In a Yankees Universe that revolves around the back-page-story-of-the-week, however, the reports that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids is one of the bigger flare-ups. The crisis could mushroom for plenty of people, plenty of ways:

Ripple effect No. 1: How to get a good season out of A-Rod?

This story won't go away any time soon. A year ago, Andy Pettitte admitted to using human growth hormone, and by Opening Day, it was a moot point.

Alex Rodriguez is not Andy Pettitte. A-Rod has not built up the same political capital, not with everything that has happened to the Yankees since he arrived (most notably, no pennants).

So for most or all of this season, as more revelations come out, the Yankees staff will have to find a way to keep A-Rod focused on the field. And this is the most delicate psyche in the Yankees clubhouse.

His work ethic has never wavered, but while sometimes the game itself has been a sanctuary for Rodriguez, at other times his production has seemed to suffer during a time of crisis.

In 2007, there were yearlong questions on whether he would opt out of his contract. He was ripped by the Blue Jays for trying to distract an infielder during a pop-up. And he was caught squiring a stripper around Toronto.

That year, he hit ..314 with 54 homers and 156 RBI, winning the MVP.

But in 2008, as his marriage fell apart, he seemed to cave to the distraction. He fell to 35 homers and 103 RBI, and the Yankees missed the playoffs.

Fallout: The key person here is hitting coach Kevin Long, who has been able to connect with A-Rod better than anyone else since Rodriguez came to New York. A-Rod has few other allies in the clubhouse, but Long usually knows how to push Rodriguez's (many) buttons.

Fallout: Cashman nearly left when his contract was up after the 2005 season. And again after 2008. By 2011, if he has to keep putting out fires and his hiring of Girardi doesn't pan out, it could really be time to go.

Ripple effect No. 5: Is the Yankees franchise tainted?

A disproportionate number of players publicly linked to performance-enhancing drugs have worn pinstripes. Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi and now A-Rod are the big ones.

It doesn't mean the Yankees were enablers or suppliers, of course. It does mean that as they tried to fix their on-field problems by going after the biggest stars they were willing to look the other way if they had any suspicions.

Then again, does that make the Yankees different from any other franchise?

Fallout: When Rodriguez's 14 years with the Yankees are up, the 1996-2000 dynasty will be a distant memory. And the A-Rod era will be an embarrassment or a success based only on whether he can ever take the team to a championship.

It has been said many times that the mark of a great player is that he makes those around him better.

That makes A-Rod one of the all-time greats — in distractions.

Toronto Blue Jays News News » Five Yankee ripple effects after the A-Rod report
Five Yankee ripple effects after the A-Rod report
The Yankees have to deal with the Cirque de A-Rod for only nine more years. Fortunately for them, they have plenty of experience under the big top. A-Rod steroid shake-up