The Bronx Stop: A Yankees Blog

Bryan Hoch/MLB.com:

It must be that time of year. Derek Jeter has arrived for Spring Training, discussing his relationship with Alex Rodriguez.

Jeter told The Associated Press on Wednesday that A-Rod continues to have the support of his teammates, in the wake of developments that saw Joe Torre's book paint Rodriguez as a needy, insecure presence in the clubhouse.

"Like I've said before, we all support Alex. He's our teammate," Jeter told The AP on Wednesday, after working out at the Yankees' Minor League complex. "It seems like that we keep talking about the same things over and over again.

"It's not like this is a new thing that's come up. The only thing that you'd like to see, going into Spring Training, is you'd like to see everyone talking about the excitement of the season and getting ready for the season. That's the unfortunate thing."

On Wednesday, Jeter said former Yankees bullpen catcher Mike Borzello -- one of Rodriguez's closest friends around the team and a person quoted extensively in the book -- used it in a kidding manner.

"He joked with him," Jeter said. "It wasn't like people on the team. I've never heard someone on the team say that. That never happened."

"Knowing Mr. Torre, he's never going to intentionally try to hurt somebody," Jeter said. "He's like a second father to me. Everyone knows how close we are. He's not going to intentionally go out and do harm to somebody. That's not the kind of person he is."