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Shortstop vs. Shortstop

From Radar Magazine- who didn’t see this coming?:

On June 20, after a throwing error from Jeter to Rodriguez handed the Yankees a 5-4 loss to the last-place Tampa Bay Devil Rays, a TV producer says the sluggers came to blows in the clubhouse.

“I was doing an interview in the locker room and saw them go at it,” says the source. “A-Rod walked past Jeter’s locker and mumbled something about his throw, then Jeter told him to go fuck himself and all hell broke lose. Their teammates were pulling them away from each other.”

Like much of what’s transpired in the Bronx this summer, I predicted this, last October.

And speaking of Yankee malcontents: Much ink has been spilled this offseason about the Terrell Owens situation. But imagine if T.O. had done what he’s doing not once, but four times, with four different teams, over the course of his career. Then he’d be Gary Sheffield.

As Buster Olney pointed out Thursday, Gary’s had quite a little racket going all throughout his 15-year, 6-team career, that youngsters would be wise to emulate: 1. If you want to be traded, slack off until the team (Brewers, Padres) gets rid of you. 2. If you don’t want to be traded, threaten to hold up the multi-player trade until your demands for a raise and contract extension from your new team (Dodgers, Braves) are met. 3. If you’re about to sign with your “dream” team (Yankees), hold up the deal the day it’s supposed to be signed, and demand more money. And 4. When that team even thinks about trading you, first talking about refusing to report to your new team, then hint that you won’t try hard- even though (unlike both instances of 2) you do NOT have a no-trade clause.

What a classy guy, that Sheff. Though thankfully, he's played for the Braves and Yankees, and will retire without winning a championship with either.

UPDATE: On the fight, LilB says:

“heh heh .... yeah "fought" in the locker room that's also what parents tell little kids dogs are doing when they are really fucking.”

UPDATE II: The Yankees today released middle relievers Mike Stanton and Paul Quantrill. Yea, that’ll get ‘em back in first place. We'll know Steinbrenner's really serious the day he cuts Tanyon Sturtze.

Posted by Stephen Silver at July 1, 2005 01:18 AM