Dan Patrick takes dig at new FOX analyst trio of MLB legends

The "canned laughter" dig seems to speak to a couple of things. For starters, there have long been rumblings that Jeter and Rodriguez weren't as close as they once were, something both discussed last year on ESPN's "KayRod" simulcast. Though they're friends now, both men in their own ways inspire lots of strong reactions from baseball fans, and any interaction between them will always lead those fans to conclude that Jeter still hates A-Rod.

Speaking of A-Rod, he went from being called a breath of fresh air as an analyst during the 2016 and 2017 playoffs to being despised in the same role in 2023. It's not too different from what we've seen with Tony Romo over the last two years for CBS' NFL coverage, but Rodriguez's checkered history on and off the field has always colored much of the perception of his work in the broadcast booth.

Just about every year, there is a "shiny new toy" that TV networks covet for their coverage of certain sports. Generally, that new obsession deals with a newly retired athlete who provided great quotes with reporters, is a likely Hall of Famer, and has been a sponsored athlete for multiple brands or some combination of the three. Although all three men have fit the description (despite Rodriguez continually being shut out of Cooperstown due to his admitted performance enhancer use), they don't seem to make a cohesive and authentic grouping just yet, according to Patrick.