Jeter on All-Star controversy: Just stop

TORONTO -- An amused, but visibly irked Derek Jeter tried to quash the controversy surrounding his no-show at the All Star game.

Speaking to reporters before last night's game against the Blue Jays, Jeter said, "I think I told you guys [last Friday] why I was not going and it seemed to be a nonissue at the time. I hadn't heard a word about it until someone told me it was all over TV on Tuesday.

" . . . I understand disappointment, I get that. I understand fans are disappointed. Like I told you guys, I was disappointed I didn't get a chance to go play. I've told you guys throughout the years I enjoy going out to play in All-Star games. But this was a decision I thought was best for our team for the second half of the year. I was surprised by the coverage."

Though Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig supported Jeter, his absence created a firestorm when an anonymous MLB executive and players from other teams reportedly criticized the shortstop's decision not to play or travel to Phoenix, as reported in a Daily News story.

When told by a reporter that Mets rightfielder Carlos Beltran and ex-Yankee Lance Berkman called him out for missing the game, Jeter said, "I'm happy they had good first halves. I'm happy for them. Congratulations to them for making the All-Star game. I've never commented on people unless I knew all the facts."

However, Beltran and Berkman told the publication they did not know the specifics of Jeter's injury and were speaking only in general terms.

"Jose is on the DL, but he decided to come," Beltran said in the story. "I do believe, as a ballplayer, if you have no injuries, you should be here. The fans are the ones that vote for you and want to see you here."

Jeter also dismissed reports that he excused himself because of "mental and physical exhaustion" and said, "let's not turn it into an exhaustion thing. It was an injury thing is why I didn't go."

Manager Joe Girardi said, "He had a reason he didn't go. I respect Derek for that reason. He felt that he needed the rest coming off a calf injury, which can become an issue."

Jeter said the three days off, which he spent in Florida with girlfriend Minka Kelly, did in fact help his right calf.

Said Jeter, "It's just interesting because when I got hurt, everyone's telling me how difficult an injury it is, it takes until the offseason, and it's serious, and you don't want to come back too soon and then I decide to take some days off to help out and it turns into this."