Derek Jeter is hitting. Since coming back from the disabled list, Jeter is batting .355 with 27 RBIs in 42 games. Yes, if you are a true Yankee fan, you knew it would happen eventually and it has. Jeter is literally a few hits away from batting .300, currently at .297 and all I have to ask is, where are all you doubters now? When the season was coming to a close last year, and they looked at that .270 average, the media had their minds made up. They fabricated a story about how the Derek Jeter of our Yankee dynasty was gone. But they suggested what was left was a shell of himself, a guy that tried, but would never hit .280 again in his career. Look at these headlines which popped up all over the place during the end of 2010 and after the season:
New York Magazine: This is the Derek Jeter Start Yankee Fans Feared
NBC New York: The Derek Jeter Slump Hits the front page
Business Insider: Derek Jeter is getting old
New York Times: Is a Slump a Reason for Concern?
I agreed with the age thing a bit. Age is a bitch and for a ballplayer, it will drain you daily to be out there with the aches and pains. But Jeter knew he needed to go out and re-invent yourself. Plus, you need to understand the dynamic of what was in Jeter’s head. This past winter he was hot and heavy in contract negotiations and on the outside looking it, it was Armageddon. Our Captain was pissed, our Yankees were pissed, fans were pissed that they were pissed… hell, my kid was pissed; “What’s taking so long?” he would ask me. I swear, sometimes I think there’s an actual man in that 9 year old kid body. The point is though, we all wanted our Captain back to lead us.
Couple that with 3000 hanging over his head and over-thinking his swing and it was a lose, lose for Jeet. But, it almost seemed that after his 3000th hit, something happened. The pressure was off. Derek Jeter was never a loser and never washed up like so many had suggested in 2010 and as I stated it many times on Bleeding Yankee Blue we never believed it. Read WHY IT'S NOT DOOM & GLOOM.
Look, Writers write and bloggers go by their heart. We here are Bleeding Yankee Blue are true fans. We believe, we root and we want our guys to succeed. Sports writers do their job, which is state the obvious and attack our heroes to sell newspapers. They could seem like they're Derek Jeter’s biggest fan one day and the next, on an 0-4 day, they write a headline that reads “Jeter dies quickly, is his end near?” Do they believe it themselves? No, but it’s their job. You need to respect it, even though we hate reading it.
Look at Jorge; Jorge Posada has been getting creamed in the papers but on a good game day, they love him:
Good Day:
New York Daily News: Jorge Posada makes grand statement with six RBI day
Bad Day:
New York Times: For Now, Posada Seems out as Designated Hitter
MLB.com: Light dimming on Posada's bright career
My, how they turn so quickly.
Look, Derek Jeter is not done. Derek Jeter had a rough patch, and I’m a fan and I believe. Guess what? Jeter does too, and he continues to believe in himself and the New York Yankees. There is no doubt this guy will continue to lead our Yankees to another championship. After all, it’s the Yankee way… it’s Jeter’s way. Where are all you doubters now?
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