The recent comments by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson that performance-enhancing drug users -- including Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees -- have no place in the Baseball Hall of Fame have cost Mr. October his seat the table with the Yankees, reports Buster Olney of ESPN.
Jackson, an adviser with the Yankees, has been given the thumb temporarily by the organization. Olney reported that Jackson has been told to stay away from the team "indefinitely," with a source calling the decision a "cooling off period, but not a death penalty." Meaning, at some point in the future Jackson would be back with the organization.
Here is some of what Jackson said in a Sports Illustrated interview:
On Alex Rodriguez: "Al's a very good friend. But I think there are real questions about his numbers. As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his records."
On players liked to PEDs getting into the Hall of Fame: "If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend."
Olney reported that Jackson has apologized, and various reports on Twitter indicate he has been apologizing for other disparaging remarks he made about current Hall of Famers.
Just like Billy Martin once did when Jackson failed to hustle after a fly ball, the Yankees have benched Jackson for the time being.