Jeter

TAMPA, Fla.-- --The breakup rumors are true. The nightly dinners have stopped. The sleepovers, too. The duo isn't officially separated, but the fire sure ain't what it used to be. Apparently, A-Rod and Jeet just don't love each other like they once did. That's according to Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees third baseman and baseball's most talented and intimidating princess (sorry, Barry Bonds, but the crown has been passed). Rodriguez decided to come clean yesterday in his first spring chat with the media.

WONDERING IF YOU WERE GLIMPSED? / / Check out baltimoresun.com / glimpsed for additional photos of fashion-forward locals and a critique by fashion writer Tanika White of the styles she saw around town.

NEW YORK -- Outscoring and then outlasting, it's the new brand of New York Yankees postseason baseball. They unveiled it last night with an offensively charged 8-4 win over the Detroit Tigers that had its share of stressful outs. Derek Jeter went 5-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three runs scored and Bobby Abreu drove in four runs as the Yankees' lineup of All-Stars provided enough hitting in the opener of the best-of-five American League Division Series. "We just don't have that kind of firepower," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who added he needs a total team contribution to overcome New York.

Baseball may be behind the NFL in popularity, the NBA in coolness and NASCAR in fan friendliness, but when it comes to stirring passionate debate each season, no sport can compete with baseball and its postseason awards. And, of the four major ones of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, none matches Most Valuable Player for cachet or drama. It's the same this year, with two great races coming down to the final week. Neither choice is easy. Here's a look at all the awards. And, for those who vehemently disagree, a disclaimer: Because of potential conflicts of interest, The Sun does not allow its BBWAA members to participate in official postseason awards voting.

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo gave some serious thought to walking Derek Jeter intentionally. He is, after all, the New York Yankees' top hitter, one of the toughest outs in the clutch and a player who has made Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez's life miserable in the past. However, with a man on third and one out in the eighth inning and Jorge Posada waiting on deck, Perlozzo left it up to Lopez, hoping that the demoted starter would not give in to Jeter. He did, leaving a pitch over the plate that Jeter hammered to right field for an RBI single.

I guess you could call it the sweet smell of success. New York Yankees star Derek Jeter just signed a contract with Avon to market his own line of male grooming products, starting with a new cologne called "Driven." I'm in favor of anything that will make Yankees fans smell better, so this is terrific news, especially for any normal human who has ever made the mistake of sitting in the right-field bleachers at Yankee Stadium. Now, the guy in the tank top shirt in the seat next to you won't be stinking drunk.

Several of the Orioles had started to walk off the field and manager Sam Perlozzo said that he already began to ponder how his team was going to score a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the New York Yankees on Friday night. Catcher Ramon Hernandez's throw arrived at second base ahead of Johnny Damon, and Brian Roberts' tag was applied before the foot of the Yankees center fielder reached the bag. Second base umpire Lance Barksdale immediately called Damon out, before noticing the ball laying in the dirt near second base.

Several of the Orioles had started to walk off the field and manager Sam Perlozzo said that he already began to ponder how his team was going to score a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the New York Yankees last night. Catcher Ramon Hernandez's throw arrived at second base ahead of Johnny Damon, and Brian Roberts' tag was applied before the foot of the Yankees center fielder reached the bag. Second base umpire Lance Barksdale immediately called Damon out, before noticing the ball laying in the dirt near second base.

At this decade's start, the trio was hyped as the Holy Trinity of Shortstops. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra. Quickly, Miguel Tejada joined them, beginning his streak of five straight 100 RBI seasons in 2000. We were told that these twentysomethings would be among baseball's best players for years to come. They could do it all -- at the same position in the same league. The experts were right. We were also told we might not see something like this ever again. Fast-forward to 2006.

THREE YEARS ago, there was almost no chance of Miguel Tejada being recognized as the best shortstop in the American League. His competition included Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra - major market superstars - and Alex Rodriguez, the highest-paid player in the major leagues. But Tejada kept playing and excelling, and the baseball world now views him differently. He isn't a caddie for his better-known rivals; he is widely regarded as the AL's best shortstop and one of the game's best players, period.