Overboard on Jeter Contest (split from Jeter watch)

[seawolf17]

"Presenting The World�s Dick-Suckingest Derek Jeter Column"

http://deadspin.com/5819946/

"Now no one will EVER talk about Derek Jeter being really old and not being able to hit anymore, even once he gets really old and can't anymore, which is pretty much now, spare for a few anomalous instances."

[MFS62]

seawolf17 wrote: "Presenting The World�s Dick-Suckingest Derek Jeter Column" http://deadspin.com/5819946/

I'll see you, and raise you with this one:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/appreciating-derek-jeter-3000-hits/

Later

[metirish]

Ian O'Connor is just horrible, no standards at all.

[seawolf17]

MFS62 wrote: I'll see you, and raise you with this one: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/appreciating-derek-jeter-3000-hits/ Later

I grew up a Yankees fan in the mid-90s, and the mythology grabbed me

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARF.

[Willets Point]

This is a contest I really don't want to see the outcome.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Should I buy that whole bit about being steeped in Yankees lore by his NJ grandmother, and so dreaming of Yankeehood despite growing up in Michigan?

[stevejrogers]

Edgy DC wrote: Should I buy that whole bit about being steeped in Yankees lore by his NJ grandmother, and so dreaming of Yankeehood despite growing up in Michigan?

To be fair, the rise of national television packages, specifically the NFL as that does seem to be more prevalent than other sports, did give rise to out of region fandom.

I know this nugget has been forced down everyone's throat since the day he got drafted by the Yankees, but it isn't as inconceivable as it was if this was say 1961 or so.

Hate to play the devil's advocate card again, but would you'd buy it if a Met draft pick had the same sort of "backstory" where they are from a different region of the country, yet had a relative who lived in the geographical region who was a Met fan, and that got transferred to him?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think it's remotely inconceivable. I just think it's such a convenient part of the propaganda package that it picks up the stench of the garbage it's attached to.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

SteveJRogers wrote: Should I buy that whole bit about being steeped in Yankees lore by his NJ grandmother, and so dreaming of Yankeehood despite growing up in Michigan? To be fair, the rise of national television packages, specifically the NFL as that does seem to be more prevalent than other sports, did give rise to out of region fandom. I know this nugget has been forced down everyone's throat since the day he got drafted by the Yankees, but it isn't as inconceivable as it was if this was say 1961 or so.

Yabbut, this isn't 2001 or so, either... the early '80s*. If he's falling in love from a distance thanks to cable, he's probably doing so with the Cubs or Braves.

*To rebut myself: just after the Bronx Zoo era, so... not entirely out of the question.

[metirish]

the line that is being trotted out again this past week is form his high school coach , on thoughts that jeter would go to Michigan after being drafted by the MFY's

" He's not going to Michigan, he's going to Cooperstown".


yeah right , you said that.

[metsmarathon]

oh, i don't doubt that's something the scout would have said about his first round selection. i just wonder how many other times he's said it, and whiffed badly.

[Ceetar]

SteveJRogers wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Should I buy that whole bit about being steeped in Yankees lore by his NJ grandmother, and so dreaming of Yankeehood despite growing up in Michigan? To be fair, the rise of national television packages, specifically the NFL as that does seem to be more prevalent than other sports, did give rise to out of region fandom. I know this nugget has been forced down everyone's throat since the day he got drafted by the Yankees, but it isn't as inconceivable as it was if this was say 1961 or so. Hate to play the devil's advocate card again, but would you'd buy it if a Met draft pick had the same sort of "backstory" where they are from a different region of the country, yet had a relative who lived in the geographical region who was a Met fan, and that got transferred to him?

We generally buy it about Wright don't we? Of course, he's got the added AAA team backstory in there.

[stevejrogers]

Edgy DC wrote: I don't think it's remotely inconceivable. I just think it's such a convenient part of the propaganda package that it picks up the stench of the garbage it's attached to.

Oh I don't doubt it, and am just as nauseated by it (the whole destiny angle and all), I'm just putting it out there that there probably is some kernel of truth to it.

[stevejrogers]

Ceetar wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Should I buy that whole bit about being steeped in Yankees lore by his NJ grandmother, and so dreaming of Yankeehood despite growing up in Michigan? To be fair, the rise of national television packages, specifically the NFL as that does seem to be more prevalent than other sports, did give rise to out of region fandom. I know this nugget has been forced down everyone's throat since the day he got drafted by the Yankees, but it isn't as inconceivable as it was if this was say 1961 or so. Hate to play the devil's advocate card again, but would you'd buy it if a Met draft pick had the same sort of "backstory" where they are from a different region of the country, yet had a relative who lived in the geographical region who was a Met fan, and that got transferred to him? We generally buy it about Wright don't we? Of course, he's got the added AAA team backstory in there.

To be fair, and yes you have to jump over the Phillies and Orioles to do it, but chances are you'll find more Yankee/Met fans in the state of Virgina than you would Yankee/Met fans (if they aren't transplants like MGIM of course) in Michigan.

And of course Norfolk/Tidewater was the longtime home, at the time of Wright's childhood into teenage years anyway, of the Mets AAA team.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

"NEW YORK -- The ball was in the air, disappearing into the kind of white clouds Norman Rockwell loved to paint, and Derek Jeter watched it the way a child watches a runaway balloon floating across a midsummer sky."


Jaw-droppingly bad. No professional writer should have something this spring from his keyboard and still expect a paycheck the following week.

If I was going to write a Yankee-hack satire, I wouldn't have gone this far.

Either Ian needs an intervention from his editors or Jeter needs to file a restraining order to keep O'Connor at bay.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

And no, I don't buy the crap about him being a MFY fan in Kalamazoo. He needs to produce a boyhood photo of him wearing Yankee gear to believe that.

Note, too, that the Yankees pretty much sucked during Jeter's childhood. He was born, what, in 1974? He'd be coming of age in fandom when the Tigers were kicking butt in 1984.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I just read this lead out loud in the newsroom. No one believed it was real.

And one reporter is questioning whether Norman Rockwell painted clouds. But it's probably the only painter bleeping O'Connor knows.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I scrolled through my mental database of Norman Rockwells and the only thing I'm coming up with is that "Rain Delay" one. And those clouds were sorta ominous.

I'm thinking it's not the only painter O'Connor knows so much as that he wanted to imply all-American-hero-ness in Jeter's actions.

[stevejrogers]

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I scrolled through my mental database of Norman Rockwells and the only thing I'm coming up with is that "Rain Delay" one. And those clouds were sorta ominous. I'm thinking it's not the only painter O'Connor knows so much as that he wanted to imply all-American-hero-ness in Jeter's actions.

I would have said Americana in regards to the MFY and MFYS III. but that works as well.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I just read this lead out loud in the newsroom. No one believed it was real. And one reporter is questioning whether Norman Rockwell painted clouds. But it's probably the only painter bleeping O'Connor knows.

I THINK he's thinking of Rockwell contemporary Maxfield Parrish-- saturated colors, lush clouds.

[metirish]

Harper excuses Jeter for not showing up

**********JohnHarper

meanwhile in a shock horror move the Snooze has this on the back page




don't fret yankee douchebags inside features a big spread on the great one.....otherwise known as kindling.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A lot of logical fallacies from Harper there. Jeter doesn't show up, therefore there's something wrong with the game, not with Jeter. Other players don't show up, that means the game doesn't "count," no matter where the World Series is played.

[metirish]

Some people have nerve, they expect Jeter to show up for a game that counts although it shouldn't , please do not question Jeter on this, he is beyond reproach , he has done so much to promote the game.....I have goosebumps just writing this. Jeter cares , it's the other players that don't show up who don't care.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And the players who do show up, they don't care as much as Jeter does either... somehow.

don't tell me what's right. I'm just going to watch what Jeter does and know it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

By the way, cinnamon is toxic in large doses, you abusive fratboy.

[MFS62]

What a coincidence!
John Harper is also number two.
A big steaming pile of it.
Later

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Andrew Marchand, Jeter apologist.




PHOENIX -- We could be having more of a celebration of Derek Jeter. He could be waving to the crowd. He could have made this All-Star Game feel a little less like a clear night -- it lacks stars.

Yes, it is true Jeter could have saved the All-Star Game.

But would this be best for the New York Yankees? Would having the 37-year-old Jeter drain his batteries over these 72 hours in the desert be best for Thursday in Toronto?

And, finally, would people please pay attention to the context of when and how the decision was made?

But first, let me present these stats, courtesy of our ace ESPN researcher, Katie Sharp.

In the 14 games when Jeter has a day off before he plays, his batting average is .351, his on-base is .397, his slugging is .439. In the 54 games when he plays back-to-back, he is hitting .250, his on-base is .314 and his slugging is .332.

So maybe it was no coincidence that DJ3K day, that miraculous, amazing, storybook of a day came after a rainout.

Perhaps Jeter looked like the old Jeter on Saturday because he wasn't tired. It seems like rest helps the old man.

If Jeter, an All-Star selection 12 times, had come here it would have been better for baseball, but not for him or the Yankees.

The context of when Jeter and the Yankee made the decison needs to be understood when evaluating whether Jeter is right or wrong.

Jeter came off the disabled list at the beginning of last week. After three games in which he looked better, but not great, he was two hits shy of 3,000. His calf wasn't bothering him, but the enormity of finishing the task weighed on Jeter.

Let's say he didn't get the two hits this past weekend and showed up in Arizona one shy. The focus of this All-Star Game would be all about how he is not the same player anymore -- he is at .270 with a .330 on-base percentage -- and how he had failed to come through at Yankee Stadium. The enormity of the task would have been even greater.

Now, he has 3,000 in style and still isn't here. If he had come just to take bows, he could be accused of sopping up all the praise. He would be the center of attention and the three days here would sap his energy.

But as a source told ESPN New York, this was a "no-win situation" for him.

In a perfect world, he could have showed up, waved his hand, like a conquering legend. It sounds easy and relaxing, but there are more demands that come with being here if you are Jeter.

It would have been better for baseball and the marquee of this event. But it would not have been for the Jeter or the Yankees.

Becoming the first Yankee with 3,000 hits is another reason why Jeter is so beloved, but it is not the main reason. He is revered because he is a winner.

By not coming here and being the center of attention, Jeter is putting winning above everything else.


Where to begin?

It would have been better for baseball and the marquee of this event. But it would not have been for the Jeter or the Yankees.

Yeah, but without baseball, Jeter is just another really homely guy from Kalamazoo and the Yankees are just a collection of juiced-up Walmart gangstas. GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE SPORT THAT GAVE YOU EVERYTHING!!

Jeter is putting winning above everything else.

Didn't the team go 12-3 in Jeter's absence? Seems like if winning was most important he'd be riding the pine.

In the 14 games when Jeter has a day off before he plays, his batting average is .351, his on-base is .397, his slugging is .439. In the 54 games when he plays back-to-back, he is hitting .250, his on-base is .314 and his slugging is .332. So maybe it was no coincidence that DJ3K day, that miraculous, amazing, storybook of a day came after a rainout.

I'm pretty sure everyone gets a day off after the All-Star Game. So what's the excuse? Is flying from Phoenix to New York on a private jet too taxing?

[Ceetar]

14-4 in his absence I believe.

The 'off-day' thing is a small sample size, and likely not indictive of anything. If Jeter was a competitor and a winner, he'd want to be at the game and help his team, both baseball and the possible AL champs, in whatever marginal way possible. He'd want to acknowledge that someone thinks he's one of the best players (something Michael Kay states Jeter still thinks, that he always thinks he's the best player) and that his presense helps them win.

It's just SO taxing to sit in an air conditioned stadium watching your teammate (real teammate, and MI partner!) play in the Home Run Derby. Put in a light workout, and play 2 innings in the field. bow out early (as many do) and take a plane home, or to Toronto. Or take the plane Wednesday. I'm sure the taxing nature of sitting first class in a plane for a trip to Canada is just oh so stressful. (nevermind that he probably flew to Tampa and then to Toronto Wednesday, if not to NY first to fly up with his team)

[metirish]

Excellent parody MGIM

PHOENIX -- We could be having more of a celebration of Derek Jeter. He could be waving to the crowd. He could have made this All-Star Game feel a little less like a clear night -- it lacks stars.

What is he the Pope?

[metsmarathon]

if jeter's all about winning, wouldn't he want to play in the game to help ensure that the american league gets home field in the world series, which would then help his yankees' chances of winning?

also, he doesn't even need to fucking play. he could just show up and be there for the fans and baseball world to fawn over him. how taxing is a soft rain anyways?