K-Rod Upset With Brian Bruney (?)

((HT: NYPost/King, Sherman))

Brian Bruney stationed himself in left field at the end of the Yankees' batting practice session with the hope of talking to Francisco Rodriguez when the Mets took the field today.

The Yankees' reliever got what he wanted.

"(Bruney) wanted to talk to him but K-Rod didn't want to hear it,'' a source said. "You could say (Rodriguez) was intense.''

The incident occurred two hours before the third Subway Series game between the Yankees and Mets at Yankee Stadium and lasted about 60 seconds.

Rodriguez got in Bruney's face while Bruney didn't react to Rodriguez' words or finger pointing. Yankees reliever Jose Veras jumped in and moved Rodriguez away. Rodriguez kept trying to get to Bruney who didn't move. Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland ran into the fray and moved Bruney away.

Bruney denied there was physical contact.

Asked what transpired in the outfield, Bruney tried to make light of the situation by saying, "We were talking about our dinner plans for later.''

Bruney attempted to downplay the incident when asked before the game about it he described it as "cordial.''

Bruney started a war of words Saturday by saying that Friday night's Mets meltdown in the ninth inning "Couldn't have happened to a better guy.'' Rodriguez was on the mound when Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez' pop and cost the Mets a victory.

Francisco Rodriguez countered Saturday.

"I don't even know who that guy is. Instead of sending a message through the paper, next time he sees me at Citi Field, come up to me and say it to my face. Don't be sending a message through the media.''

Before Bruney and Rodriguez had words yesterday,20Joe Girardi wasn't too concerned about the relationship between rival relievers.

"It's boys being boys, to me it's no big deal,'' Girardi said. "You say enough is enough.''

Here's the outside confrontation