ONLY DEREK JETER CAN SAVE ALEX RODRIGUEZ

It’s almost like they've come full circle.  Now veterans, the 2 Yankee infielders are both recovering from injuries at the same time. Derek Jeter...Alex Rodriguez, once young friends, then alleged enemies are still not back in the Bronx.  Lately, and I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed, they’ve been hanging around each other... A LOT!  I mean sure, it’s just business, after all, the plan is to get both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez back to the Yankees and their "timelines" are sort of close to each other. But after a week of Alex being told to "Shut the F---Up", it almost seems as though Jeter said "You got a friend in me", seeing all the hell Alex has gone thorough lately. Maybe he's seeing how stories come out about Al coming back this season, just to retire next. Seeing the ESPN story alleging that ARod has told Yankee brass he may NOT return...read HERE is just the last straw for his "friend" (I don’t believe that ESPN drool by the way, but that's my opinion and that’s another post for another time.)

So what does media do once they’ve exhausted every Yankee player with questions about Alex Rodriguez and stop tip-toeing around "sources" that Alex may or may not know?  They ask Derek Jeter, the guy, who, would normally give you nothing when it comes to his team or himself.  But there has been an interesting development happening lately.  Jeter IS talking, and he’s talking about Alex Rodrigeuz. And not to jump in with the media and give you ever moment about their day, but Derek Jeter is hanging with ARod, for batting practice and getting transported to and from the facility in Tampa.  It’s strange for Jeter, who always appears to be private and reserved when it comes to anything he’s doing as to not have a rush of paparazzi chasing him while he’s preparing for a return.  But you know what? He’s doing it, he’s out there, he’s chatting it up and he’s actually hanging with Alex.

As USA Today reports HERE, “Derek Jeter has joined teammate Alex Rodriguez in hitting against minor league pitching." According to LoHud and originally reported by the Associated Press (HERE), "Jeter drove A-Rod to the team’s nearby minor-league complex, according to an Associated Press report..." 

If you dig deeper, Derek has no problem this week talking about Alex and his progress. According to LoHud HERE, Jeter told the press of Alex, "'He looked good,' Jeter said. 'Alex works extremely hard. He’s working hard now to get back.'”  Jeter didn't have to say anything, but he didn't. Instead, he protected his teammate putting the retirement rumors to rest... for now.

People hang on Jeter's every word, even if they are not sure if Jeter is telling the truth or not.  Now normally, many would dismiss Jeter's comments about Alex because normally, Jeter would leave holes in his statements about another player, leaving us guessing...but he didn't. It's my conclusion that knowing what we know about the problems involved with Alex and Biogenesis, Jeet and Al are finding a common ground here.  I see Alex confiding in Jeet.  I see Jeet seeing a man beaten down and he's willing to lend an ear, or a hand with helping this lost boy through his minefield.  Don’t get it twisted, Jeet avoids trouble and has done it brilliantly for 18 years, but sometimes the “old days” creep in and before Alex and Jeter were rivals, they were friends.  

Look, call me a big sap.  Call me "exhausted" reading about how Alex may or may not come back and the looming  suspension and whatever.  I'm here to tell you that age does something to people.  People start to reflect and think a lot. I know I do.  "Beefs" you may have had in the past fade away sometimes and that’s what I think may be happening here.

Now the die hard Jeter fans just cringed. “Why in the world would Jeter help out this loser?” I didn’t say that exactly. Maybe he's "guiding", not helping.  All I’m saying is when the world crumbling around someone you’ve known for a long time, be it at their own devices or someone else's… sometimes a familiar face is important.  Now they can work together to get back, build alittle confidence, bounce ideas off each other and get back the Bronx… together.

Will they be best friends again? That’s their business. This whole piece is based on me observing behavior and being a big sap. I mean, if I’m Jeet, I just may do what I’m suggesting.  

Alex Rodriguez is not going to have an easy time getting back. Once he does, and once he has his first 0-4 day, he will be crucified... by the press, by the fans.  It's been a tough road, tougher than any road a player as been down.  Much of it was self inflicted... much of it not.  There's no question ARod is a Lightening-Rod, but now maybe... just maybe, Jeter can save Alex.  It's literally the last stop in the man's troubled career in pinstripes. With Jeter's squeaky clean image, maybe he can save him from some of the torture and ridicule.  At the end of the day, Jeter may avoid trouble, but it's my opinion that sometimes you just need to reach out a hand and say "Come on bud, follow me", especially when one guy has no issues and other is just getting beaten up. That's what a Captain would do... I believe that's what Jeter is doing now.  At the end of the day, we're all human beings here... and while this may seem unusual, it actually makes alot of sense, don't you think? 

Hey, that's my take anyway. Enjoy your Saturday.

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