TAMPA – There’s little concern in Derek Jeter’s mind about whether he’s one of the 104 people on the reported 2003 steroid list.
“Why would I worry about me being on that list?” the Yankee captain, confident in his purity, said yesterday after his workout. “The list that you are supposedly concerned with, is supposed to be anonymous. I’m sure you guys have tests that aren’t public.”
Fellow longtime Yankee Jorge Posada also stressed yesterday that he was clean.
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“I don’t think I’ve put anything in my body that could be positive on one of those tests,” Posada said, later adding for further clarification, “I have never tested positive. My first language is Spanish. I know English, but my first language is Spanish. I have wanted to make sure I have never taken anything. I’m as clean as a whistle.”
As for Alex Rodriguez, Jeter and Posada spoke before their teammate’s televised admission yesterday that he used performance enhancing drugs from 2001-03, so their thoughts about A-Rod’s reported steroid use were based only on Sports Illustrated’s revelation of his positive 2003 test. Still, Jeter revealed that “everybody was shocked” to hear of the SI story, and Posada admitted he felt “surprise.”
But Posada also said he’d support his teammate.
“Alex is my teammate and Alex is going to be my friend forever,” Posada said. “I’m going to support him any way I can, and that’s all I’ve got to say, tell you the truth.”
Posada said he tried texting Rodriguez, but didn’t think he was in the country. Jeter wouldn’t reveal whether he’d reached out to A-Rod.
As he left the Yankees’ complex yesterday, Hank Steinbrenner declined comment on Rodriguez. Asked further, his only response was to say, “How ’bout them Steelers.”
Jeter said when he heard about the SI report, he believed Rodriguez should be allowed to answer it “before you pass judgment” and said Rodriguez should be granted “the benefit of the doubt.” Of course, Rodriguez later confirmed the story was true.
Meanwhile, Posada fully expects the other 103 names to be revealed.
“I think it’s going to happen,” he said. “No matter what, I don’t think they’re going to throw just one guy under the bus there.”
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Posada, who’s coming off shoulder surgery, believes he’ll be ready for Opening Day.
“Every time I throw I feel good,” he said.