Just yesterday I was pontificating about the leadership skillz of Jeter and A-Rod, and unbeknownst to me, on Thursday A-Rod was doing some pontificating of his own about the Jeetster (I say "unbeknownst to me" because if you've been reading YC for the last week you're aware that I am currently holed up in the hospital- and no, anonymous commenter, not for a boob job- and thus have to rely on chats with the YCD for baseball scoop and at that point it's usually a day or two stale). After seeing how Jeter had come to camp looking lean and busting out of the gate sprinting like the dearly departed Seabiscuit (fun sidenote: the YCD used to take the YC to the Santa Anita Racetrack on Saturdays [let's overlook the fact that that probably wasn't the most appropriate hangout for a 6-year-old; I'll take my father-daughter bonding wherever I can get it] and let me bet on the horsies), A-Rod is predicting an MVP season for his pal Jeet (but not best friend, as was explained by A-Rod in an utterly pointless junior high-esque interview last year).

I like the fact that The Rod is being vocal about his faith in his teammate and his team as a whole. I'll take it as a positive sign for the honing of A-Rod's public appearance facade- surely I'm not the only one to whom it is painfully clear that the dude doesn't always present himself as well as he could in public?- and a good omen for Jeter's season (sidenote: my aunt, for whom English is a second language, was convinced that the idiom was in fact "good almond"). Since Jeter was recently referred to as the worst shortstop in baseball, I find it a little comforting that A-Rod commented on Jeet's lean mean form; I think we'd all like to see his name skyrocket to 2nd worst in 2008. As always, Jeet confirmed that he'd rather earn a World Series ring than an MVP trophy. That's nice and all and I'm sure he's being sincere, but I think it's safe to say he wouldn't mind claiming both titles.

Jeter's off-season prep and work thus far in Tampa impressed Girardi as well as A-Rod. Girardi agreed that he looked great and had been working hard to be ready for the season by eating a healthy diet in addition to working out. Personally I would imagine that most every player would have the same plan when getting ready for the season (save for Big Papi, maybe), but according to MLB.com Jeter's plan in years past was to eat as much as he possibly could to bulk up. If he has the MVP-caliber season A-Rod predicts, I suppose Jeet will be convinced to change his plans from "become a fatass even though it doesn't make sense" to "eat healthy because I can contribute more if I'm agile" permanently.