Loading ...New York Yankees Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez didn't really take the bait from the new skipper in Boston.
Yesterday, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine had some comments to make on Jeter's flip play in the 2001 playoffs and that Rodriguez was "beat up" by Jason Varitek in a brawl between the two teams back in 2004.
Today in Yankee land that was all the reporters were asking the two superstars at Steinbrenner Field. Both players were somewhat puzzled by all the conversation of something that happened years ago, especially Jeter.
"I don't think anything. I really don't. I have no thoughts whatsoever," Jeter said to MLB.com. "Who cares? Why are we talking about this? They must be bored over there, huh? I don't understand. Think about it. We don't practice it? We do. You guys see it. What else can I say. I was out of position? I was where I was supposed to be."
The Captain was trying not to "stir the pot" and thinks the rivalry, which some consider the best in sports, doesn't need anymore attention than it's already getting. Jeter told ESPN in an on camera interview that Bobby V. can have his opinion and he really has no reaction to it.
Rodriguez gave a small statement to beat reporters Wednesday morning before proceeding to his workouts.
"Like I said, I'm not going to win many battles here when it comes to words, especially against Bobby," Rodriguez told reporters. "But I will tell you this: I got my new press secretary that should be landing in the next couple days, Reggie Jackson, so I'll let him handle that. All right? Thanks."
Ironically, today the old Boston manager Terry Francona, who now works for ESPN, was in the Yankee clubhouse visiting with players. Naturally the press wanted his take on the Valentine comments on the Jeter flip.
"I'm sure some of that's in jest. I don't know. I wasn't there, and I'm out of it," Francona told the media. "To me, it's not important whether the Yankees practice that play or not. The fact of the matter is that he's good enough to make that play. You could practice that play until you're blue in the face, and he's probably still the only guy who makes that play. That play was part of baseball lore." ."
Jeter in turn sent some respect right back at Francona saying he appreciated the way he managed and enjoyed playing against him. Jeter went on to say he always had tremendous amount of respect for him.
Valentine could have been saying some of this stuff to distract the media from the problems he has in his own clubhouse. Like Jeter said this AL East rivalry doesn't need any unnecessary fuel to a fire that is always smoldering.
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Jeter and A-Rod don’t need to get caught up in Bobby V. games. Will see how great a manager he is with Boston. For someone who hasn’t won anything big he sure likes to talk a good game. Overrated as a manager!
Really loved the way in which both players replied.