Jeter & AROD operating at a different level than Swisher & fellow All-Stars

The New York Yankees are sitting comfortably atop the baseball world with a record of 56-32.  The defending World Series Champions have been operating on all cylinders during the first half of the 2010 season.  

Because of their stellar play, the Yanks are very well represented at Tuesday's All-Star Game in Anaheim, California.  

Despite sharing positions on the same American League roster, not every Yankee players' All-Star experience is the same. This point was quite evident on Monday afternoon at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel.

The Marriott, located adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, is the property that is housing the majority of the 2010 All-Stars.  As a result, the team buses depart from this hotel when transporting the players to Angel Stadium.  Joe Mauer, Evan Longoria and an injured Dustin Pedroia (all pictured below) were among the bulk of AL All-Stars who rode the bus for the 2.2 mile journey to the stadium. The Yankees coaching staff and right fielder Nick Swisher (pictured below) were also passengers on the coach bus.

Remarkably, the mode of transportation was considerably different for the left side of the Yankees infield.

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were chauffeured to batting practice in a Maybach (pictured below, players behind tinted windows).  The German super-luxury vehicle is a rarity in the United States.  In 2009, only 66 units were sold.  A Maybach's sticker price ranges from just under $350,000 to right around $700,000.

This season, Jeter will earn $22.6 million and Rodriguez will cash in on $33 million. These enormous sums of money easily afford them the opportunity to travel first class wherever they go.  It appears that a five minute ride near Disneyland is no different.  Life is certainly good for these very rich and famous ballplayers.