It’s early May and Derek Jeter has just made another error. The Yankees have lost three in a row. The Boss fumes in his lordly box. After clubbing teams into submission for a month with A-Rod, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield, the Yankees are slumping. The New York media fuel the crisis.

Joe Torre twists. One of the best managers in the history of the game, he is not in charge of what comes next. Maybe he’s even fired.

A-Rod is moved to shortstop; Jeter is given a tryout at second, perhaps even made DH.

The Yankees see if Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt is available to play third. Gleeful Red Sox fans pop open another Sam Adams.

It could happen. I don’t think it will. I think Jeter will see this challenge and be a solid defensive player.

But what if . . .

Baseball finally has its superstar on its biggest stage, Yankees Stadium, but if this Alex Rodriguez-Derek Jeter wedding goes south or if the Yankees don’t win the world title, the United Nations will go into emergency session.

Torre, in the last year of his contract, is in the crosshairs. He and Jeter, not A-Rod, will take the fall if this turns out to be as smooth as George Bush having tea with Saddam.

Is this Cooperstown infield worth it?

Alex Rodriguez is an inconsistent, pampered baby. He was superb on the field for the Rangers, but he carped about this and that.

You know his history. Before he signs the deal in Texas, he says he wants to play for a winner. Then he goes for the Rangers’ money. No surprise, really.

A-Rod says he would love to play for the Mets, his hometown team. He signs for the Rangers’ money, a $252 million contract.

The Rangers lose and lose, but A-Rod says he wants to stay and fulfill his obligation. In the background, he is talking to the Red Sox about a deal.

After the Red Sox deal collapses, A-Rod is made captain of the Rangers and says again he is staying and committed to Texas. All along, he is telling people he can’t stand the thought of going back to the Rangers.

Then New York third baseman Aaron Boone jumps into a basketball game, gets hurt, and here is A-Rod again. Mr. Sincerity opens up a dialogue with the Yankees.

Now look. The Rangers’ fans are helping pay the salary of the rich-as-sin Yankees’ third baseman.

A-Rod is the best shortstop in baseball and he is playing third base. Does he stay happy with that? What if Jeter falters? Does A-Rod whisper to Torre that Jeter might need a day off from the stress of shortstop?

Can’t happen you say? Remember, that was A-Rod bitch-slapping Jeter in a magazine interview a couple of years ago.

"He (Jeter) has never had to lead," A-Rod said in Esquire. "He can just go and play and have fun. He hits second — that's totally different than third or fourth in the lineup. You go into New York, you wanna stop Bernie (Williams) and Paul (O'Neill). You never say, 'Don't let Derek beat us.' He's never your concern."

A-Rod had similar things to say in a national radio broadcast, according to USA TODAY.

They have kissed and made up. Jeter attended A-Rod’s wedding.

But Alex Rodriguez does what is best for Alex Rodriguez.

It says here, his marketing image should be sullied today and for the remainder of this contract; he is not above aboard. He says one thing and does another.

And what of Jeter?

Contrary to A-Rod’s remarks, Jeter is a leader. He may not have a Gold Glove, but he has four championship rings. He makes plays; he wins, usually.

Now Jeter has to look over his shoulder . . . or at least to his right.

He’s thinking, “How bad does this guy want my job?”

The Yankees marketing people will be asked by clients to bring A-Rod, not Jeter, out of the clubhouse early on game days for a commercial shoot. A-Rod does his media time all at once on the road, everybody gets one shot to talk to the Divine One.

Jeter is off to the side.

It could be that Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, and Derek Lowe ruin everything because good pitching, as they say, trumps good hitting.

But if the Yankees lose their October showdown with Boston, you can imagine who will get traded. Jeter.

That’s criminal. But so is another Yankees’ shopping spree down the superstar aisle. A-Rod in pinstripes only fuels fans’ resentment (General managers of other teams won’t complain because if they had the money they would do the same thing).

A-Rod in New York does not make the game better by having the best all-around player on the most famous team. It only shows this game is about the mercenaries and their agents, nothing more. More fans turn away.

In the wake of the percolating scandal involving Barry Bonds, baseball and A-Rod better hope he is still the third baseman for the Yankees come October.

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