They came out of the woodwork for Selena Roberts‘ 2009 book to try to anonymously trash his reputation, and they’re back out for Ian O’Connor‘s unofficial biography on Derek Jeter, The Captain.
The New York Post detailed parts of the new book, which says the relationship between Jeter and Rodriguez was even icier than many people believed. Jeter had to “fake” his relationship with A-Rod, once wooed a girl whom Rodriguez had his eye on and once glared at his teammate after an infield collision resulted in a dropped ball.
The book goes on to detail A-Rod’s growing “obsession” with Jeter, as well as a jealousy for the way he was treated by former Yankees manager Joe Torre.
“Listen, this has to stop,” general manager Brian Cashman said in the book after the dropped popup, according to the Post. “Everybody in the press box, every team official, everyone watching, they saw you look at the ball on the ground and look at him with disgust like you were saying, ‘That’s your mess, you clean it up.'”
The relationship has since been mended, for the most part, after Rodriguez’s tumultuous 2009 season that included a public admission of using steroids.
Jeter was asked for his thoughts on the book this week in Baltimore, and he didn’t mince words.
“Make sure everyone knows it’s not mine,” Jeter said, according to the Post. “I had nothing to do with that book.”
