The Post has some excerpts from the new Ian O’Connor book on Derek Jeter:
Jeter, who prized poise and selflessness, dismissed A-Rod and his diva-like behavior.
And when fans and rival players criticized A-Rod, Jeter deferred instead of defending his teammate.General Manager Brian Cashman noticed this and asked Jeter to “fake it” with A-Rod.
“You’ve got to lead them all, the ones you like and the ones you don’t,” he told him. He asked him to appeal to Yankee fans on A-Rod’s behalf.“I can’t tell the fans what to do,” Jeter countered.
A-Rod’s obsession with Jeter continued, the book says. He constantly asked players and team officials about Jeter — down to which charity he was currently supporting.
It all came to a head during a Yankee loss in August 2006 to Baltimore.An easy pop-up hung in the air between A-Rod and Jeter. Both players closed in and Jeter bumped into A-Rod, knocking the ball out of his glove. Jeter shot A-Rod a withering look.
The gesture did not go unnoticed. Cashman pulled Jeter aside and ordered him to knock it off.“Listen, this has to stop,” Cashman said. “Everybody in the press box, every team official, everyone watching, they saw you look at the ball on the ground and look at him with disgust like you were saying, ‘That’s your mess, you clean it up.’ ”
A-Rod also felt betrayed by manager Joe Torre, who players said added fuel to the fiery feud.
“He would never call Jeter on anything, but he’d have no problem doing it to Alex,” one player told the author.
I am not sure how to feel about all of this. Many of us were critical of Jeter’s leadership during the feud era, and it is somewhat gratifying to see those complaints and suspicions independently confirmed. It seems that Jeter allowed his issue with Alex to infect the clubhouse, enough so that the front office felt it necessary to get involved.
That said, I think the context of the book’s release is important. If the book had been released in March of 2009, people would be highlighting the more pro-Jeter elements of the feud. But A-Rod’s dramatic shift in popularity combined with Jeter’s declining play and unseemly contract negotiations have made for an open season on Derek Jeter. This shapes how every quote and anecdote is interpreted in the media and by fans, and frames our perception of the two players. Additionally, books like this are written to tell the most interesting story, often without regard for what may be the whole truth or the fairest telling of the tale. I would not be surprised if the picture that the book paints is entirely one sided, and I would take everything in it with a grain of salt.
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8 Responses to New Book Highlights Jeter – Rodriguez Rift
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TIQ IQ
Wonderful and objective writing there Moshe, you don’t see a lot of that all the time. Just absolutely great points!
books like this are written to tell the most interesting story, often without regard for what may be the whole truth or the fairest telling of the tale. I would not be surprised if the picture that the book paints is entirely one sided, and I would take everything in it with a grain of salt.
Especially coming from Ian O’Connor, who seems to spin everything he sees into something inflammatory. But I can’t say I haven’t heard these same stories from a million other places, just with less detail added. I do think there was something to this at one time, but it seems to be in the past.
I’m more concerned with how there’s new, direct quotes from Cashman involved than any of the actual ‘facts’ regarding the Alex/Derek history rehash.
For someone who still can’t let Torre’s book betrayal go, he really should not be stirring a settled pot in this manner.
Listen first off excellent perceptive and concise analysis there. That being said I think your perception is being colored by a desire to be contrary. I know because I myself am a devils advocate addict. Fact is any normal person clearly saw at the time that jeters behavior was unseemly immature and decisive. I find myself more forgiving of rodriguez and his insecurity than jeter and his passive aggressive grudge holding. I hatred it then and it drastically altered my perception of him. Not someone I would want as a friend.
I love Jeter, and feel dirty questioning his leadership … but you really don’t need inside info to know how poorly Jeter handled the A-Rod situation. While the media and fans were crucifying A-Rod and stirring up the Jeter rift to inflame any already bad situation, the Captain did nothing. It was apparent to anyone paying attention. All he had to do was spit out some B.S. and it would have been over. He could have simmered in the locker room all he wanted and dealt with it in private however he wanted. Regardless of whether his personal issues were justified, he put them ahead of what was best for the team. If this were a player that was not the captain – and not all about winning, then perhaps it would not be as big of a deal. But it definitely tarnished Jeter’s image in my eyes (and I imagine many others feel the same way).
I realize O’Connor is writing a book on Jeter, which is why this is coming out now, but to me it just feels like old news which has been buried already. It was pretty obvious the two of them didn’t get along, but once the Yankees won the series in ’09, it didn’t really matter anymore. Arod has his championship now, and Jeter fans can’t point to him as a being a choker anymore.
If there is anything to be taken from this, it’s Cashman calling out Jeter. Perhaps those two have never been all that close, and that could explain a bit of the open verbal jabs in the offseason.
I hadn’t thought of that angle. If you were the gm and saw jeter repeatedly praised ford his intangibles and clutchy gritty leadership it would bother you when you knew he played a huge role in creating a toxic clubhouse
Good point BP. Especially if you as the GM, gave him an order which he directly disobeyed. I can see Cashman holding some hostility in that case.