These guys have more Drama than Days of Our Lives, and the team hasn't even finished reporting to spring training yet!
First, Daryl Strawberry put down the crack pipe for long enough to declare that Jeter needs to "embrace" Alex in order for the Yankees to fix their "bad chemistry" and get back to winning.
"They've got to come together," Strawberry said Tuesday. "It's time for them to mend their relationship and get back to, like, OK, let's have some fun. We're here in New York together. We're on the greatest team that we possibly could play on. Let's try to win instead of going separate ways. Because I remember them when they were young and they went to dinner together and they did everything together."
His remarks about the Yankees' chemistry were sparked by questions regarding the return of Andy Pettitte, who played with Strawberry on three of the Yankees' World Series championship teams. Pettitte was in New York for a physical Tuesday, and his contract could be finalized Wednesday.
"Hopefully, it will rub off on the team, guys will get more supportive of each other," Strawberry said. "I think the Yankees' problem is that they just don't support each other enough. I mean, back when I played in those years we were winning, we all supported each other, we all cared for each other. I think they need to get back to that, because the talent is there, but everybody seems like they're going their separate ways."
"He's a sensitive guy," Strawberry said. "He's only played in Seattle and Texas. It's not New York. It's a big difference. You don't get booed in Texas. You don't get booed in Seattle when you play there."
Then, to make matters worse, when A-Rod reported to spring training he just had to open his big mouth!
"Let's be honest," Rodriguez said on Monday. "Derek and I were best of friends about 10 or 12 years ago, OK? Best of friends. We're still good friends. We get along well; we cheer hard for each other, he cheers for me. We both more importantly want to win a world championship. Do we go to dinner every night like we used to? No. But we're good friends, we have a lot of respect for each other, and we want to win."
This all started way back in the day when A-Rod originally opened his big mouth to talk crap about Jeter in a magazine interview. A-Rod dissed Jeter in a 2001 Esquire article, saying
"Jeter's been blessed with great talent around him" and "he's never had to lead. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie [Williams] and [Paul] O'Neill," A-Rod was quoted as saying. "You never say, 'Don't let Derek beat you.' He's never your concern."
Until now, A-Rod had denied their relationship had changed. Rodriguez said it was "important" that people heard the truth directly from him.
"Let's make a contract," Rodriguez said after the first Jeter question. "You don't ask me about Derek anymore, and I promise I'll stop lying to all you guys."
This guy is a serious BOZO!
Today Jeter was forced to make a comment about the whole lame issue, but like the professional that he is he really didn't want to get involved with all the drama.
"I don't have a rift with Alex, We go out there. We work together. This is our fourth year to be playing together. It's annoying to hear about it all the time. Everyone assumes they know what our relationship is. Everyone assumes -- they see us on the field, if one person gives another one a look, it's a story. If we're at opposite ends of the bench, people say it's a story."
"How would I characterize it? I would characterize it as it doesn't make a difference," he said. "What we do away from the field, how much time we spend together, really makes no difference when we're playing."
Thats right Jeter! Tell them how it is. And to make matters worse, Bernie still hasn't reported to spring training. Maybe he's just trying to pull at Roger Clemens, but someone tell him that you have to have someone who actually wants to put you on a big league roster before you can try to pull that kind of leverage.
Here's a little chart that might help you all understand A-Rod's situation
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