Results tagged ‘ Derek Jeter ’
Jeter Finds Yet Another Way to Scatter Name Amongst the Game’s Greats
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has been doing nothing but climbing historic lists since donning the pinstripes for the first time in 1995.
Another milestone was unable to hide from Jeter’s ever-expanding legacy, as he became just the fourth Yankee to surpass 1500 runs scored on Tuesday night against Texas.
The Yankees are a franchise boasting 26 World Series titles, as well as employing 34 Hall of Fame players at one time during their careers.
Any time a player is the “fourth” to do anything in a Yankees uniform, it is always an extraordinary feat worthy of celebration.
This occasion is no different, as Jeter joins only Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Mickey Mantle in rarified Bronx air.
In true Jeter fashion, he would not score his 1500th run in a moment that did not require it.
He would instead score the go-ahead run in the most emotional of moments, supplying New York with a lead that it would never relinquish.
Aided by a clean, hard slide by an angered Mark Teixeira at second base, Jeter was able to cross home plate and into the history books for what seems like the 100th time.
To save time and effort, baseball historians have been provided with a “Derek Jeter” rubber stamp–making it easier to add his name to any recently achieved milestone list.
Though clearly benefiting from some of the most potent lineups in team history, Jeter was able to accomplish the feat in just 2035 games played.
Excluding the 2003 season, in which Jeter dislocated his shoulder and was forced to miss 43 games, he scored 110+ runs in nine straight seasons.
This streak included four seasons of 120 or more runs scored, something the great Rickey Henderson could only do two times in 25 Hall of Fame seasons.
Henderson is often considered the greatest baserunner of all time, which helps to underscore Jeter’s impressive run-scoring abilities as a Yankee.
Other milestones such as 3000 career hits are simply inevitable for Jeter, and he will become just the first Yankee to ever reach the magic number.
Jeter will soon be No. 1 on the Yankees all-time hits list, passing Lou Gehrig who sits at 2721.
He will be a surefire first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee, and will deserve every vote that he receives. He is a class act and a role model for children during a dark era in Major League Baseball.
Congratulations Jeter, and we will all look forward to being there for your next milestone’s celebration.
Also seen at: Heartbeat of the Bronx
Shelley Duncan Deserves Pinstriped Resurrection: Matsui Needs Benching
The relentless and inescapable injury plague has been contracted by yet another pair of Yankees contributors.
It has begun to spread like a thick river of hot magma, waiting to devour and destroy anything still remaining in its path.
Instead of the baseball gods taking the health of the first born, it appears as though everyone with the exception of the first born are being subjected to the cruel curse.
The four youngest members of New York’s 25-man roster, Ramiro Pena, Francisco Cervelli, Phil Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain have all been spared.
Meanwhile, veteran after veteran suffer the wrath of the “ghosts of DL past.”
During last night’s Picasso-like masterpiece by “Doc” Halladay of Toronto, Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui were unable to play nine innings. Jeter in particular never even laced up his cleats.
While Jeter’s injury “does not appear to be serious,” Matsui’s always are. Godzilla has missed 200+ games during the past four seasons with issues ranging from a broken wrist to chronic knee pain.
To his credit, Matsui claims that he “could have stayed in the game if needed,” and the injury to his hamstring is no more than a cramp. He is a proud man, but he was already undetectable in box scores long before these recent pains.
Another injury to his lower half will only compound the issues contributing to his lack of power, and will cause him to clog the bases worse than Butterbean after consuming a small cow.
Matsui has tried admirably to come back from yet another surgery, but it appears his body is finally conquering his dedication and determined work ethic.
Considering the lack of right-handed power in the Yankees lineup, it is time for a familiar face to get another chance. Xavier Nady is still recovering from arm pain, and Alex Rodriguez is clearly still feeling his way through Major League rotations.
Remember 1B/OF Shelley Duncan? Do you recall his thunderous biceps and intimidating forearm bash?
I am the first to admit that he is the streakiest hitter in the Yankees organization, and is as likely to go 0-for-3 with three strikeouts as he is to go 2-for-4 with a 400 foot blast.
Over the next few weeks, however, New York needs a legitimate power threat to compensate for the injuries or ineffectiveness of Posada, Nady, Matsui, Teixeira, and Rodriguez.
Duncan is currently hitting .333 with 10 HR, 29 RBI, 26 R, .405 OBP, and 1.092 OPS in just 23 games. His competition is clearly less fierce in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he has earned a shot to help a struggling lineup.
Currently putting the finishing touches on a seven-day DL stint, Duncan is expected to return any day now. His energy, size, and light tower power would help to rejuvenate a lineup without a potent designated hitter.
The eccentric Duncan is riding a hot streak dating back to day one of spring training. He excelled right in front of manager Joe Girardi’s eyes, batting .343 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, and a .425 OBP.
A streak that lasts for the better part of three months begins to take on the characteristics of a trend. Perhaps Duncan will flame out after a short stint in the Bronx, but 3-4 weeks is all the Yankees need.
If Duncan was able to send just a handful of pitches deep into the night sky, he would provide a dynamic that has not existed for the duration of the 2009 season.
Should he prove to be healthy in the coming days, the Yankees should seriously consider recalling Duncan from AAA. He has just the grit, fight, and Paul Bunyan strength that the roster has been lacking from the right side of the plate.
The Yankees have hit countless home runs at the new stadium in the Bronx, but the fans in left field are beginning to feel ignored.
Throw these fans a bone, as they have actually showed up to each game to support a flailing roster. Throw them a big, thick, angry bone.
Resurrect the pinstriped career of Shelley Duncan. Hey…it’s worth a shot.
Also seen at: Heartbeat of the Bronx
John Sterling: A Gaze into the Heart, Soul, and Lungs of Yankees Radio
Most fans of baseball tend to recognize Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto, or Bob Sheppard as the historical voice of the New York Yankees.
For as long as America’s Pastime is continued, cleats, pine tar, bats, and high socks will be as American as hot dogs and apple pie.
In the same token, the aforementioned voices of Yankee past will forever be linked to the Bronx as definitively as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Lou Gehrig.
To Yankees aficionados growing up during the Mattingly years with a radio in their grasp, however, “there can be only one.” New York radio personality John Sterling is the play-by-play version of Highlander; both incomparable and irreplaceable in our ears and in our hearts.
Sterling has been announcing Yankees games over the radio waves for 20 straight seasons. During that time period, he has not missed one game for any circumstance. His streak of nearly 3400 consecutive games makes even Cal Ripken appear to be undedicated.
What most endears Sterling to Yankees fans is his unrelenting fandom. The passion and emotion flows from his brain to his vocal chords, forcing listeners to likewise hinge on every pitch.
Listeners can immediately discover the status of their ball club by the first words that pour from Sterling’s mouth.
When in the midst of a convincing victory, Sterling is often caught giggling and marveling at every action a Yankee performs. Something along the lines of, “Oh Suzyn, isn’t Jeter just UNBELIEVEABLE?! Did you see him stride so effortlessly after that pop-up?!” Suzyn refers to his announcing partner Suzyn Waldman, essentially only present to bounce rhetorical questions off of.
During an embarrassing loss or unanticipated collapse, Sterling becomes utterly soaked in sarcasm. He uses every reserved muscle in his body to circumvent ranting like a beer-drinking fan sunken into his couch. You’re likely to hear facetious phrases such as, “Well, the Yankees bullpen certainly did an extraordinary job holding onto the lead, didn’t they Suzyn?”
In a game that is one pitch away from complete transformation, Sterling becomes an entirely different animal. You can sense the excitement and fear in his voice, and are able to visualize his hands beginning to quiver. He can no longer control the baseball fanatic inside of him, as the pressure begins to build like an impending volcanic eruption.
At these moments, Sterling has earned a nearly mythological status. If New York is able to record the final out of a dramatic victory, he unleashes one of the game’s most famous calls, “Ball game over! Yankees win, theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankeesssss WIN!!“
Sterling will differentiate the length of “the” depending on the importance and drama involved in the triumph itself. Furthermore, his body will begin to gyrate in a motion affectionately referred to as “the Sterling shake.”
Nearly as popular and unforgettable as his final call, Sterling’s home run calls apply a different twist. He has tediously invented a nickname for each and every offensive player on the roster, utilizing them to enhance an already wholehearted delivery.
There are enough timeless examples to fill an encyclopedia, so we will focus on some of the most beloved:
1. Melky Cabrera: “The Melkman delivers! It’s the Melky Way!”
2. Hideki Matsui: “A Thrilla…from Godzilla!”
3. Jason Giambi: “The Giam-bino! It’s a Bash from the ‘stache!”
4. Alex Rodriguez: “An A-Bomb…from A-Rod!”
5. Bernie Williams: “Bern baby Bern!”
And my personal favorite,
6. Shane Spencer: “Shane Spencer…the home run dispenser!”
Immediately before one of these slogans is let loose, Sterling begins with his patented home run hint: “Swung on and…drilled to deep left! That ball is high…it is far…ittttttt’s GONE!” It apparently takes no more than a keychain to translate the experience to fans:
No other NY sports media personality can better capture the intensity and exhilaration of a moment than Sterling, because it truly means as much to him as any fan crowded around a radio speaker.
Sterling has earned this tribute and many more, and will forever resonate in my head whenever I attempt to recall any great moment in Yankees history.
I will leave you with one more of Sterling’s epic calls, as he describes the final out of the 1998 World Series:
Yankee Stadium Magic: How an Unfamiliar Place Can Begin to Feel Like Home
Still wearing a Yankees away jersey to symbolize the foreign feeling of entering the new ballpark, I ambled through Gate 6 and into “The Great Hall.”
(Interestingly enough, fans are now their own ticket scanners. It completely eliminates the need for dozens of people to stand around pretending to help you, but they do it anyway.)
I had seen it all before, and knew for the first time how to get to any seat in the stadium. It resembled a college student’s second week in a freshman dorm, as I began to figure things out while still feeling very uncomfortable.
After reaching what would be my final resting place for the next five hours, it was apparent that the stands would not be roaring like its predecessor across the street.
The rain had scared away thousands upon thousands of season ticket holders, and many others chose to retreat to “waterproof” areas of the stadium. Only the bleacher creatures and select trust fund babies remained in their tickets’ assigned seating location.
Shortly before the first pitch, Yankee Stadium finally began to take on a recognizable aura; “…and at designated hitter, batting third, Jason Giambi.”
I looked around to make sure a bar still stood in center field where the famed black seats once rested. Indeed it did, and Giambi was again donning an “A” on his cap.
The game could be described by no word other than damp, and got off to a very inauspicious beginning. C.C. Sabathia’s prized and high-priced pitching shoulder evaded him once again, and the Yankees quickly trailed 3-0.
Sabathia was missing spot after spot, and it appeared as though a postponement would be a blessing in disguise. As the game wore on, however, the stadium began to produce more and more occurrences of déjà vu.
Derek Jeter willed the Yankees into the lead not once but twice. The captain made sure that his late-game heroics would not rest in peace along with the original Yankee Stadium.
Shortly thereafter, a very familiar sound began to crescendo over the stadium’s myriad of speakers:
“Say your prayers little one
It was of course the uplifting lyrics of Enter Sandman by Metallica, a song Yankees fans have sung along to many times before. It helps to resurrect “The House that Ruth Built,” and forces you to think back to lists of everlasting memories.
There was now just one missing element to a prototypical “Yankees Classic.” The game had to end as a result of an unexpected moment involving a surprising underdog as hero. After nearly five hours of rain-soaked baseball, the Bronx got its wish.
Up to the plate stepped a little used outfielder who was left for dead within the Yankees organization. He lost his starting job, and only remained on the Major League roster as a result of Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon’s recent injury histories.
Wearing a new number in 2008 to attempt a new beginning in New York, Melky Cabrera was forced to face former teammate Dan Giese. He was in danger of becoming a member of the very undesirable “golden sombrero” club.
A “golden sombrero” represents a player striking out four times in just one game, and Cabrera was poised to do so in consecutive at-bats. One magical swing later, however, he was instead met with a mob of teammates jumping around like home plate had suddenly become a trampoline.
Cabrera had hit the first walk-off home run at the new stadium, and began to recapture the mystique that flowed through the walls of the old ballpark.
Heroics from the Yankee captain? Check. Dominance from Mariano Rivera after a karaoke-like sing along? Check. Storybook ending? Check. Unsung hero? Check.
Yankee Stadium felt familiar for the first time, and more importantly, it felt like home.
Jeter, Cano, Rivera Lead Comeback: Why Jackie Robinson is Smiling in Heaven
April 15 represents a moment in American history that is equally as significant as any ingredient of the Civil Rights Movement.
On that special day in 1947, Jackie Robinson tore down the walls that once impeded his race’s inclusion into America’s Pastime.
Robinson proudly donned a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, and jogged onto a baseball diamond with motives far stronger and more powerful than winning a pennant.
He forced America to watch as a black man proved that he was not only an equal to his white colleagues, but far superior in many ways.
Robinson’s No. 42 has become as much a symbol for civil rights and equally in the United States as the commanding images of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
In his honor, Major League Baseball has permanently declared April 15 as “Jackie Robinson Day.”
Stadiums across the country quickly become a sea of No. 42s, filled with appreciation and gratitude for the tireless fight of one brave man.
One game played across the Major League landscape on Wednesday truly encompassed what “Jackie Robinson Day” is all about.
The game involved the New York Yankees, whose city was Robinson’s battlefield for 10 years.
There may not have been a steal of home like Robinson had effortlessly done so many times before, but he was certainly watching and smiling from where we all hope to end up one day.
The heroes of a prototypical Yankee comeback were the only three players who could possibly have been involved on this day. On April 15, it had to be Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Mariano Rivera.
First, it was Robinson Cano’s turn to make a contribution.
Immediately after Andy Pettitte surrendered two runs, Cano responded with a blast to center field which tied the game. As momentum began to slip away, he made sure that he created a strong impact.
Robinson Cano is not only a proud black baseball player. Cano’s father named his son after Jackie Robinson, never knowing he would help to follow in Jackie’s bottomless legacy.
It cannot simply be coincidental that a man named Robinson was thrust into the center of an April 15 victory.
Cano also plays Robinson’s position at second base; as if part of him has lived on through a dyslexic version of himself (Cano of course wears No. 24).
The game’s go-ahead run was driven in off the bat of Derek Jeter. The son of a black father, Jeter is very proud of his heritage.
Who better to represent Robinson’s legacy than someone with the class and dignity displayed by the Yankee captain?
Jeter’s hard hit single through the left side of the infield gave New York a 4-3 lead, and set the stage for the ideal ending to “Jackie Robinson Day.”
As if stolen from the final pages of an inspirational children’s book, Rivera approached the mound to secure the game’s final outs.
Rivera is the only player in Major League Baseball that did not require a custom-made Jackie Robinson commemorative jersey.
He has proudly worn No. 42 for his entire career, and remains the only current player still privileged to do so.
The game was over in just eight pitches, and Rivera closed the book on a perfect tribute to the game’s most courageous performer.
Somewhere in God’s vast kingdom, Robinson was on a pristine baseball diamond playing the game that he helped to build.
At some point during the game, he briefly stopped to smile and acknowledge the immeasurable respect and admiration the country will forever have for him.
He couldn’t stop for long.
After all, the pitcher hasn’t looked him back all day, and home plate is his if he wants it.
Derek Jeter’s Giant Heart: How He Helped a Young Boy Rise from the Ashes
On June 3, 2003, Derek Jeter was crowned the 11th captain of the Yankees long and illustrious history.
Long before the day that may rank at the top of his life’s proudest moments, Jeter was able to help lift a tiny Yankees fan back onto his feet.
Expecting to celebrate his 11th birthday on November 26, 1996, a young boy sprinted out of his elementary school’s doors.
The excitement of the day nearly overtook him as he looked around for his mother’s car, knowing he was mere minutes away from cake, candles, and a pile of toys.
The boy heard a familiar voice call out to him from a familiar car. Neither the voice nor the car, however, belonged to his mother.
A friend of the family explained that the boy needed to get into the car with them, and that there wasn’t time to stop at home.
The boy’s house was no further than the distance traveled during the home run trot of his hero Don Mattingly, and he knew something had crushed his birthday dreams.
The boy’s house and most of his Yankees treasures had been left in ashes after an aggressive electrical fire.
That boy was me.
Though flames were not exactly the perfect gift for the occasion, material possessions could be replaced. The important thing was that no one was injured, and even the family cat somehow survived with no more than a cough.
As with all fires, some things could never be replaced. Accompanying antiques and family pictures on that list were a bevy of Yankees collectibles which were accumulated over the years.
At the youthful age of 11, children do not fully understand the impact of life’s misfortunes. So long as everyone is ok, the next essential on the list involves a favorite card, game, poster, or autograph.
The New York Yankees had just won the first World Series of my lifetime, and nothing else in the world mattered.
The retirement of Mattingly after the 1995 season left me in search of a new active player to look up to.
As the starting shortstop of a little league team, it seemed only natural to be drawn to a baby-faced Yankee wearing No. 2.
After all, Jeter had just won the AL Rookie of the Year award. At just 22 years old, he was already fitting himself for the first of his four World Series rings.
Months before the fire, I bought a pack of 1996 Score baseball cards. Inside of its shiny wrapping was the most thrilling sight these eyes had seen in years.
Scattered amongst Heathcliff Slocumb, Geronimo Berroa, and Marty Cordova rested a mint condition Derek Jeter rookie card.
After jumping as if I was on a trampoline in the back yard, I settled my heartbeat and immediately placed it into a protective casing.
It meant so much to me that it was placed in a special box underneath my bed; a spot reserved for the true “untouchables.”
As a result, the newest priceless member of my collection was tucked safely out of harm’s way. The baseball gods would not allow the flames to destroy the next Yankee Messiah.
While sitting in a hotel room, my mind raced as we awaited relocation into a temporary rental house. A brilliant idea then struck my brain.
Why not send my prized rookie card directly to Jeter at Yankee Stadium?
If I could only acquire his autograph across the card’s facing, imagine how “totally rad” that would be! (The Ninja Turtles were still controlling my vocabulary at the time)
Weeks later, I sat down in front of a computer screen and began typing to my newest hero. I told the future captain my story, and confessed my desire to one day be as talented as he is.
I folded the letter in three sections like they had shown us in school, though it took me many tries to perfect the craft. The card was dropped into the envelope behind it, and its next destination was the back of a mail truck.
Each week seemed to last a year, and I wondered if Jeter had received my plea.
Then one day, I returned home from a long day at school to find a letter in the middle of my mattress. “It is postmarked from…YANKEE STADIUM!”
After entering into a horizontal dive onto my bed, I cautiously tore open the top of the envelope.
There might as well have been a 50-percent stake in Bill Gates’ estate inside, because its contents meant equally as much at the time.
The card had been returned with Jeter’s smooth signature written across his pinstriped jersey…just as I had always dreamed.
It no longer mattered that I was going to live in a foreign home for seven months. It no longer mattered that most of my toys were gone forever.
Jeter instead gave a young boy all the reason he needed in the world to smile. He gave a young boy a role model and a source of inspiration.
That same smile is just a recollection away.
The young boy still inside me will never forget how the Yankee captain lifted his spirits when he needed it most.
All it took was a pen and a stamp, but my outlook was forever changed.
Yankees PA Announcer Bob Sheppard Remains Sick: A Tribute to “The Voice of God”
Bob Sheppard has been the voice of the New York Yankees since 1951, and has been referred to as “The Voice of God” for equally as long.
His smooth voice has announced virtually every single Yankee immortal, and his eyes have witnessed most of the stadium’s greatest moments.
Sheppard will be forced to miss another timeless moment in Yankee history, as an illness will prevent him from doing on opening day what he has done for over 50 years.
Listed at 98 years old, Sheppard’s enormous heart keeps beating, and he intends to return to the microphone sometime in April.
I say “listed at 98″ because he had gone to great lengths in order to maintain the secrecy of his age. It was only disclosed as a result of an ex-Yankee employee’s testimony.
Sheppard has unfortunately struggled through a bronchial infection for quite some time now, and in unsure of a finite recovery date.
As much a symbol of the Yankee organization as George Steinbrenner, Sheppard has been given the honor of a dining area being named after him in the new stadium.
One of my first Yankee Stadium memories was Sheppard announcing my childhood idol Don Mattingly batting third and playing first base:
“At first base…No. 23…Don Mattingly…No. 23.”
Sheppard is so beloved in the Bronx that Derek Jeter refused to be announced by anyone else following his departure due to illness.
The Yankees subsequently played a recording of Sheppard’s voice introducing the Yankee shortstop, as if “The Voice of God” had never left:
I had the great pleasure to attend the final game ever played at the old Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008.
During the farewell ceremonies, Sheppard made a surprise appearance on the outfield video screen.
The stadium grew silent, and every fan in the stands that day waited with baited breath to hear what he had to say.
Appearing in better shape than most had feared, Sheppard read a short poem about the stadium he loved and the franchise that looked up to him:
The new stadium will feel like an alien planet when fans show up on April 16 to watch the home opener. However, it would have at least sounded like home had Sheppard’s voice carried over the stadium’s speakers.
We will all miss hearing him for our own selfish reasons as the season begins, but all we can hope for is his speedy and complete recovery.
Here’s to you Mr. Sheppard.
You are the game’s best PA announcer, but most of all you are a great man.
R.I.P. Yankee Stadium: A Picture Truly IS Worth 1000 Words
Here lies “The House That Ruth Built” (1923-2008):
(Courtesy of This Purist Bleeds Pinstripes)It was almost time for baseball season, and the Bronx would once again be alive with chants, rants, cheers, and boos.
In 2009, however, the tradition will be carried across the street to the new Yankee Stadium.
It is otherwise referred to as “The House That Steroids Built”, “The Eighth Wonder of the World”, or “Steinbrenner’s Last Gasp”; depending on my mood.
The concept of a picture being worth 1000 words is a severe understatement in this case.
The above photo is worth a never-ending novel filled with timeless memories, reflections, and the disbelief that it is truly over.
Symbolic of a grave site for a fallen hero, the shell of the original Yankee Stadium appears more similar to the ruins of the Roman Coliseum than a place just six months removed from game action.
If not for the rounded outfield fence and sharp contrast in color between the dirt and lifeless grass, it would be difficult to determine what sport was played here.
It is truly depressing to see how a structure that provided the heartbeat for an entire city could decompose so quickly without care and a watchful eye.
It is fitting that the brightest section of the stadium lies beyond the outfield wall, where countless home runs landed off the bats of the game’s greatest players.
The Yankees will ensure that new storybook endings are created as soon as possible. However, it will take decades to recapture the essence of history and tradition that the old stadium represented.
This photo symbolizes the rapid fall of the most recent Yankee dynasty. All that remains from the best of times are Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte.
Even the great George Steinbrenner has lost the ability to make his mark on the proud franchise.
The new stadium is as much a tribute to all that Steinbrenner represented as it is to the greatest team in sports history.
I eagerly anticipate the day that I first walk through the gates across the street, and officially become a part of the dawning of a new legacy in the Bronx.
Derek Jeter to Lead Off: Manager Joe Girardi Makes an Interesting Switch
Derek Jeter has always been No. 1 in the hearts of every Yankee fan in the Bronx and across the globe.
However, he has always been associated with No. 2 in scorecards and anything associated with a baseball diamond.
Proudly wearing No. 2 on the back of a pinstriped jersey, he has also hit second in the Yankee lineup for seemingly his entire career.
In this tough economy, apparently even The Captain needs to ‘set the table’.
The move further hammers home the concept of Brett Gardner winning the center field spot.
Joe Girardi can now break up the back-to-back lefties of Gardner and Damon as the lineup turns over.
Jeter has generally had a much higher on-base percentage during his career than Damon. Jeter has posted a career .387 OBP in comparison to Damon’s .354 OBP.
Damon’s power numbers also add a greater dynamic to the No. 2 hole, as he can better protect Mark Teixeira.
Another interesting stat which helps to tell the story is the risk of the double play.
During their careers, Jeter has grounded into 195 double plays as opposed to only 73 for Damon. Both have played 13 full seasons in the Major Leagues.
These numbers are staggering, and have gone overlooked for quite some time.
Damon’s leadoff prowess and propensity to generate walks was being compromised by Jeter’s inability to avoid killing rallies with a ground ball.
An alarming 45 of his 195 double plays were created during the last two seasons alone.
Joe Girardi is attempting to ensure Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez (when healthy) as many RBI opportunities as possible in 2009.
Jeter strikes out at a higher rate than the typical leadoff hitter, but his savvy baserunning and ability to get on base should help to counteract that.
Fans and scouts had been calling for Jeter to be moved for quite some time now.
However, they had their sights set on the outfield, DH, or first base as opposed to the leadoff spot in the batting order.
Jeter’s range has declined in recent years, and the World Baseball Classic seemed to emphasize the point as athletically gifted Jimmy Rollins outshined him drastically.
Girardi has done a very smart thing here, and it should help to maximize the productivity of the revamped Yankee lineup.
As the Captain and unquestionable face of the franchise, no one else should step to the plate first in the new Yankee Stadium other than Jeter:
“Now batting…for the New York Yankees…number two…Derek Jee-tah…number two.”
Derek Jeter’s Top 10 Yankee Moments Part 2: Countdown #5 – #1
5. Jeter Dives into the Stands
On July 1, 2004, Jeter made one of the most courageous defensive plays in Yankee history against the rivaled Red Sox.
He went on a full sprint toward the 3B line on a Trot Nixon popup, and made an excellent backhanded grab.
His momentum carried him three rows deep into the stands as Alex Rodriguez looked on as if to wonder, “How can a player be so selfless? He already got his big contract”.
As he emerged from the stands bloodied and bruised, Jeter won over even the most hateful of Boston fans.
4. Jeter Wins the 2000 World Series MVP
In capturing its fourth World Series title in a span of only five years, the Yankees defeated the New York Mets 4-1 in an overly hyped “subway series”.
Jeter hit .409 with a .480 on-base percentage, while also hitting two home runs and scoring six times.
“Captain Clutch” lived up to his nickname during the most important World Series victory of the dynasty years. If they won it was anticipated. If they lost, it was unforgivable.
3. Jeffrey Maier
During Game One of the 1996 ALCS, Jeter lifted a fly ball deep to right field.
It appeared to be headed for the stands. Then it appeared that Orioles RF Tony Tarasco had a beat on it.
Luckily for the Yankees, 12 year old Yankees fan Jeffrey Maier had brought his glove to the game that day.
He reached over the wall and pulled Jeter’s fly ball into his lap. After much protesting and deliberation, it was ruled a home run.
The Yankees continued their storybook season on their way to capturing they first title in 18 years.
2. “Mr. November”
Due to the September 11 attacks on New York City, the baseball season was stretched out longer than originally anticipated.
As a result, the World Series entered a month it had never seen before during a magical Game Four in the Bronx.
As the clock struck midnight during an extra inning game, it had officially become November 1, 2001.
Jeter then deposited an offering from Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim over the right field wall for a walk-off homer.
Forever earning the nickname “Mr. November”, Jeter then tied the series at 2-2 and temporarily kept the team’s dreams alive.
1. “The Flip”
Jeter made his greatest defensive play as a Yankee during Game Three of the 2001 ALDS against the Oakland Athletics.
After a double down the right field line, Yankees OF Shane Spencer badly overthrew the cutoff man while attempting to stop a critical run from scoring.
Jeter came out of nowhere to scoop up the errant throw, and ultimately saved the Yankees from elimination by shoveling it to Jorge Posada for the out.
He had no business being in the area as ****, but his instincts and playmaking ability took over.
FOX announcer Thom Brennaman’s play-by-play:
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