dont have two days off in between games until Dec. 5-6. ... C Diamond Stone was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League after appearing in three games for the Clippers. Stone was the 40th overall pick in the June draft after playing one season at Maryland. ... F Wesley Johnson missed his fifth straight game with a left heel contusion.RONDO RETURNSRajon Rondo returned to Chicagos starting lineup after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle and bronchitis. He just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.Hoiberg said the team missed Rondos energy.Hes done a nice job of throwing the ball ahead, getting the ball to our wings where we can attack or getting the ball to the post, Hoiberg said.UP NEXTBulls: They stay in LA to play the Lakers on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back, their third of the season. They swept the Lakers last season for the second time in three years.Clippers: Host Toronto on Monday before departing on a six-game trip, their longest of the season. ' ' '