Jeter: “Season doesn’t get started until we play the home opener”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on Apr 13, 2010 
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When Derek Jeter sat down to address the media this morning, the usual batch of audio recorders were lining the table in front of him.
“I’m going to turn them all off,” he said.
That’s the Yankees captain on opening day, playful and relaxed in a familiar place and a familiar situation.
“It feels like the season doesn’t get started until we play the home opener,” he said.
It’s a little bit chilly in the Bronx, much colder than it was in Boston or Tampa Bay, but Jeter said “you don’t feel it” on Opening Day. This was the first time he’d seen the old stadium torn down. “When we left, the old stadium was there,” he said.
As for the pregame ceremonies, Jeter’s done it before, but it will be the first time he’s gotten a ring on the day of the home opener. Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford will take part in the ring ceremony.
“We get spoiled here,” Jeter said. “We have all of the Yankees legends coming in and out of our clubhouse almost on a regular basis.”
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The AP hasn’t moved a picture of Jeter’s press conference, but there is a shot of him turning a double play in Tampa, so we’ll go with that.
It never gets old to the vets, but this must be really special to the younger and newer players; I’m more excited to see their reaction than anything else.
Jeter needs his own Monument.
Right next to Mount Crushmore.
Where the Babe, Mantle and the others reside.
Kim talking about Sui getting a standing ovation and deserving it. That already made me teary. I miss the class, hard work, and effectiveness he always brought to the game, and always with humility.
Matsui deserves a standing ovation, but I don’t see why he should get the loudest one. Oh well – it’s hardly a competition.
trisha,
absolutely. he better get the loudest ovation of anyone
Hope Matsui hits a HR today! Would be a nice moment for him.
KenDavidoff George Steinbrenner just arrived at Yankee Stadium.
GB I know others have said it but thanks to the game notes link on MLB.com
Reading through it mentions A-Rod’s 3 HRs off Bartolo Colon. That day was crazy. And I loved the section on Andy over the years.
I’m all for giving Matsui a really loud ovation, but i’m not outwardly rooting for him to hit a HR. I mean it would be nice to win today lol.
I hope Matsui hits a HR in every game this year, but against us!!!!
I hope Matsui receives the loudest ovation of the day.
I hope his ovation lasts 5 minutes.
He deserves every minute!!!
He is one of the classiest players to ever wear a Yankees uniform.
Hideki Matsui should have the eternal love of every Yankees fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HIDEKI!!!! FLY HIGH-DEKI!!!!!!!!!
I’m actually excited about all the players getting rings and ovations, not just Matsui.
Most of the team has the opening and feel of the new Stadium out of the way so they can enjoy the festivities even more.
As a huge Matsui fan, always have been, it is nice to see the guy finally get his props. It’s like the WS just reinforced what this guy was always about – clutch hits and shining in the big moments and nothing but class.
Can’t remember how many “send him back to Japan” or “trade him to the San Fran Giants!” posts we’ve seen for the last 2 years.
And ALEX finally get his ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are the moments!!!!!!!
Matsui can hit all the homers he wants just not against the Yankees.
CR9 – Couldn’t agree more man. HIDEKI-SAN!!!
I hope we are leading by 10 runs throughout and Matsui hits a HR in every AB.
That way everyone wins
i agree. . I wish Matsui well . .but NOT against us . . i hope he goes 0-4
I dislike the mob mentality surrounding “Matsui should get the loudest ovation”. It’s coming off as instructions to Yankee fans.
I would give him a standing ovation because of what he did and meant to the organization not because someone told me I should feel that way.
All the talk about it is making it trite now.
MTU(aka GBURL) April 13th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Matsui can hit all the homers he wants just not against the Yankees.
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I second this!!
I’ll never forget Sui apologizing to the fans for getting injured. That absolutely blew me away. I couldn’t agree more that he is one of the classiest players ever to don the pinstripes.
I hope Matsui remains grateful to Masanori Murakami.
I’m a Yankee transplant in LA and cannot watch today’s game at work thanks to MLB.TV’s blackout restrictions (Angels). Does anyone know where I can find the game online? channelsurfing.net and justin.tv don’t seem to have any links for the game today. Thanks!
Pat, I’m also not sure why Matsui deserves any more of an ovation than anyone else. I’m definitely not rooting for him to do well against the Yankees. Let him do well elsewhere, but even if it’s just one single against Andy or whomever, how do we know that wouldn’t lead to a big inning? Matsui is almost becoming bigger than the Yankees.
I hope we are leading by 10 runs throughout and Matsui hits a HR in every AB.
That way everyone wins
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My fantasy team would appreciate this scenario, especially if all 10+ runs are driven in by Alex Rodriguez. Torii Hunter could use a HR as well and Izturis (no, I didn’t want to start him but freakin’ Aaron Hill just HAD to go on the DL) could use a hit or so.
trisha – OPPC member who sees, hears, and knows all. 28 is on its way!!!!! April 13th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I?ll never forget Sui apologizing to the fans for getting injured. That absolutely blew me away.
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trisha-me too! That was unbelievable. He’ll always be one of my favorite Yankees.
Someday when Matsui decides to hang them up I hope he becomes one of our Japanese scouts finding the next Matsui for the Yankees.
what time do the rings get handed out? I don’t want to miss which finger Al put his ring on.
Trisha
Your right about Matsui and class. That is why Derek respects him so much. Takes one to know one.
Brandon
He should use the middle one and show it off immediately to all the people who booed him. But he won’t.
New Post: Hairston flies all night to get his ring
I’m happy Jerry Hairston Jr. is going to be here to get his. Every single Yankee player played some part in their getting to and winning the world series.
tala08 April 13th, 2010 at 11:52 am
GB I know others have said it but thanks to the game notes link on MLB.com
Reading through it mentions A-Rod’s 3 HRs off Bartolo Colon. That day was crazy. And I loved the section on Andy over the years.
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You’re most welcome. Hard to believe that he was booed in his last at bat that night for only hitting a fly ball to the warning track in center field. of his 3 homers and single plus the lineout, everything was hit to center field that night except for one homer. Amazing amount of distance on display that night.
Pat and Betsy
I apologize. I wasn’t telling anybody to give him the loudest ovation. I will tell everyone that they should love Hideki eternally, like Jeter, or Mariano, or Pettitte, or Posada.
But, my opinion re: SUI!! is that he singlehandedly won us Game 6 of the WS. We were getting cheated by the HP umpire all game long, even in the Alex AB prior to Hideki’s 2 out 2 run single to put us up 4-1. Without that hit, we may not win the game.
So excited to see Godzilla get his RING!! MVP
D
Shocking but true…when Rodriguez had his three homer night in 2005 against Colon and the angels, the winning pitcher was Carl Pavano.
I demand Matsui get the loudest ovation. I will not watch the game if he does not receive the loudest ovation, in fact, I will not watch the series either.