Quick Hits: Jeter, Bernie and Wrigley Field

Expect a review of the San Diego Padres today at some point, and a few more African-American player profiles.

More news from around baseball…

Jeter’s Turn to Speak: Maintaining they have a fine relationship on the field and in the clubhouse, Derek Jeter resolutely refused to discuss the deterioration of his friendship with Alex Rodriguez away from the ballpark. One day after A-Rod finally acknowledged the pair no longer are best friends, Jeter sat in the same first-base dugout at Legends Field and was asked to respond.

Jeter said: "I don't have a rift with Alex," the captain said Tuesday. "We go out there. We work together. This is our fourth year to be playing together. It's annoying to hear about it all the time. Everyone assumes they know what our relationship is. Everyone assumes -- they see us on the field, if one person gives another one a look, it's a story. If we're at opposite ends of the bench, people say it's a story."

Who cares - just play ball! This is all becoming a bit much now.

Bernie Done? From the AP: Bernie Williams was nowhere to be seen, and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doesn’t think that will change. “It appears he made his decision. That’s all I can take from it,” Cashman said. “I’m assuming at this stage that he’s not coming.” Yankees position players took physicals Monday, a day ahead of their first workout.

Sigh. I hope he comes back, but I can easily see the debate from both sides…

Wrigley With Ads? I don’t consider myself to be a purist at all, but it’s pretty much agreed that Wrigley Field is a baseball cathedral, and for the most part should be untouched.

Well, that’s about to change.

According to the Baltimore Sun:

In a few weeks, Wrigley Field will become the latest stadium to carry the Under Armour apparel logo on its outfield wall. Given that the ivy-covered expanse hasn't featured advertising since the first vines were planted in 1937, some Cubs fans are a bit upset.

"It's not going over real well at all," former Cubs public relations director Bob Ibach said. "There have been a lot of complaints about it because that ivy's kind of sacred."

I think the idea is bad, but sadly, it’s the cost of doing business and something has to pay for the salaries.

I have no idea if the cost of business was passed to the consumer, but I just think it’s wrong to plaster ads on the hallowed outfield walls of Wrigley.