Breaking News: Derek Jeter likes to win, doesn’t kill puppies in his spare time

October 26th, 2006 → 10:27 am @ // No Comments

The Times‘s Tyler Kepner has an update on the love affair between Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. (How could a headline like “Jeter Unable to Make it Easier for Rodriguez” not be good news for the Yankees?)

During the year I spent with the Red Sox, my opinion of Jeter improved greatly; I went from thinking he was among the most overpaid and overrated players in baseball history to appreciating his — and yes, I know this is going to sound shockingly close to the “Captain Intangibles” crap that Yankees fans so often get mocked for — approach to the game and his leadership. He goes out of his way to take young players under his range-less wing; he’s much more likely to give you a good at-bat than are most players; and he’s among the better winners in the game (compared to, say, Kevin Millar). But if A-Rod is going to be with the Yankees next year, Jeter — who told some Sox players, sotto voce, that he didn’t disagree with their criticisms during the ’05 pre-season — should find a way not to telegraph the fact that he hates his partner of the left side of the infield. To wit:

“Jeter said he expected Rodriguez to be back, but did not have any ideas on how he could make life easier for his teammate. Jeter, the Yankees’ captain, has been criticized for his seemingly lukewarm support of Rodriguez.

‘What would you like me to do?’ Jeter said. ‘You’re there and you support him. Everybody supports all your teammates at all times. I don’t really know if there’s anything else I can do. Maybe I’m not that smart; maybe you can help me out.'”

Jeter is smart — at least compared to most baseball players — and he knows he could do a lot more than say, “yeah, whatever, that guy’s not bad.”

That aspect of Kepner’s piece is sort of amusing — it’s (almost) always fun to watch 30-something multi-, multi-millionaires act like petulant little bitches. What bugs me is the piece’s lede:

“ST. LOUIS, Oct. 25 — Derek Jeter has been traveling in Europe, and he said Wednesday that he had not seen any of this year’s World Series. This is the time of year when Jeter, the Yankees’ shortstop, would rather be playing than watching.”

As opposed to whom? Pretty much every single major leaguer in the world would rather be playing in October; even Manny knows that. The endless articles celebrating Jeter’s desire to play in the World Series are ridiculous. Yes, we know Jeter likes the Series; that’s about as far from unique as is possible. And yes, we know he, along with the rest of the Yankees, he thinks of the Series as more of a right and less of a privilege; that’s the unique part. If you want to point something out, focus on that.


Post Categories: A-Rod & Derek Jeter & Sports Reporters

3 Comments → “Breaking News: Derek Jeter likes to win, doesn’t kill puppies in his spare time”


  1. Mr. Furious

    18 years ago

    The endless articles celebrating Jeter’s desire to play in the World Series are ridiculous. Yes, we know Jeter likes the Series; that’s about as far from unique as is possible. And yes, we know he, along with the rest of the Yankees, he thinks of the Series as more of a right and less of a privilege; that’s the unique part. If you want to point something out, focus on that.

    Nicely put Seth.

    I think i t’s pretty clear that Jeter left ARod hung out to dry and continues to do so. His behavior over the last season or two regarding ARod should pretty much unravel the nice impression he made on you in ’04.

    Reply

  2. Mr. Furious

    18 years ago

    While I’m slamming Mr Yankee, let me point readers to this breakdown of the top AL hitters and where Hanry Aaron Award winner Derek Jeter fits in the list. (Oddly Kevin Millar figures prominantly in this comparison as well…)

    I don’t even know WTF SecA and IsoP are, but I know Jeter sure as hell didn’t deserve this award. There is nothing “intangible” about the Aaron Award. It is hitting and stats. Period. It is the one award where a guy like Ortiz should be able to say, “So what if I’m a DH. Hand it over.”

    I guess Jeter should just clear a space on his mantle for his MVP now. At this rate, leave room for another undeserved Gold Glove and, what the hell, give him the Cy Young and a freaking Grammy as well.

    Reply

  3. Nordberg

    18 years ago

    I’m sick of this Jeter Hero talk.
    The guy doesn’t deserve the MVP simply because of the way he continues to ostracize Rodriguez.
    If a guy truely is the most valuable to his team, he doesn’t pull crap like that.
    Maybe the MVP isn’t Ortiz, but it sure as hell ain’t Jeter, either.

    Reply

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