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."

Associated Press:

"I'm with a new team now," Torre told The Associated Press Friday night after his Los Angeles Dodgers were beaten 4-2 by the Angels. " (Yankees manager) Joe Girardi is a coach for the All-Star Game, and deservedly so. They usually take the local city's managers as coaches. Besides, I'm not sure that if I got a call, I would say yes. Going over there at this point in time, I may serve as more of a distraction than to go over there and help the manager win a ballgame."

National League manager Clint Hurdle, who guided the Colorado Rockies to their first pennant last year, decided not to add Torre to his coaching staff for the game on July 15. Instead he invited San Diego manager Bud Black and New York Mets skipper Willie Randolph, who was a member of Torre's coaching staff in the Bronx for 11 seasons — one of them as bench coach.

"I have no problem with that," Torre said. "I mean, anything that happens at Yankee Stadium is a spectacle, and I'm sure that it's going to be a very special time there. But I have no emotional feelings about it at all."

"I mean, I spent so many days and games in that ballpark and so many special nights — postseason," Torre said. "I mean, I've got a bucket full of memories. The All-Star game certainly is going to be a spectacle, but I'm certainly satisfied with the time I put in there."

Yankees fans will get to cheer Torre's successor, Joe Girardi, who was chosen by AL manager Terry Francona.

We all know how much we hate the Red Sux, but I have to say, it can get just a bit out of hand at times.

Here is Terry Francona speaking about a friendship with Joe Torre that out of necessity lived behind closed doors.

After four years as the Boston Red Sox manager, Terry Francona can finally put his arm around Joe Torre behind the batting cage.

If Francona tried that when both led enemy squads in the intense Red Sox-Yankee rivalry, he risked the wrath of passionate fans who would gasp at such fraternization.

But on Thursday, Torre will be wearing Dodger blue instead of Yankees pinstripes. To add to the switch in sympathies, former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe will start for Los Angeles in Torre’s first visit to Fort Myers since he left New York after last season.

"I’m glad he’s in the National League," Francona said Wednesday. "I feel like I can go put my arm around him tomorrow and nobody’s going to start yelling at me."

He wasn’t just worried about himself. Francona, who exchanged voice mails with Torre during Boston’s postseason run to the World Series championship last year, also was concerned how any public cordiality would reflect on his counterpart.

"I never went out there to the batting cage," Francona said, "not just because of me. I just didn’t want to put him in that position. People don’t want to see that."

"I’m not complaining. I love this," Francona said. "You can downplay the New York stuff all you want. You can’t downplay it. It’s real, it’s great. The games are so great. But it’s OK."

It’s fun" to joke about the rivalry now that he’s out of it, "especially the way people perceive the Red Sox and the Yankees that they hate each other," Torre said. "As a rule, the players always have a great sense of respect for each other."

Bruce Springsteen was the musical guest at the annual Joe Torre Safe At Home dinner. Bruce did a special version of "California Sun" and changed some of the words to fit Torres departure from New York to Los Angeles. There were numerous Yankees in attendance but missing were Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens. Not missing but may as well have been- were Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada who did not comment on their future as Yankees. Former beloved Yankee outfielder, Bernie Williams, also got on the stage and did a song with Springsteen that included a jazz rendition.

Here is video of Bruce singing California Sun to Mr. Torre courtesy of backstreets.com:

Congratulations to Mr. Joe Torre who is now officially the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Congratulations should also be extended to Mr. Don Mattingly, the apparent choice to be Mr. Torre's bench coach. Thank you for everything you have done for the New York Yankee's- The Bronx Stop and Yankee's fans everywhere wish you the very best in your new posts.

Apparently Grady Little is on his way out of L.A. and Joe Torre is on his way there. Reports are indicating that Joe Torre will assume command of the Los Angeles with an announcement coming from Dodger Brass as early as today.

Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that the Dodgers are expected to fire Little:

"Girardi was reportedly Plan A for the Dodgers, while Torre was Plan B. With Girardi's discussions with the Yankees moving ahead into Monday night, the Dodgers may have also changed course."

"The Journal News of Westchester County (N.Y.) reported on Monday night that the Dodgers have decided to fire Little and hire Torre. Other New York and Los Angeles papers reported that such a scenario is likely."

"If Torre is hired, his bench coach in New York, Don Mattingly, would likely move with him to Los Angeles as a coach -- joining the organization that drafted his son, Preston, in 2006."

New York Yankee's manager Joe Torre will be on David Letterman on CBS tonight.

Since I cannot find the YouTube video of the interview yet, here is The Top Ten Reason's Joe Torre Quit from a couple days ago. Video Courtesy of CBS.