Last weekend, Derek Jeter was the first New York Yankee (28th ever) in baseball history to join the élite 3000 hit club.
The Captain did it with class, hitting the mark with a homer and going five for five including the game-winning hit. Jeter’s achievement was amazing to watch, as he once again said he was so happy to do it at home in Yankee Stadium in front of the fans, who grew up with him.
Then there was the Yankee fan that caught Jeter’s 3000th ball. All he asked was for nothing more than to give it to the Captain, along with a signed ball and a handshake. Other than proving that classy Yankee fans do exist, it was the perfect ending and well-deserved.
All of the above is what made me so disappointed when I heard Jeter was not going to show up in Arizona for the 2011 MLB All-Star Game after being voted in by all the fans.
Look no one expected Jeter to play with his recent DL stint, but to not show up is like a slap in the face, especially after seeing that New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was there.
Reyes is now on the DL, which gives him a legit excuse not to go but Reyes is there and Jeter is not.
It is no big secret that only one of the two New York shortstops is having an All-Star season and if you don’t know it ain’t the guy in the pinstripes.
Jeter is popular and that is why the fans, including myself voted up to 25 times for the Captain to get the nod. It is an annoying process but one taken seriously enough because fans wanted the Yankees Captain in Arizona.
What was so disappointing is that Jeter obviously did not care enough to just show up. ESPN New York reported that his excuse was due to suffering from “emotional and physical exhaustion” from his pursuit of 3,000 hits.
It would be safe to guess that most of the All-Stars there are beaten up, so why is Jeter an exception?
I was under the impression that the Captain lived by the motto of team first, and that any individual achievements were because of the group of guys that battle with you.
The Captain understood the disappointment his absence would bring, as even ex-Yankees skipper and Jeter mentor Joe Torre tried to convince him just to come for the game but supposedly he wouldn’t hear it.
One major-league official told to the New York Daily News, “Derek Jeter has done everything right during his whole career. He was wrong on this one.”
Jeter is the biggest name in the game today. He just reached a milestone the weekend prior to the All-Star Game, but didn’t feel the need to say thank you back. Continue reading ‘New York Yankees Hey Captain You Are Welcome’ »
