MLB NEWS

Rockies’ Tulowitzki creates stir with decision to watch Yankees’ Jeter

The Sports Xchange

July 29, 2014 at 3:17 am.

Tulowitzki attended a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium to watch his idol, Derek Jeter, play in person -- and that drew a wave of criticism from fans and media because the Rockies were playing at the same time. Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO — Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki isn’t with the team and was in Philadelphia on Monday for a medical procedure the team hopes will speed his recovery from a left hip injury.

But it was what Tulowitzki did on Sunday, en route to Philadelphia, that created a stir. He attended a New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium to watch his idol, Derek Jeter, play in person — and that drew a wave of criticism from fans and media because the Rockies were playing at the same time.
The fact that some have speculated that Tulowitzki would be the perfect replacement for Jeter in New York next season just fueled the flames.

Colorado manager Walt Weiss, though, believes everyone should just calm down.

“I don’t think Tulo expected it to blow up like it did,” Weiss said before the Rockies played the Chicago Cubs on Monday. “It was a pretty innocent situation that got carried away because of all the rumors in the winter about him and the Yankees and Jeter and all that stuff fueled fire.

“But he told me he was gonna see his mom before he had the procedure done and she was in New York. I think a lot more was made of it than it actually was.”

Besides, it’s rare that any player gets to take in a game like an actual fan.

“He had a day where he could see a guy that he’s tried to emulate for a long time, probably for the last time, in Derek Jeter,” Weiss said. “I think it was pretty innocent.”

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