I sat in my recliner eating oatmeal and drinking a latte while watching Alex Rodriguez's press conference this morning, and I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why is he doing this? Why does he have to apologize to anybody?".

Lo and behold, I answered my own question, "Because, the Yankees organization failed to handle A-Rod's situation with extra care."

Shortly after Alex's interview with Peter Gammons, the Yankees made the following statement:

"We strongly believe there is no place in baseball for performance-enhancing drugs of any type, and we support the efforts of the commissioner to continually improve the testing process."

"We urged Alex to be completely open, honest and forthcoming in addressing his use of performance-enhancing drugs. We take him at his word that he was. Although we are disappointed in the mistake he spoke to today, we realize that Alex—like all of us—is a human being not immune to fault."

"We speak often about the members of this organization being part of a family, and that is never more true than in times of adversity. Alex took a big step by admitting his mistake, and while there is no condoning the use of performance-enhancing drugs, we respect his decision to take accountability for his actions. We support Alex, and we will do everything we can to help him deal with this challenge and prepare for the upcoming season."

Of course, the Yankees had to address their position on the use of banned drugs in baseball. It's like a verbal tick that everyone seems to have nowadays.

However, at the time, I commended the Yankees for coming forward and supporting their best player. I felt their kind words for Alex seemed genuine and a slap in the face to everyone who doubted his worth as the game's highest-paid player,

Yes, I'm talking to you, Joe Torre.

I was surprised that none of the Steinbrenners weighed in on A-Rod. You would think we would have a quote from Hank by now. At least something like, "A-Rod, on steroids? Hah! What a bunch of bullshit."

No, instead GM Brian Cashman has been happy to dish out the oral diarrhea. Here are some Cashman-isms before his mouth had a chance to take Kaopectate:

"I like more when he carries it that he was stupid. Rather than young and naive, it was stupid. It was a bad decision that may cost him on so many levels."

This is where I start to have BIG PROBLEMS with this cat. Is he insinuating the termination of A-Rod's mega-million dollar contract? No, no, no...that's just the diarrhea talking.

He is, however, hinting that A-Rod is stupid. That's pretty ironic coming from a guy who concocted Carl Pavano's multi-year deal and traded for Nick Swisher's .219 batting average when, already, there was a logjam of outfielders on the Yankees.

For a general manager as incompetent as Cashman, he sure knows how to work his crystal ball. Apparently, he has made A-Rod's future in baseball as absolute as his own hairline.

So now, Alex's decision might not only cost him his status with the Yankees, but his future in baseball has a question mark next to it as well.

When Brian says "so many levels," I guess he means Hall of Fame or life after baseball. Who knows? Maybe he means public perception. Only God knows what goes on in Brian's thick, bald skull.

"We're not in a position to go backwards on this. The position we're in is to try to move forward and make sure that we can help him get through this. We've got nine years of Alex remaining. … We've invested in him as an asset. And because of that, this is an asset that is going through a crisis. So we'll do everything we can to protect that asset and support that asset and try to salvage that asset."

That is what Brian had to say when asked if he regrets signing Alex to his 10-year, $275 million contract. Whoa! Wait a minute..."we've invested in him"??? What does Brian mean by "we've"?

Have A-Rod's checks been coming from Brian's personal piggy bank? Has Brian been hitting up Washington Mutual to give him a loan on A-Rod's $32 million salary this season? I don't think so!

So, who's paying Alex's enormous salary?

Oddly enough it's the Steinbrenners. I am appalled that Brian has the audacity to feel cheated by the fact that A-Rod used steroids. If anybody should feel cheated, it should be George Steinbrenner, but only on the basis that steroids can actually enhance the skills of a baseball player.

Clearly, any banned substance cannot elevate any single player to the abilities of Alex Rodriguez. Primobolin and testosterone did not have any effect on his statistics.

So, where do the Yankees go from here? I suppose they can look at themselves in the mirror and acknowledge the team's history as a haven for steroid-users or players linked to steroids.

Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Chuck Knoblauch, Jose Canseco, Gary Sheffield, Ivan Rodriguez and David Justice have all donned the Yankee pinstripes at some point in their careers. In fact, there were more Yankees in the Mitchell Report than any other team. The Yankees came in first place with 23 names, while the Orioles came in second with 18.

As previously stated, I thought the Yankees were sincere in their support for A-Rod. But now, I can see they're content with Cashman as their spokesman. That is utterly pitiful and a crying shame.

When Alex needed his team the most, they weren't there. As long as the Yankees are profiting from him and filling up their new stadium, they could care less what happens to Alex.

That's how their relationship is. The Yankees are treating him like property rather than a human being. We should start calling him "Asset-Rod".

At least his teammates have all expressed their support for him. Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, and Derek Jeter were all present for A-Rod's press conference.

It's painfully obvious how difficult it has been for Alex to address the media about his past steroid use. The inconsistencies in his responses between his interview with Peter Gammons and the press conference have sacrificed his trust with the public and ultimately led to extreme embarrassment.

But certainly those two things do not warrant the beating that the media has given him.  

Alex Rodriguez is the best player in baseball and one of the all-time greats. He shouldn't have to apologize for anything because he has shown nothing but respect to the media, the fans, and baseball.

He has played the game right and he has played it well. If steroids can win you three MVP's and 11 consecutive seasons with at least 35 home runs and 100 RBI, then give me some, so that I can get off my ass as a frustrated jazz guitarist and go make millions of dollars as a professional baseball player.

The Yankees made a grave miscalculation in their assessment of A-Rod's steroid situation. They didn't acknowledge the magnitude of this story, and they failed to handle it in a caring and responsible manner. The New York Yankees care about Alex Rodriguez the baseball player/asset, not Alex Rodriguez the person.

If I had my druthers, this is how the Yankees' press release would've looked:

"As an organization that believes in fairness and civil rights, we are deeply disturbed by the circumstance in which Alex's positive drug test from 2003 was revealed. Let us assure everybody that we do not condone the use of banned or illegal substances in baseball. We feel that Major League Baseball has handled its substance-abuse issues in a commendable and appropriate manner. However, as part of the agreement between the Commissioner and the Players' Union in performing the survey tests of 2003, the test results were expected to be kept confidential and were to be destroyed immediately."

"The Yankees will work with Major League Baseball and the Players' Union to investigate the anonymous sources Sports Illustrated used in their story on Alex, and cooperation with the federal government in our investigation will not be ruled out."

"In the meantime, Alex will refrain from addressing the media. While we understand the magnitude of this issue and Alex's eagerness to share his story, any interviews and/or press conferences will be held after our investigation has concluded."

"The Yankees will support Alex and help to put him in a comfortable position where he can help us achieve our shared goal of winning a World Series."