Derek Jeter’s bat isn’t the only thing ticking off the Yankees’ front office.
General manager Brian Cashman, team president Randy Levine, general partner Hal Steinbrenner and Jeter all participated in a conference call yesterday to clear the tension after a disappointing weekend on and off the field.
Team brass were reportedly unhappy that Jeter, the team captain, backed Jorge Posada’s decision to ask out of Saturday’s lineup against Boston. Jeter defended the designated hitter’s right to time off and said Posada didn’t owe his teammates an apology.
Jeter told reporters before last night’s 6-5 loss in Tampa that he and the front office were all square.
“We’re all on the same page,” said Jeter, who went 0-for-3 in the Yankees’ sixth straight loss. “This is over with. Everything is good. It’s a non-issue.”
Everything recently, though, has appeared rather lousy for Jeter. The 36-year-old hit a career-worst .270 last season then played out ugly contract negotiations in public. Jeter went 0-for-4 in Sunday’s loss to the Red Sox, who have taken five of six from their AL East rivals.
“You go through eight and a half months together, there are things that are going to happen,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We’ll get this righted.”
