The sad thing is, you could almost
call it a typical spring for the New York Yankees. Year in and year out, there always seems to be a controversy surrounding this team. And without dissapointment, another media bonanza came out in Yankee camp, with the discovery and later personal confermation, that Alex Rodriguez used performance enhancing drugs. Now, negative press for A-Rod has been the norm ever since he came to New York. After the ensuing media circus, Rodriguez underwent surgery on his hip to repair a torn labrum. Alot of people say that this is an unnecessary distraction for the Yankees. But I think it may actually be a blessing. With all this attention being paid to A-Rod, it has actually let New York's newest high-paid arrivals to blend in in spring training with relative peace. CC Sabathia, the mammoth lefty that signed a mammoth contract to be the new ace of the Yanks, has settled into pinstriped life without the constant scrutiny that was originally expected. A.J. Burnett, who many thought would do better with Sabathia taking most of the attention away, has received even less press, and has quietly dominated in Spring play. And it seems almost forgotten that Mark Teixiera is now manning first base in the Bronx. The media entourage that usually follows any new New York acquisition has been deflected elsewhere, and has allowed these three players to blend in nicely in the clubhouse, without the hoopla. This is far from the norm, and the Yanks might actually benefit from A-Rod dominating the press, which is nothing new. But, it is no secret that the New York tabloids have the attention span of a 5 year-old on a sugar high. So as soon as Sabathia loses his first game, Tex makes an error and Burnett has his first bout with pain, the quiet will end quicker than President Bush's popularity. But hey, that's New York for you, right?
