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Mr. 3000: Jeter Could Be 1st Bomber To Hit the Mark

Posted by on 28 November 2010, 10:40 pm

The New York Yankees are one of the most decorated and historic franchises in sports.

Names like Mickey Mantel, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra and the Babe are just a handful of the historic names to don pinstripes.

“Winning Championships” is the Yankees motto. Baseball is a team sport, which makes individual accomplishments merely an added bonus. Awards for anything other than a World Series will not absolve a season’s failure.

The Yankees have housed 22 MVPs, five CY Young winners, eight Rookies of the Year, 12 World Series MVPs, eight ALCS MVPs and two Triple Crown Winners (Home Runs, RBI, Batting Average).

The franchise itself has won 27 World Series Championships and has been witness to every kind of individual player accomplishment except one.

That one is a hitter’s most elite club. Membership is only given to a player who reaches 3000 hits over his career.

There are a mere 26 members in this section of the Hall Of Fame, but not one of them has worn New York pinstripes.

Well, the chance for a Yankee to be represented on this list has come again, and this time the player could not be more fitting: It’s Derek Jeter.

Jeter is a homegrown Yankee who has been the Captain of the pinstripes since 2003.

In 1996, his first year in the pros, Jeter won the Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2000 Jeter was both the World Series MVP and the All-Star Game MVP.

Jeter has played in 11 All-Star Games, won five Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, two Hank Aaron awards, a Roberto Clemente award—and that is just the top of the list of awards.

Decorated to say the least, Jeter also has five World Series rings as a Yankee, which is well beyond any expectations.

So, how perfect if the name Derek Jeter were to be the first New York Yankee to grace the 3000 hit list?

Well, what seemed like destiny for Jeter, who has just 74 hits till 3000, is no longer.

Jeter is no longer tied contractually to the pinstripes, a slight predicament which no one imagined would ever be the thing standing in his way.

If the Yankees and Jeter could find a happy medium, then a New York player could be represented on yet another exclusive list.

It would make the Yankee fans ecstatic if it were our Captain Derek Jeter.

Vince Lombardi once said, “It is time for us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.”

The Yankees should give this chance to Derek Jeter, who has done so much for the team. He deserves to have all his triumphs cemented in his pinstripes.

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New York Yankees Vs. The Jeter Meter

Posted by on 6 September 2010, 11:11 pm

Derek Jeter is a household name.

In case you didn’t know, Jeter is the starting shortstop and Captain of the New York Yankees.

He has five World Series rings, four Silver Slugger Awards, and  four Golden Gloves along with countless other awards. Some of them recognized Jeter the player, others Derek the person.

Jeter is the ultimate Captain. Find me a professional athlete, fan, manager or coach that would disagree.

Going on about Jeter’s accomplishments is easy, but baseball is more than a sport. It is a job.

Like any employee, Jeter is judged on his performance and whether or not he is fulfilling expectations. Something Yankee fans refer to as ‘The Jeter Meter’.

In Jeter’s case, there is no doubt he has exceeded all expectations. He has above and beyond done his job over the last decade.

Now the Yankees and their Captain have reached the end of his current job contract. Without a doubt, both sides plan on signing another agreement at the end of 2010.

Still there is an obvious predicament. Jeter has struggled on the field this season and he’ll be the first to admit it. Reality bites, but as of now it stands that Jeter might be better off not at shortstop in 2011.

It is his position to lose, because the Yankees would keep him till the end of time. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Vs. The Jeter Meter’ »

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Randy For Grandy: Curtis Granderson Earning His Yankee Pinstripes

Posted by on 19 August 2010, 1:34 pm

New York Yankee fans have been waiting patiently for Curtis Granderson to figure himself out and it was well worth the wait.

Presently, the hardest stretch of the regular season is well underway for teams in contention, making the Yankees timing for heading into crisis-mode a serious concern.

The worrying began after the Bombers lost two of four games to the Kansas City Royals. Winning games against sub-.500 teams gives teams in a divisional race some cushioning down the stretch.

With the Yankees schedule only getting harder, the added insurance wins are essential, vital actually because one lose could make all the difference.

Returning to the Bronx couldn’t come faster, but what seemed like a god-send in the past, only got worse.

Hosting the Detroit Tigers for a four-game set proved the Yankee hitters could barely make contact with the ball to start the series Monday night.

In the same game, the Bombers two best hitters, Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher, both exited mid-game with recurring injuries.

Yankee fans went into panic mode. Sans-ARod was enough of a reason in itself for fans to worry.

How the hell are the Yankees going to win and who the hell is going to hit?

The answer came Tuesday night and his name is Curtis Granderson.

Granderson is turning into the Yankee hero in a time of crisis, something Grandy knew he owed this team.

Since being in pinstripes, Grandy was not a liability like Nick Johnson, but he was not the stud from the Tigers either.

The all-star Granderson the Yankees craved was nowhere to be found, except on the DL for about eight weeks.

Still, at the stadium fans demonstrated no hostility towards Granderson, but not loving him either. This behavior was way out of character for Yankee fans.

Call it subconscious instinct because now Granderson is hitting and the Yankees love it.

Everyone is randy for Grandy, and deservedly so considering he is the prime reason the team survives this A-Rod drought.

Over the last six games, Granderson has a .364 batting average, with eight hits, two doubles, two homers, three RBIs, and three walks.

Granderson, his teammates, and the fans somehow knew this was no mistake and now we have the proof.

LET’S GO YANKEES!

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Alex Rodriguez: Could Joe Buck’s Killer Wave Land A-Rod On DL?

Posted by on 8 August 2010, 4:59 pm

Before Saturday’s game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox word spread Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez was sidelined. The news was true, Rodriguez was placed on day-to-day status.

The announcement gave Yankees fans plenty of reason to worry, because anyone with a brain had the same thought….WTF?

How did this happen to Rodriguez?

Then the replay tape of batting practice visually explained that new Yankee Lance Berkman hit a line-drive that nailed A-rod in the ankle. A-rod fell to the ground in an agony of pain.

Berkman felt awful, as it was his ball that might have cost the Yankees the season. It was an accident and accidents happen, but this was not good.

Minutes later the game started, Fox Sports announcer, and known Yankees hitter, Joe Buck was openly proud of the fact that he was to blame for the injury.

Buck said he was waving to A-rod at the time, which caused the All-Star to turn and acknowledge Buck.

“I just said hello for literally one second to Joe and just got smoked,” Rodriguez said.

Fact is the Yankee line-up struggles without Rodriguez. To put it more accurately, the Yankee bats are better with A-rod active.

Whichever way it’s phrased, A-rod has proved time and time again his worthiness, while Joe Buck continues to prove he is not a Yankees fan.

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The New York Yankees Are Lucky To Have Brett Gardner

Posted by on 5 July 2010, 11:30 pm

The New York Yankees have a rising superstar in their mitts, with Brett Gardner.

At first, I was hesitant to believe this 5’9 player had just hit some beginners luck at the start of the season. Still, I never questioned his work ethic because all you have to do is watch Gardner and that becomes evident.

Now this prosperity is consistent, as Gardner has stood out all season making dynamic catches out in left-field to hitting in clutch situations. He makes contact with 93% of his swings.

Let’s not forget how fast the 23 year-old is on the bases. Gardner has stolen 24 bases this season and has an 83% success rate.

Gardner is an all-around nuisance to have to play against because he can do it all. Whether it is in the field, on the bases or at-bat he cannot be ignored or else he will make an enemy pay for forgetting.

Try watching Gardner at the plate, the way he reads the ball with such wise eyes that are well beyond his years. Gardner has kept up with baseball’s best as a Yankee and has stolen the spotlight playing the game the right way.

In essence, Brett Gardner continues to be the glue holding the New York Yankees together . A true team player who comes out every game to win and plays hard.

He is having an All-Star season with 29 RBIs, 33 walks, five home-runs, six doubles, four triples, a .319 batting average and .401 on-base-percentage.

Have a feeling that there is plenty of time for Brett Gardner who I look forward to seeing represent baseball as an All-Star for years to come.

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Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon

Posted by on 7 May 2010, 8:30 am

PLAYER PROFILE: BRETT GARDNER #11 CF, LF

Standing just shy of 5’10, at first glance Brett Gradner does not look like much a weapon.

Garder was deemed to small, not talented enough for the main-stage and critics baffled his life on the all-star roaster of the New York Yankees would be shorter, than sweeter.

Well, I beg to differ right from the start.

Appearing by name in 2009, Gardner’s rookie season landed him in a foursome of rotating outfield, sharing time largely in center with Melky Cabrera.

Even though he was steady on both offense and defense, Gardner was more of a substitute player. Gardner knew his appeal was his speed.

Not being an everyday player, in addition to nearly two months, on the DL with fractured left thumb, Gardner still racked up 26 steals but was only caught five times.

So far 2010 all we have witnessed is a better Brett Gardner.

Regardless of batting last  (9th) in the line-up, Gardner is a tough out for any pitcher. He has a natural instinct for pitches and when he swings at something it usually touches wood.

In 81 at-bats, Gardner has 28 hits, 9 RBIs, 11 walks and 13 steals, and caught just one time. The real diamond in the rough is his OBP is .430. That goes along with .346 average; translation…this kid gets on base, a ton. Continue reading ‘Believe It Or Not The Yankees Secret Weapon’ »

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New York Yankees Least Concern Is Javier Vazquez At Least For Today

Posted by on 1 May 2010, 9:00 am

What is the biggest problem the New York Yankees are have right now?

Do not dare answer Javier Vazquez because that would be wrong.

It is the 2-3-4 of the batting order of Johnson, Tex and Arod.

I like Mark Teixeira and Arod which is why it is so frustrating to see them struggle. Johnson can go to the minors for all I care.

Here is a look at each player:

Teixeira’s early slump defence is starting to become a concern. Girardi, Cashman or any players who say that not worried are for sure lying to keep the pressure off Tex. The 2009 slumps longevity was due to Arod being on the DL, because Tex did get hot right when Arod returned, but so did the whole team.

So far, Tex has only nine RBIs, 18 strike-outs and 17 walks for a .136 AVG. YIKES!

BEST SOLUTION: Today is May 1st so let’s say in a week let’s regroup.

Nick Johnson in the two spot is about as useless as having Girardi suit up and catch again.  Pettitte close. All joking aside, if Girardi is allowing for adjusting time, this does not prevail in this case. Johnson has never adjusted, but at now he is just striking out with 21, matching his 21 walks and  just five RBIs in 58 at-bats.

Fact is Nick Johnson has nothing motivating about him. The $5.5 million that could have kept Matsui for this is mind-boggling, but just looking at Johnson stats it was a risk. It’s time for Cashman and his crew to call a spade a spade, as risk not equaling reward but actually retracting. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Least Concern Is Javier Vazquez At Least For Today’ »

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