Derek Jeter has something to say after all
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 30, 2007 
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What’s gotten into Derek Jeter these days?
Like fellow Nike salesmen Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, Jeter always managed to keep himself above the fray, pitching the press only cliches and slices of humble pie.
Then yesterday he stood up straight and delivered a ringing defense of Joe Torre (see previous post). If there was a podium in the clubhouse, Jeter would have pounded his fist on it.
Now we get word that Jeter sent a supportive letter to the Rutgers women’s basketball team in the wake of the Imus mess.
We can only imagine what’s next. But Derek Jeter with a conscience, we like it.
Oh that’s great, now he is doing his best Curt Schilling impression. Maybe he should just concentrate on baseball.
But remember, he can’t tell the fans what to think or say about A-Rod.
why don’t you support a-rod?
i agree with the arod comments, if he were such a perfect guy who could’ve thrown his arm around him last year and given him public support- the captain of the team should be worried about other yankees first
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Jeter doing the following “unthinkable” things:
1) Being a leader.
2) Being a role model.
First off everyone is saying “He supports Torre but not A-Rod”. I don’t think so. Everyone has a job to do…A-Rod last year was not doing his. Torre is doing his now but Jeter is right. Torre can’t control injuries and can’t control performance. He can calm, motivate, scream, throw chairs, whatever…but the players have to do WHAT THEY’RE PAID TO DO. If not, he can bench them or send them to the minors.
As far as supporting the Rutgers team…good for him. Whether we like it or not, sports figures are role models, and it’s good to see him continuing to act like one. And why not? He runs a charity too…whats wrong with giving verbal support as well as monetary.
Personally I think Jeter has matured over the years and is now REALLY acting like a Captain. Not that he wasn’t before but now it’s obvious he’s willing to live up to the mantle…just like Thurmon and Donny before him.
This was brought on by the A-Rod debacle. Jeter probably realized that he wasn’t speaking out in support enough and wasn’t always the best captain. A-Rod is changing things around this year….and I think Jeter is too.
I nominate Jeter for the “Just Shut Up” award. I”m tired of his selective I-speak-for-who-I-like. Also, Torre is not getting booed by fans relentlessy, so I don’t see the need for the Captain to speak up for him. Not to mention the fact Torre blew a 3-0 lead to their biggest rival in the playoffs and was not fired….this guy hardly needs any defending.
Too little too late for Jeter, he has always been a boring quote.
Negotiating the press (and infantile bandwagon fans) in NYC is about as easy as surfing shark infested waters wearing chopped meat shorts.
It seems to me that Jeter’s reluctance to be more public with his support of A-Rod last year (remember this happened LAST YEAR) was just as likely a strategic decision designed to avoid drawing even more attention to A-Rod’s troubles. Maybe Jetes learned that from his Giambi experience. No, of course that’s not possible. You all know Jeter and A-Rod personally and have inside information on which to base your condemnations of Jeter.
When A-Rod cleared the air and spoke his mind this spring, everyone applauded him. He said that he knew that Jeter supported him all along and Jeter said that he supported A-Rod. The soap opera was over for these two men and Jeter and A-Rod got off to blistering starts even if the rest of the team didn’t. What is wrong with all of you that you cannot let this go? A-Rod is apparently satisfied. It’s you who can’t do without the drama. It’s the only part of baseball that bandwagon fans understand.
So, you criticize Jeter for speaking up about Joe and the Rutgers Imus fiasco. You’re actually criticizing Jeter for taking a stand. Wait, I thought that’s what you criticized him for not doing last year with A-Rod. And now Jeter has to shut up?
The latest “Jeter is a hypocrite” reaction is why some people correctly figure that taking public stances is the surest path to misery and decide to keep their mouths shut.
The truth is that you guys are the hypocrites, not Jeter. Focus a little more on baseball and drop the personal drama class.
Oh stop with the fawning over AROD!!
Fact is,he can hit 100 homers next week,and he will still be the guy who only likes to pad his stats,as evident by his look at me,arnt I amazing runs around the bases,this season.
PPL forget that just last season,the Yanks were 10 games behind Boston,and ended up 10 games ahead,for 2 reasons,Torre’s calm,and Jeter’s unrelenting desire to win.
YES Jeter makes mistakes sometimes,we all do,but for him,the desire to win has never subsided no matter how much money he makes.
The problem with the Yankees lies with Steinbrenner,he insisted on bringing too many highly paid superstars,and NONE of them that were brought in have the JETER DESIRE to win!!! They are happy to pad stats and pick up paycheques,and thts it.
AROD certainly has more natural ability than Jeter,but doesnt possess the grit and desire,he is only a happy camper as long as we all LOVE HIM!!! He falls to pieces whenever the going gets tough,Jeter has had it good and bad,and has been cool/calm and classy throughout,just like TORRE.
Yankees need to offload the superstars and find more young players,who are making very little money but have burning to win,just like Jeter.The team needs more of him.
Couldn’t be more wrong murph.
Jeter brought this upon himself.
Two ways of looking at his comments:
1. Selfish. He likes playing for Torre and he wants him to stay on for his own reasons.
2. He is doing what he thinks is in the best interests of the team.
Perhaps, its a little of both.
But, you can’t say, “I can’t control what the fans do”, which he said last year during the ARod mess, yet come out strong for his friends, Knoblauch, Giambi and Torre when times are tough in their careers, doing EXACTLY what he said he couldn’t do for ARod. Trying to control how the fans feel.
Jeter is no dummy. He knows where public opinion is right now.
Its off base to call those who question what he is now doing, “hypercrites”.
My opinion? Jeter, like many people, like comfort. He likes knowing what the routine is everyday, and with Joe Torre, he knows he will get that.
I don’t have problems with what he said. I have a BIG problem with the selective way he goes about it.
Like I said in another post, that’s another issue for another day.
You can’t be a selective captain. He has been in his tenure and folks, rightly, IMO, have called him on it.
Now, if he wants to be a real captain, he calls a closed door meeting in Texas, reads the riot act to his teammates (like, “Bobby Abreu, the next time you try to bunt 4 times in a game, I am going to kick your butt”) and they begin to play better baseball.
But, picking and choosing who he publicly supports has been a big weakness in Jeter’s term as captain of the Yankees.
The ARod stuff is water under the bridge now. But, folks commenting about Jeter’s actions yesterday aren’t “hypercrites” in the slightest.
They may have just noticed what others have felt all along.
Oh please, because of Jeter’s desire to win??? So Torre and Jeter did all the work by themselves. None of the other 24 guys had anything to do with it? Some people truly have their heads way too far up Jeter’s gluteus maximus.
well said murphydog
SJ:
1) It’s hypocrite, not hypercrite.
2) I think we can agree that Jeter is not lying when he says that all he wants to do is win the World Series every year. If Jeter likes winning and Joe is a loser why would he support Joe? Where is the “comfort” of being doomed to defeat by a loser like Joe?
3) What are the other examples to which you refer of the picking and choosing that has been “the big weakness of his tenure as captain”? I’m aware of his public support of Giambi and his less than effusive public comments about A-Rod. And now he come out to support Joe, as has A-Rod and Giambi. If it’s such a marked weakness than you should have no trouble showing us the clear pattern of this failure. I’m guessing that it’s more than just three events over the last 5 or 6 years or whatever it’s been.
4) Is Giambi guilty of not supporting A-Rod?
5) How about every other member of the team who did not come out publicly to “support” A-Rod? If you don’t criticize them too aren’t you a hypocrite? Don’t you then apply double standards?
6) How much support and what kind of support qualifies under your test? And is your test of support the only one that counts?
7) What if Jeter’s support of A-Rod, although not public, was sufficient for A-Rod? That’s what A-Rod said this spring, that Jeter supported him and that he knew that all along. If it’s good enough for A-Rod why isn’t it good enough for you?
Its interesting that you would take ARod’s public comments and use them as the basis for your argument.
Do you think, in the last year of his deal, ARod was looking to re-ignite that flame? Of course, he’s not.
As far as the examples I cited, how many players in Jeter’s reign as captain have been under the white hot daily glare of the public?
Answer: 3 players (Knoblauch, Giambi and ARod) and now, one manager.
Jeter came out publicly and aggressively (at least for him) in 3 instances and stayed silent for one.
Is that a coincidence or something more meaningful?
I find it hard for you to conclude its just a coincidence and completely blow off those of us who don’t buy it (since EVERYTHING Jeter does publicly is scripted) are 100% off base.
He’s close 3 of those he defended publicly and no longer close to the one person he didn’t publicly defend.
You see it as a coincidence. I see it as a flaw in his captaincy. Reasonable minds can differ but, you have to admit, its is interesting who he defended and who he didn’t.
I have no big complaint with Jeter. I just find it funny/ironic when he chooses to go public with things and how its some sort of “sin” if someone questions him on it.
As far as his “comfort level”, perhaps he is too close to the situation to offer objective analysis.
Sometimes, when folks are emotionally invested, they aren’t always objective when it comes to making tough decisions.
Derek Jeter is a baseball player, and a great one at that. He isn’t the owner or the general manager. Its great that he supports his manager but, his “word” shouldn’t carry any weight in the discussion.
Decisions on the manager’s fate should come from the owner and GM, not a player. Which is why I don’t put any weight in what he says. Means nothing to me and it shouldn’t have any bearing on whatever decision they make with Torre.
I have already said that if they aren’t going to replace him with Girardi, its best they keep him for the rest of the year, provided that he doesn’t injure any of the young pitchers.
Aside from that, Jeter’s comments, while good for the beat writers to get something more than just cliche’s out of him, really don’t offer any concrete insight as to why Torre should stay, or go, as a manager.
Saying the, “manager isn’t the one playing”, is laughable. If that’s the criteria for a manager, then the Yankees are seriously overpaying for the position.
Sometimes, you can’t just fall on cliche’s when defending decisions.
The selective way that Jeter has gone about defending those in the cross hairs? Interesting topic for another day.
SJ:
Question Jeter on anything you want. I’m not commenting on your right to question things. I’m commenting on the logic and objectivity you employ when doing so. For example:
1) How the hell do you know whether Jeter is “close” to anybody? Does he speak to you personally?
2) If A-Rod doesn’t wish to continue the issue, why do you?
3) When it comes to Joe (whose competence at even the most basic levels you question at least three times a day) you say: “Its great that he (Jeter) supports his manager but, his “wordâ€? shouldn’t carry any weight in the discussion.” Yet, at the same time Jeter’s weightless words should have been thrown around on behalf of A-Rod in the press last year.
4) According to you there have been three occasions when Jeter has spoken up and one when he hasn’t. Over the last 5 or 6 years there have been countless slumps and down cycles for countless players that have come and gone in the Yankee system. You have come to a conclusion about Jeter based on FOUR incidents? Ever hear of SMALL SAMPLE? To you that’s proof of a real weakness in his tenure?
5) “Decisions on the manager’s fate should come from the owner and GM, not a player. Which is why I don’t put any weight in what he says. Means nothing to me and it shouldn’t have any bearing on whatever decision they make with Torre.” So, in the Bible according to SJ, Jeter may only speak up on behalf of players, not managers. And then he must speak up loud enough to satisfy you? Maybe it’s just me but I thought that Big Stein anointed Jeter as Captain because he respects Jeter and his opinion does matter.
SJ, you are entitled to your opinions. I would find it far more easy to just read them and move on if you would only occasionally change subjects and acknowledge the highly subjective nature of your views.
Great. Jetes supports the Rutgers Womens’ Basketball Team. Next he’ll tell us he’s also against domestic violence and juvenile drug use.
Way to go out on a limb, Jetes. Now get some hits and play better defense.
“First off everyone is saying “He supports Torre but not A-Rodâ€?. I don’t think so. Everyone has a job to do…A-Rod last year was not doing his. Torre is doing his now but Jeter is right.”
AROD had a lot of errors. So did Jeter this month. Was Jeter not doing his job to make six errors in like two weeks? AROD also fell into a batting slump. So did Jeter in 2005. Was Jeter not doing his job then, too?
“The truth is that you guys are the hypocrites, not Jeter. Focus a little more on baseball and drop the personal drama class.”
Who died and made you god, murphydog? Don’t tell us what to say. We’re allowed to disagree with you, ya know.
God – you’re all so miserable.
I have a friend who is the exact opposite of me and my other Yankee friends. He’s been calling for Torre to be fired and Rivera to be traded for at least 4 years now. Recently he’s also been ripping Jeter for the whole Erod fiasco. We always laughed him off as part of a very vocal minority. But the more I read comments on these message boards, the more it shocks me as to how many of you jeter haters there are out there. If you want to tell me that Torre needs to go, that it’s time for a new voice, I can accept that. Although i think the yankees will rebound and make the playoffs much easier with Torre than another manager. But for you guys to rip Jeter is just unbelievable. Here is a home grown player who has done nothing but win. He plays his butt off night in and night out. he never gets into trouble off the field. He’s everything that us fans always ask for in a superstar player. Yet now we’re calling him boring and selfish? Unreal.
“But for you guys to rip Jeter is just unbelievable. Here is a home grown player who has done nothing but win.”
He hasn’t won diddly squat since Paul O’Neill retired.
“He plays his butt off night in and night out. he never gets into trouble off the field.”
So does AROD. But Jeter couldn’t bother saying one word in his teammate’s defense.
Like I said, it’s unbelievable the lack of respect some Yankee fans give Jeter. Erod left Seattle and the next year the team was better. He left Texas and the next year the team was better. A lot of the players in texas couldnt stand the guy either. Was that jeter’s fault? Should hae have flown out there and put his arm around him? And when he opts out of his deal at the end of this year and goes to LA or wherever, the yanks will end up being better in 2008. I understand he’s a terrific talent and puts up huge numbers and that the yanks wont find one player who can fill his stats. But that’s just fine, lets take the 22-25 million it will command to sign him this offseason and spend it on two 10 million dollar players. That’s what Seattle and Texas did, and it worked just fine. It’s also what the yankees did in the 90′s and that seemed to work out fine too.
So how many WS have the Rangers and Mariners won since A-rod left? I”ll tell ya zero, nada. Some improvemen..
“Erod left Seattle and the next year the team was better. He left Texas and the next year the team was better.”
That might have had something to do with the pitching improving, you know. Besides, what kind of “fan” are you to refer to Alex As “Erod” anyway.
“And when he opts out of his deal at the end of this year and goes to LA or wherever, the yanks will end up being better in 2008.”
If you think this team will be better without him, you’re not watching the games closely. AROD is the only thing that kept this team in half these games to begin with. You must be so happy that he’s not on fire right now, so you can go back to bashing him.
Wow can’t believe this has turned into yet another Jeter vs ARod debate when that isn’t at all what this post was about. It’s over, they’re not talking about it anymore so why are we?
I just wanted to say that I don’t know if anyone remembers but sometime in 2005 Jeter got some anonymous hate mail threatening him about dating outside his race or some nonsense like that. In light of that I think it is great that he made a point to show his support to other public figures who were the victims of racism. Good for him.
Like someone else had said, it does astonish me a bit to see so many Jeter haters on a Yankees blog. Jeter is a human being and maybe he doesn’t handle every situation perfectly, but he has led this team and continues to do so, was an integral part of 4 World Championships and is a shining example of greatness on and off the field. What’s not to love?
Oh, and I love how that article mentions Jersey pride AND Jersey anger.
“What’s not to love?”
By the way, this is how I feel about all of our players! Why tear one down to build another one up?
“Like someone else had said, it does astonish me a bit to see so many Jeter haters on a Yankees blog.”
And it astonishes me to see AROD haters/Yankee fans call him EROD and say that the team will be better without him last year. So there ya go.
Gee you mean Jeter plays favorites just liek his favorite manager?
What a shock.
How about he stop talking and start laying out for balls hit to his left and stop with this “oh lay” crap.
Now would be as good a time as any to remind the A-Rod haters that even in a “bad” year, he was still by far the best 3rd baseman in the AL in 2006. Check VORP for just offense & Win Shares for overall performance.
“AROD had a lot of errors. So did Jeter this month. Was Jeter not doing his job to make six errors in like two weeks? AROD also fell into a batting slump. So did Jeter in 2005. Was Jeter not doing his job then, too?”
Mary, show me the last time Jeter was benched or batted 8th. Thank you, case closed, and I think I speak for us all when I say go the way of rainbowtrout and keep quiet until you have something intelligent to say. Weren’t there at least a half a dozen other threads where people were asking you to shut up?
Countryclub… You may believe that A Rod is opting out, but the 5500 square foot apartment in the Upper East Side he is purchasing says differently. Check my blog… Ross(The other blogger) just leaked this news.
Jeter is a very good player. He’s our Capt. He should of supported A-Rod publicly last yr. The Capt should stick up/defend the TEAM. Even if he was angry at a team member. As a fan, I think I have the right to say what I feel. And so do YOU!
God, I’m starting to really hate the comments section on this blog.
Ant928 says:”Mary, show me the last time Jeter was benched or batted 8th.”
Jeter was benched Thursday night, dearie. Your point is?
“Thank you, case closed, and I think I speak for us all when I say go the way of rainbowtrout and keep quiet until you have something intelligent to say. Weren’t there at least a half a dozen other threads where people were asking you to shut up?”
Um, sweetie, lemme explain something to ya. Unless your name is Peter Abraham, you don’t get to tell me to shut up. And no, you don’t get to speak for anybody but yourself. Sorry that I didn’t wanna join your JETER is teh clutch11111 lovefest, but guess what? I still get to talk here.
P.S. A class in rhetoric or logic would work wonders for ya. Just sayin.
After the first few comments, I stopped reading. Anybody still wasting time on the gratuitously over-inflated 2006 drama that is Jeter/A-rod needs to move on. It’s May 2007. Jeez Louise…
Most of you are idiots. I don’t understand quite how this turned into Jeter vs. A-rod, especially when that’s not what the main post was about. And, somehow, whenever someone makes a grammar mistake, it is used to say that they aren’t a true Yankees fan? Please, people, pick up a better argument than, “A true yankees fan does not say E-rod.” That’s just stupid.
Now, I’m going to answer most of the arguments on both sides as well as I can.
To those of you who say Jeter should shut up and play: First, he does play. His .323 BA doesn’t just appear. Secondly, it’s his job to speak out. As the captain, it’s his job to defend his Captain, and it’s his job to be a role model.
To those who complain about him “picking and choosing” what he talks about: That’s absolutely ridiculous. By your logic, Jeter should be sounding out against everything on Earth, because anything else would be picking and choosing. He has defended his Manager when Torre was being criticized. Bad? No. He defended against racism. Bad? No. His father and mother were discriminated against for marrying each other. He’s dealt with racism his whole life. So is it bad he defends it? Absolutely not. Jeter didn’t publicly support A-rod last year. Big deal? Apparently not, A-rod said he knew Jeter supported him, so there was obviously some support out of the public eye. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it wasn’t. Jeter knows the New York press better than most people – they can twist your words to mean anything. Perhaps he meant to draw attention away from A-rod by not talking about it. Who knows? None of you, so stop acting like you’re the official moral authority on life.
I think it’s good that Jeter defended Torre, and sent a letter of support during the Imus deal. That’s just my opinion, but I hardly see this as Jeter vs. A-rod, nor as Jeter acting like Curt Schilling.