YES Network analyst Al Leiter talks the two sides of Alex Rodriguez, what CC Sabathia has left and the dominant Yankees bullpen with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: How do you think A-Rod is being perceived by his teammates?
A: I don’t think Alex is a bad guy, and I say that as someone who had a chance to play with him in 2005. We hung out, we did teammate stuff and my interaction with Alex, albeit superficial, has been pleasant. So my answer is tainted because of knowing him, but my feeling is that he has been ill-advised over the years. A lot of his things, I think he truly does wish he could’ve taken back. But he did what he did. … What was really super-sensitive was when he sued the Players Association. That really rang very loudly with active and retired players. … It’s hard for me to figure out. I know how Yankees fans feel, I know what’s taken place and how they are really upset, but this is where the situation is. We are all curious to [see] what a 39-year-old who has played 44 games over the past two seasons is capable of.
Q: How has A-Rod handled it so far?
A: It’s definitely uncomfortable and not ideal for both sides. Really whatever Alex does is not going to be received well. But to see Alex come two days before the rest of the regular players was a good idea. If I’m a teammate I’m glad because it gets some of it out of the way.
Q: What have you seen from Nathan Eovaldi in Florida?
A: I really like pure-stuff guys — I was that guy — and Nathan has a tremendous arm. The biggest thing, what will turn him into a top-10 pitcher, is his ability to get hitters out with his secondary pitches. If he can get his breaking ball and changeup over, he becomes less predictable, and that is absolutely what he and Larry Rothschild have been working on.
Q: Does CC Sabathia have anything left?
A: He still has the ability to pitch. He has the ability to change speeds on his breaking ball. He throws that little backdoor slurpy curve. Is it enough? If he can consistently keep his fastball high 80s, low 90s, that’s the barometer I’d like CC at, then not only show his changeup, but use it to get key outs. The hardest thing for CC is accepting that his fastball isn’t 95 anymore and convince yourself you can still dominate by using your pitches. If his knee is healthy, I like the idea that he is heavier and he can be a really good No. 3.
Q: What is the Yankees’ biggest strength?
A: I really like the bullpen. Andrew Miller was one of the key under-the-radar signings this offseason. The Yankees saw his turnaround right in front of their eyeballs when he was with the Red Sox and Orioles. He has closer stuff and will be a dominant lefty-righty combo with [Dellin] Betances. The other two pickups — David Carpenter and Justin Wilson — are power-arm guys that can strike out anyone.
