Though spring training has not even started, drama has already begun to stir down in Tampa.

Alex Rodriguez made statements to the press that he and Derek Jeter are no longer as close as they used to be. The press, of course, released a bunch of articles on the issue, which has now died down as quickly as it started. My opinion on this: what’s the point?

As long as it is not effecting the way Jeter or A-Rod play baseball, it shouldn’t matter how often they take each other out to dinner.

Fox Sports writer Ken Rosenthal took his own opinion on the issue, saying, ‘The ongoing Alex Rodriguez/Derek Jeter catfight is always good for drama, in an Angelina Jolie/Jennifer Aniston sort of way.’

He later went on to make a point about how the possible loss of Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Joe Torre could signal the end of the Yankee dynasty. The Yankees have had enough disappointments and rough postseasons the past few years, which has brought speculation and criticism from many. The last thing I, or any Yankee fan, wants to hear is some die-hard Mets or Red Sox fan referring to A-Rod and Jeter as if they were part of the gossip in Us Weekly.

Though I believe the ‘catfight’ between the two players is insignificant, it’s important that they work together on the field, which brings me to recent tension between Carl Pavano and Mike Mussina. Mussina recently expressed concerns to the press about the dedication of Pavano to the team.

‘[Pavano] is only looking at it from his perspective,’ Mussina said. ‘We’re looking at it from our perspective. We want him to go out there and show us that he wants to do this.’

Mussina claims he is not the only Yankee to feel this way, and I think his concerns are justified. Pavano has not pitched a Major League game since 2005, and with an array of injuries, who knows what will become of him in the 2007 season. Shortly after Moose made his comments, he and Pavano were seen talking on the field about Mussina’s concerns and things looked like they were cleared up in later statements made by both pitchers.

Comparing the two situations between A-Rod and Jeter and Pavano and Mussina, I think it is safe to say that the inclusion of the press in these issues is unnecessary, especially between A-Rod and Jeter. A baseball player on a team that has high expectations, such as the Yankees, does not need more added stress than he already has. Mussina running to the press about concerns with Pavano does not help Pavano get back any quicker or stronger after being injured for so long. Granted Mussina’s concerns are legitimate, but as Pavano said later to the press:

‘I think his comments should have been between me and him, and they definitely got into the media. He was just expressing frustration.’

The importance of all this is that each player should be on the same level. Of course not everyone can get along, but if the Yankees want a championship, which they rightly do, little insignificant nuisances must be overlooked. It is also important that if a player has an issue, he should get it out before the season starts and do so behind closed doors. Baseball is truly a mental sport and every single player needs his head in gear.

Ken Rosenthal wrote something that no one wants to believe. This is not the end of the dynasty ‘ this is the just the beginning.