Posts Tagged ‘Derek Jeter’

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Oopsie, Phelpsie

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

Photo: Christopher Pasatieri/NYPost

He was not good. From the minute he came into the game it was obvious that the normally reliable Phelps was keeping the ball up – and hittable.

Not that he was the only goat in tonight’s extra-innings loss that denied the Yanks a sweep of the D-Backs. The offense was mostly handcuffed against yet another young pitcher they hadn’t faced, and it was only the solo shots – especially the dramatic homer by Cervelli that tied the game – that made it interesting.

Hughes was much better than previous outings and I couldn’t have asked for more, but the defense was sloppy. My attention wavered throughout; I had YES on the computer and CNN on the TV and was going back and forth between the game and all the developing news. A lot’s happening in our world right now, and sports isn’t high on my list of priorities in the evenings when I can finally sit down and take everything in.

That said, the announcement earlier today about Jeter made my heart sink. I had a feeling he wasn’t coming back any time soon and had almost made peace with Nunez as our substitute everyday shortstop (I said almost), but to actually hear Cashman say that the ankle was broken again was just awful. Was the ankle so weak from wear and tear that it cracked in a different spot? From all those foul balls? From getting back on the field too soon?

Who knows. Maybe the Captain will be okay after the All-Star break and maybe he won’t. What I do know is that no one is more frustrated and disappointed than he is. Joel Sherman tweeted that A-Rod will probably be back before Jeter, and everybody jumped on him for saying it. I really hope it’s not true.

 

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Nagging

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Have you ever noticed how it’s always women who nag? I never hear about nagging men, so does that mean they never do it?

But I digress. The “nagging” I’m interested in right now applies to injuries, specifically injuries to the Yankees.

Tex’s wrist is a potential nagging injury that, even after he’s “healed,” will plague him throughout the season.

A-Rod’s hip is a potential nagging injury that, even after….Well, who knows about him.

Which brings me to Jeter, of course. The ankle. It was healed, now it isn’t. Depending on which expert or beat writer you listen to, his setback is normal – just some swelling and stiffness that comes with use after a layoff – or it’s an unsettling sign that The Captain will be hobbled for awhile.

At the risk of being a jinx, Mo seems to have recovered completely from his knee injury and surgery. He’s pitching as well as ever and setting batters down in order. Is he superhuman or do some injuries heal better than others or both?

It’s been reported that Jeter will start the season on the DL and that Nunez will be at short – for the foreseeable future. I’ve been a nag about E. Scissorhands – I admit it – but supposedly he’s worked hard to fix his defensive shortcomings and Girardi sees improvement. I’m rooting for him, I really am. What choice do I have?

On a happier note, the season’s almost here, people. For real!

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Bulging Disks And Other Maladies

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Well, that was fast. Only a few days into camp and we’ve got our first real injury: Phil Hughes’ bulging disk in his upper back, taking him out of commission for awhile. Let’s hope this isn’t a nagging problem and that after his time out he’ll be ready to go. It’s his contract year – his moment to show once and for all that he can pitch effectively and consistently as a starter. It’s also important to the Yankees that he be the phenom Cashman’s always projected him to be.

The other “malady” I was referring to is Nunez, aka Eduardo Scissorhands. I kid the kid, I know. But when it comes to Nunie I can’t help myself. Put him at shortstop and he’ll make errors. That’s how it’s been. And now that Jeter’s recovering from his ankle surgery, we’ll be seeing more of Nunie. Will we be seeing more of his errors too? There’s no question that he can be a terrific spark in the lineup, getting hits and running the bases well. But his glove scares me. I think Nix will be a fine backup at third and first (and short), but I have to say I miss Chavez already.

And finally, am I the only one who resents the WBC just a little? I completely understand that players want to represent their country and that it’s fun for them to play in competition, but to leave camp so early in the spring training season, interrupt their routines and disrupt the team chemistry feels off to me. I guess I’m just being contrary, but I’m not wild about hearing how guys like Cano and Tex, who need to get their timing down as hitters, will be running off to join their respective WBC teams.

The good news is that MLB.TV (and YES, for those who get it) will be televising spring training games in another week. Can’t wait.

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The Gang’s All Here

Sunday, February 17th, 2013

Photo: Steve Nesius/Reuters (courtesy NYTimes.com)

Once Jeter had his press conference, it was official: the 2013 season had begun and the position players had arrived. Whether the Captain will actually play shortstop or even DH on Opening Day remains a question mark, but he’s planning on suiting up in any case. (I do wish he’d grow his hair a little.)

No news came out of the presser and without A-Rod in camp there’s been no drama yet – unless you count Cervelli’s brief comments the other day about Bosch and Biogenesis.

Mostly, it’s business as usual. There was just one tiny thing that made me do a double take, and it didn’t emanate from Tampa but from Kissimmee where the Astros train.

Asked about Mike Piazza’s new book, our old pal Roger Clemens said Piazza would have to “get in line” to take a poke at him because there were three Yankees ahead of him. Hm. Was the Rocket just joshing or did some of his former teammates feel less than warm and fuzzy toward him? It sure seemed as if they were all one big happy family while Clemens was in pinstripes, but who knows? And which Yankees wanted “a piece of him?” Inquiring minds…..

 

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Who Wants a Personal Message From Derek Jeter?

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

 

Right. The better question is who doesn’t want a personal message from Derek Jeter? No one. We love our captain, so why not spend $299 to have him record a special message just for us? Here’s how…

There are just a few days left for everybody to donate and receive a customized audio message from Jeet (as well as from celebrities like Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, Betty White, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, Ed Asner and Carrie Fisher – Morgan Freeman is already sold out) – all to benefit the national advocacy organization Autism Speaks.

I love this fundraising idea, and Autism Speaks is such a worthy organization. In my new caregiving book, YOU’D BETTER NOT DIE OR I’LL KILL YOU, one of the other caregivers is filmmaker Yudi Bennett whose son Noah is autistic. Her story alone is worth the price of admission, so I feel especially impassioned on her behalf.

And think about all the things you’d like Jeter to say to you. He could:

  • Explain that “fat” picture and assure you he really hasn’t gained any weight.
  • Tell you whether he and Minka are over for good.
  • Share what he thinks of A-Rod’s latest hip adventure.
  • Give you an assessment of Yankees 2013.

Now back to the Hot Stove….

 

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ALCS Game 2: The Agony and the Ecstasy

Saturday, October 13th, 2012

Actually, I should have worded it in reverse: The Ecstasy and the Agony.

First came Ibanez’s improbable homer in the bottom of the ninth and the reaction of my not-favorite-person Valverde.

I couldn’t believe Raul did it again. Could. Not. Believe. It.

But the ecstasy didn’t last. Not only could the Yankees not score any more runs, but – curiously – Girardi went to Phelps instead of using Robertson for another inning, and things unraveled quickly. I could go on about Swisher’s somersault in right, not to mention his failures at the plate along with Cano’s, or A-Rod getting pulled for Chavez when others were struggling even more, or how angry Pettitte looked when he came out of the game, but all I really care about right now is this.

Seeing Jeter go down felt like Mo all over again and, as it turns out, their situations aren’t dissimilar: Jeter’s fractured ankle means he’s done for the rest of the the season. It was so hard to watch him not get up, to cry out in pain, to lean on others to carry him off the field. I’m still sick about it as I type this.

But I remind myself that he had a brilliant year, and no broken ankle will take that away from him. The Yankees will carry on and do their best for their captain. That’s all we can ask for.

As for the media, they need to stop talking about Jeet as if he died. No more eulogies. Seriously.

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ALDS Game 2: Well, There Was This…

Monday, October 8th, 2012

Yes, Ninja Ichiro’s leaping, stretching dance at home plate was entertaining and gave us a run. Perhaps he has a future as a performer in Cirque du Soleil when his baseball days are over.

Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte deserved better than tonight’s loss. He was great except for that unpleasant patch in the third inning, and he wasn’t helped by his teammates’ offense or defense.

Speaking of which, what an odd occurrence that Jeter had errors in consecutive games and that Tex had his own in this one. Sloppy, boys. Sloppy.

And then there was the offense. Euwww. It seems that we need Ibanez in the lineup; I thought we might see him in the ninth batting for the hapless A-Rod. And Swisher is now something like 1-for 35 in the postseason? I think it’s safe to say he won’t be with the Yanks in 2013.

But the truth is I feel lucky to get out of Baltimore with the split, given how competitively the Orioles have played the Yankees all year long. Supposedly, the next couple of games are where the home field advantage kicks in, so I expect the setting in the Bronx to matter. We kept hearing from the TBS crew how loud the fans at Camden Yards were. (Craig Sager’s sport jacket was even louder, but I digress.) I hope the Yankee fans in attendance starting Wednesday night will show everybody how it’s done. Bald Vinny will lead the charge.

 

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Limping But Still In First

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Photo: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

I shouldn’t be surprised that a Yankees-Red Sox game would be so fraught with drama – not after all these years – but tonight’s nail biting win made my blood pressure go off the charts. Where do I start?

With Phelps. He was great. I hope his outing doesn’t get lost in all the hubbub because he was the one who kept the Red Sox bats quiet.

It was so nice to see us score first – and then to pad the lead. But no game at Fenway is ever in the bag, especially when things haven’t been going our way lately, so I was hoping for a few more runs. Instead, it was the battle of the pens as the Sox crept closer…and closer.

By the way, was Cody Ross a maniac or what? He had a legitimate beef about the strike call, but to hold the bat over his head facing the umpire and then go off like that? It almost rose to the level of Mr. Pine Tar.

Soriano was terrifying too, but in an entirely different way. He turned the ninth into a near horror show. But it was Jeter leaving the game that was the worst. (I’m beginning to think nobody should ever run to first base. It’s a health hazard.) He was gimpy even before tonight, but having re-aggravated the bone bruise in his ankle I can’t imagine he’ll be at full strength. Will he DH? I’m sure he’ll say he’s up to it. But – listen to me, Girardi – don’t use Nunez at short or you’ll have me to deal with.

And yes, of course, the O’s beat the Rays. It was Kyle Farnsworth on the mound, and he’s never helped us out.

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Oh, Puleeeze

Monday, August 27th, 2012

That was ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

How do you hit all those homers, have good outings by Phelps and Robertson, knock the Blue Jays’ pitchers around with comebackers, tie the game in the ninth…and lose in extra innings?

Soriano blew the save, that’s how, but Lowe and Chavez made defensive mistakes and the offense failed when it counted.

It was painful. But not as painful as Tex suffering a calf strain that could keep him out of the stretch run. I couldn’t believe when he felt something at the plate but ran the bases anyway. How dumb do you have to be? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Just so I don’t leave this post on a sour note, congratulations to D-Rob on his new baby. Very cute!

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Don’t Ever Hit The Captain In The Head (Or Anywhere Else)

Friday, August 24th, 2012

I nearly passed out when I saw that pitch zero in on Jeter’s head/helmet. I started yelling at the jerk Indians starter, as did Jeter, but was relieved that our captain was okay. He did sit next to Stevie Donahue during the game; I hope that was just because there weren’t any other seats on the bench.

CC tried to retaliate, and his effort wound up in a homer. He was great though in his return from the DL – really ace-like – and it was such a pleasure to watch him work.

Soriano? He’s a pleasure when he un-tucks his shirt after escaping trouble. He must enjoy drama. In any case, he got the save and I’m very grateful. That ninth inning was hairy.

What a game for Swisher. The offense is still struggling – how many times did we put men on base only to strand them there? – but Swish delivered and the Yanks won. Even better, the Rays lost.

The big news around baseball is the pending trade between the Red Sox and the Dodgers. If it goes through, I’ll be devastated not to see Josh Beckett anymore.

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