TAMPA – The Yankees acted in lockstep politeness regarding news that the Red Sox will hand out world championship rings in front of them on April 11. The Yankees, from owner George Steinbrenner on down, said they have no problems with Boston’s decision to present the rings to players and coaches at Boston’s home opener. Of course, the Yankees are the opponent that day, and the Sox have been sniping at Alex Rodriguez all spring.
Mostly, the Yankees have held their tongue throughout, and yesterday was no different.
“The Red Sox won them, they earned them and have the right to pick a date and game when they present them,” Steinbrenner said through PR man Howard Rubenstein. “It’s not a personal affront to our players.”
“They won,” Mike Mussina said. “They can do it however they want.”
Mussina, however, couldn’t resist a zinger that was 86 years in the making when he learned the team would give out 500 rings to team employees.
“Are they giving one to everyone who has played since 1918?” he joked.
Likewise, Derek Jeter saw the humor in the situation.
“I’m sure I’m not gonna help hand them out,” he said. “But they deserve it.”
If past circumstances are any barometer, Jeter might use Boston’s ring ceremony as motivation in 2005. When the Angels defeated the Yanks in the 2002 ALDS, Jeter stayed in the dugout and watched the delirious party that broke out on the field.
Last year, Boston shocked the baseball world by becoming the first team to recover from a three-games-to-none deficit with an ALCS comeback against the Yankees. In what seemed like almost an afterthought, Boston swept St. Louis in the World Series.
“They deserve the right to celebrate,” Jeter said.
“[Watching it] is part of it. They deserve it. I’m sure they’re looking forward to it.”
Torre, who like Jeter has earned four rings with the Yankees, will probably watch the actual ceremony.
“They certainly earned the right,” Torre said. “It’s not something we’ll lose sleep over. We are not gonna rearrange our program.”