Like Ms. Cleo, Gary Sheffield can make predictions, too. He predicted that A-Rod would have his best season. Why? Because he cleared the air over his friendship with Derek Jeter:
"I think what he did, stood up, that's what's going to get him over the top. He expressed how he felt. He was honest. And that goes a long way. I guarantee you when he went home it was a peaceful night."...
"He really wanted to say these things a long time ago," Sheffield said, "but Alex is a passive guy in that area. He didn't want to touch that subject. That could be borderline controversial. But he chose to do it, and I think he's going to benefit from it.
If there's any word to describe that reasoning, it would be specious. Anytime A-Rod opens its mouth, the press idiots look to spin it into a controversy. Rodriguez expressing himself led to a weeklong firestorm of bogus drama. I think Sheffield is trying to horn in on the publicity. Sure he's got a new huge deal and plays for a contender, he misses the megaphone that was New York (and L.A.) and leave it to him to horn in on this story for no good reason. Alex Rodriguez is going to have a monster year because of his immense talents, not because he told some reporters that he's not the bestest of best buddies with the team's shortstop.
"He really wanted to say these things a long time ago," Sheffield said, "but Alex is a passive guy in that area. He didn't want to touch that subject. That could be borderline controversial. But he chose to do it, and I think he's going to benefit from it.