Derek Jeter Archives - Jane Heller

Not What I Was Hoping for in Boston

August 21, 2017

The fading, struggling, scuffling – pick your adjective – Yankees lost the series at Fenway instead of grabbing the head-to-head opportunity to gain ground. Saturday night was a lift, edging out the Red Sox with a solid starting performance from CC just back from the DL, a Chapman-less pen made of a fired up D-Rob and Betances and clutch hitting. But Friday night and yesterday’s games were a huge letdown.

Where oh where is Judge? All those strikeouts are killing us and yet Girardi, the most stubborn guy ever, won’t drop him out of the third slot in the lineup. Gary Sanchez allowed two passed balls on Saturday night but his spectacular throw to second on the steal attempt redeemed him, and he’s been great on offense. Didi is so clutch and steady. Torreyes is too. But none of it is enough if you can’t beat the team in front of you. As Jeter always said, “You have to win games.” Speaking of the Captain, very happy for him and his wife about their baby girl, Bella Raines Jeter. Also happy he’s about to seal the deal on buying the Marlins. I’ve had so many comments from Yankee fans on Facebook who are pissed off that he’s not buying the Yankees. Here’s a bulletin for them: the Yankees were not for sale. I really don’t understand people who think it’s traitorous for him to own a team other than the Yankees. The man’s stated goal after retirement was to own a team, period. Let him live his dream, for God’s sake.

Back to basics, if the Yanks want to hang on to any Wild Card hopes, they need to start winning series again starting tonight in Detroit. There are lots of teams bunched up in the standings right behind them. No time for letting them jump ahead.

Derek Jeter and Everyone Else

May 15, 2017

The series against Houston wasn’t memorable. The Yankees lost all but one game. Tanaka’s start last night was disastrous, and Chapman is off to the DL. Having had a rotator cuff tear with tendinitis in my shoulder (both shoulders, actually), I don’t expect to see our closer any time soon. Which leaves those duties to Betances. Is he up to the challenge that Randy Levine so publicly declared he wasn’t up to? Will Levine’s words and the bad blood from arbitration get inside Betances’ head? I really hope not. (Andrew Miller, please come back. All is forgiven.)

Early in the weekend, the Yankees offense seemed to have petered out against the Astros’ top-notch pitchers, and while they came alive yesterday, in the lone victory of the doubleheader and in the nightcap in a losing effort, they were facing a better team. Houston is the real deal. It’s now up to the Yanks to bounce back. (A minor gripe: must the players wear pink on Mother’s Day? It’s annoying.)

But baseball games were beside the point. This was Jeter weekend and last night was Jeter Night. All his friends and family members came out to honor Jeet for the ceremony to retire his number and add his plaque to the other greats in Monument Park, even his grandmother. All the Steinbrenners were there too (except Hank; where oh where is Hank these days?). It’s always fun to see Mo, Andy and the gang, and A-Rod knew enough to stay in Miami. Hannah Jeter’s water looked like it was about to break, but she hung in there, managing to look beautiful in full pregnancy mode.

Do the Yankees know how to do ceremonies? You bet they do. They always manage to make them wonderfully, over-the-top cheesy. I’m talking about wheeling Jeter in from centerfield as if the golf cart were a chariot, the presentation of gifts from the Steinbrenners (does he really need another diamond ring?), the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” wafting through the Stadium. Jeter’s speech felt like the only authentic, non-cheesy part of the proceedings. It was off-the-cuff, sincere, plain-spoken, pure Jeter. He was grateful, he was humble, he was on point: he’d always wanted to be a Yankee and he’d loved every minute of his career.

And now he’s moved on, trying to buy the Marlins. For the moment, it looks like MLB prefers the investment group led by Mitt Romney’s son – a head-scratcher. Apparently, Bob Manfred wants his money up front and the Romney group can provide. But I’m sure the Bush-Jeter group can scrounge up enough dough if given a chance. And wouldn’t you want the sport’s greatest ambassador to be an owner, MLB? I would and I do. Sure, I’d rather Jeter buy the Yankees, but the Marlins are for sale. If Jeter has shown us anything, it’s that we should never count him out.

Playing Up Against the Tribe

July 10, 2016

In the same way that the Yankees played well against the AL West division-leading Rangers, they played well against the AL Central division-leading Indians. And they did it in dramatic fashion, especially on Saturday night in extra innings. Great series and a great way to end the first half of the season.

With the All-Star Break upon us now, the question becomes what will the second half bring? No idea. Maybe Evo is better suited to the bullpen. And maybe McCann’s offense really has come around. And maybe Didi, errors aside, is just the offensive spark plug we need. I still think one of the top relievers will be traded for a starter and/or power-hitting right fielder. We could use a good hitter at third base too (sorry Headley).

What’s unclear is if Hal wants to stand pat or really try to make a run for the postseason. We know what his dad would do, but his motives have never been as transparent.

Meanwhile, it’ll be nice to have a break. I don’t watch the Home Run Derby; Chris Berman’s “back back back” is enough to drive me insane. I don’t have much interest in the All-Star game either.

But I do want to wish the new Mr. and Mrs. Jeter a very heartfelt congratulations. I hope they’ll be very happy even though they neglected to invite me to the wedding.

News & Notes from Tampa and Elsewhere

March 23, 2016

As the spring training season winds down, there’s actually stuff going on! For starters, our President went to Cuba as everyone knows, and among his esteemed delegation was our own Jeets. I love the above photo. You can just hear them ribbing each other about their golf games. Jeter did an interview with ESPN that day and reiterated his desire to buy a baseball team. Are the Tampa Rays be on his radar? I would think so unless MLB is planning to move the team to a bigger market and more hospitable stadium.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, A-Rod told ESPN’s Andrew Marchand today that he would retire after his contract is up in 2017. Not exactly a shocker, unless he planned on playing for another team, but at least he put a finite end to his career, which allows him to have some version of a victory tour in ’17. Of course injuries could derail his plans, but if he’s still productive for the next couple of years and conducting himself as he did last year, good for him.

Starlin Castro has created a buzz at camp, so I’m eager to see him play in the Bronx. And Luis Severino continues to impress. CC, on the other hand, has been having his problems on the mound. Will he end up in the bullpen? Stranger things have happened.

In the feel-good department, there was a terrific story today in Tampa! If anyone needs a lift – and given the horrors in the world this week, who doesn’t – just read this.

Bye. Or, as Michael Kay would say, “See ya.”

September 28, 2014

Photo: Christopher Anderson/New York Magazine

Well, today’s game was truly the end of a great career. And Jeter did it in style with an RBI hit, a lot of hugs for his teammates, a few words for Clay Bulhholz before coming off the field, a tip of the cap to the Red Sox players and a wave to the fans. I thought the Red Sox, both as an organization and as a fan base, did a beautiful job with their farewell. Not only did they trot out their most esteemed sports captains for the pre-game ceremony but the Fenway Faithful cheered and stood at the end as if Jeter were their own. I was very moved.

It seems strangely OK that it was the end of the 2014 season too. It’s time for the Yankees to regroup and figure out where to go from here. There’s been a lot written about the return of A-Rod in recent days so his presence and its attendant baggage will be inevitable, but Michael Pineda gives me a lot of hope that the starting pitching will be in very good shape. (Tanaka is still a question mark for me. I don’t trust the health of that arm. I hope I’m wrong. Ditto: CC for a bunch of reasons.) I enjoyed watching Jose Pirela, both at the plate and at second base. I don’t quite get why he wasn’t called up sooner, despite roster issues, since he led the International League in hitting (or something like that), but I hope he sticks around. Maybe they could move him to shortstop because Drew won’t contribute anything to the offense and if I’m Cashman I don’t re-sign him.

Speaking of Cashman, he’ll have a full plate this off-season as usual but maybe with more urgency than ever. Two years without a postseason? The horror if you’re the Steinbrenners. George must be fuming. Do they even keep Cashman? Is it conceivable that there’s another GM out there who looks more enticing? Or will they stick with the status quo? Girardi’s alleged tirade in the clubhouse on Thursday could have been a manifestation not just of his own anger but of that of his bosses.

Getting back to Jeter, it’ll be interesting to see where his life takes him. He’s already dipped into the book publishing world with his own imprint at Simon & Schuster. He’s expressed interest in owning a team but in the shorter term it’s more likely he’ll invest his time and money in media-driven enterprises. I have to admit I envy Jeter right now. Most people retire with modest goals – taking up a hobby, traveling, figuring how to live on Social Security and cope with health problems. He’s young and fit and fabulously wealthy, and the world is his oyster; he can do whatever the hell he wants. Nice. As I said, I look forward to seeing what direction his life takes.

No, the Yankees won’t be the same without him, but iconic players have long come and gone in this franchise and someday, hopefully soon, another will come our way. I look forward to that too.

In the meantime, unless there’s something newsworthy in Yankeeville, I guess the Confessions blog will go on its usual hiatus for the off-season. Or not…….

Bye. Or, as Michael Kay would say, "See ya."

September 28, 2014

No, the Yankees won’t be the same without him, but iconic players have long come and gone in this franchise and someday, hopefully soon, another will come our way. I look forward to that too.

In the meantime, unless there’s something newsworthy in Yankeeville, I guess the Confessions blog will go on its usual hiatus for the off-season. Or not…….

Straight out of a Hollywood Script

September 25, 2014

All I kept thinking after Robertson blew the game in the ninth was….A Jeter walkoff? Maybe? Possibly?

Well, OK, I also thought what a shame it was that Kuroda got screwed yet again. Talk about a hard luck pitcher. He threw a brilliant game and could have finished it, but I got that you’re supposed to go to your closer, blah blah.

The main attraction was The Captain and how the night would end for him. I desperately didn’t want him to strike out or hit into a DP in the bottom of the inning. And I would have carried a lifelong grudge against Showalter if he’d intentionally walked him. And then came that familiar Jeterian swing followed by sheer joy – his and mine and everyone else’s. He looked so happy, didn’t he? When he jumped in the air arms raised in celebration, he was a rookie again mobbed by his teammates. And the presence of Andy, Bernie, Jorge and Mo was icing on the cake.

He still seemed dazed during his post-game press conference, admitting that when he stood there at shortstop in the top of the ninth he was saying, “Please don’t hit the ball to me” – very un-Jeter-like but totally understandable.

I loved seeing his mom get all teary, loved watching him pick up his little nephew, loved that he had his girlfriend there but wouldn’t give her the full PDA treatment in front of everybody (very Jeter-like). Oh, and I loved that the Yankees won the game. :)

So it’s on to Boston for the finish to the 2014 season – anticlimactic for sure. My friends here are excited about the Dodgers’ prospects in the playoffs and I’ll throw my support to them. But in the meantime, I’ll let tonight linger in my mind. It was magical.

Tanaka!

September 21, 2014

Wow. It was good to see him again. I only saw highlights of the finale against the Blue Jays, but the guy is beyond amazing. I kept thinking about what might have been had he not gotten injured and instead pitched throughout the full season. It wouldn’t have helped the Yankees score runs, but it could have given them just enough wins to squeak through to the postseason. I hope he doesn’t feel any after effects from going 5+ innings.

Watching Jeter have such a good homestand also doesn’t mean much as far as the team’s fortunes, but for his sake I’m glad he’s going out with a bang not a whimper. He gave the weekend crowds something to cheer about. Audrey? I think you were going to the game on Saturday, right? Tell us how it went despite the loss. It looked like a love fest for the Captain.

So now we’re winding down to the end. There’s lots of chatter about who’ll stay next season and who’ll go, but for right now it’s all about Jeter and getting through The Goodbye. It won’t be easy, but it’s time.

At Least There Was Something to Celebrate

September 7, 2014

Or should I say “someone.” The Yankees brought out a veritable Who’s Who of stars for Derek Jeter Day at the Stadium, including members of the Yanks. I did miss Andy Pettitte, but it’s always good to see Jorge, Mo and Bernie. I’m still not sure why this ceremony wasn’t saved for the last home game of the season, but it was a fitting tribute. Having Cal Ripken there was an especially nice touch. And yikes Tim Raines is large these days.

As for the game against the Royals, well, there’s nothing to say that hasn’t been said during the season. It was the same old same old: good pitching, no hitting. And aside from yesterday’s win, the series was futility in general. The only upside is that both Pineda and Green look like great candidates for the rotation next year. Now if they could get some bats and be done with the dead wood so to speak, they’d be in business.

A Happy Ending

September 4, 2014

Mark Teixeira made it a tie ballgame in the bottom of the ninth against the Red Sox tonight, and then Chase Headley sent the Yanks to a game win and a series win. I was on my feet cheering.

The Yankees may not win another series this season, who knows, but all I wanted for them was to get out of their offensive doldrums and play entertaining baseball and they did. The Red Sox are only a shell of their former selves, except for Ortiz who just keeps hitting bombs year after year, but taking two of three at home was fun anyway. I loved how excited the players got tonight after Headley’s walkoff, like a bunch of little kids. So cute.

As for Headley himself, he was a nice pickup. I wonder what’ll happen to him when A-Rod comes back next year (theoretically). Come to think of it, how will the Yankees deal with A-Rod coming back? (Hal said he’s looking forward to it. Yeah, sure.) In the meantime, Headley has played a solid third base and had a few timely hits.

The weekend series against the Royals should be interesting, with Sunday’s Jeter Farewell ceremony certain to be a tear jerker. I still can’t imagine the Yankees without him, but it’s clear that it’s the right time for him to head off into his new life. I have no doubt that he’ll succeed in whatever arena he pursues. He’s The Natural.

Eating with Jeter?

August 26, 2014

Just got this release from Steiner Sports. If anyone wants to pony up and have a farewell lunch with the Captain, here’s all the info. Part of me thinks the commercialization of Jeter’s last season is way over the top. The other part thinks the luncheon is a sweet way to say goodbye. You decide.

For Immediate Release

The Captain’s Farewell: Derek Jeter Live at the Hudson Theatre Presented by Steiner Sports on Monday, September 22 New York, August 26 –

One of the greatest Yankees, as well as one of baseball’s best, Derek Jeter, will be saying goodbye to the game at season’s end. What better way to bid him farewell than by attending “The Captain’s Farewell: Derek Jeter Live at the Hudson Theatre” hosted by Brandon Steiner and Steiner Sports.

On Monday, September 22, from 12 noon to 2:00 pm, just three days before Jeter’s final home game at Yankee Stadium, he will be joined by Brandon Steiner at the historic Hudson Theatre in the Millennium Hotel (145 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036) in midtown Manhattan for a special event and impactful Q&A that will commemorate his great career and time with the New York Yankees.

Tickets start at $149. The packages are all listed at the end of the release. For more information and tickets go onto http://www.steinersports.com/events.html

Event: The Captain’s Farewell: Derek Jeter Live at the Hudson Theatre

Location: Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Hotel

Address: 145 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Venue Website: http://www.millenniumhotels.com/usa/millenniumbroadwaynewyork/meetings/hudson-theater.html

Transport: The 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, and Shuttle train stop at 42nd Street/Times Square, which leaves you three blocks from the hotel.

Event Date: Monday, September 22, 2014

Event Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

Event Prices: Starting at $149; VIP packages that include a luncheon and memorabilia also available.

Steiner Sports Contact: Steiner Sports Events, 914-307-1037, or email jwechsler@steinersports.com

Athletes in attendance: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and a few surprise Yankees alumni

For more information: Visit http://www.steinersports.com/events.html

Living Social Packages

The Balcony: One Balcony Ticket to Derek Jeter Q&A Including One Jeter Subway Sign One $25 Steiner Sports Gift Card(does not include Luncheon) Price $149

The Mezzanine: One Mezzanine Ticket to Derek Jeter Q&A One Jeter Canvas Print One $25 Steiner Sports Gift Card (Does not include Luncheon) Price: $249

Clutch Package with Product: Two Tickets to the luncheon and Jeter Q&A One Photo op with Derek Jeter for you and your guest One Limited Edition Derek Jeter Signed piece $2,500 per package

Clutch Package (without Product) Two Tickets to the luncheon and Jeter Q&A One Photo op with Derek Jeter for you and your guests $2,000 per package

The Sweep Was Sweet

July 21, 2014

And unexpected. The Reds came into the Stadium having played well, so I hoped for the best from the Yankees but…well, I certainly was surprised by the sweep. Dare I say that Phelps has grown into the job and is looking less like a mere fill-in and more like a guy who can stay in the rotation for awhile? And dare I say that McCarthy may have been a good pickup after all, though two starts aren’t much of a sample size? And dare I say that Kuroda has gas left in the tank despite not getting the win?

The Yankees’ infield defense (I’m looking at you, Brian Roberts) is still suspect and needs tightening up. But maybe, just maybe, the offense is coming around. It’ll never be a Bronx Bombers type offense and I miss that, but Ellsbury continues to impress and Jeter seems renewed and Beltran and McCann have been contributing more.

Bottom line: it’s more fun to watch games when the Yankees win than when they lose so I hope they keep this trend up. Whether they have a legitimate shot to make it into the postseason, as opposed to turning 2014 simply into a farewell tour for Jeter, is still an open question.

On to the Second Half

July 18, 2014

Hard to believe how fast this summer is going, but I’m sure I say that every year. It just feels as if I was just writing about spring training and here we are post All-Star Game, which, by the way, I don’t really watch except to see how any Yankees players fare. This one was all about Jeter and rightfully so, beginning with the Nike commercial, which I think should win a Clio award. Just fabulous. The tributes to the captain were equally memorable, and he handled them with his usual modesty, saying exactly the right things with a touch of humor. I thought the Wainwright foot-in-mouth “controversy” was silly (the NL pitcher said he threw Jeter a meatball in that first at bat, then claimed he was joking), but Jeter deflected it perfectly. I do have to admit that the gifting of Jeter in every city as part of the same sort of farewell tour Mo had is getting old. When did this tradition take hold and will it now be expected for every popular player who’s announced he’s retiring? Or just the potential HOFers?

Bigger questions involve the Yankees. I had dinner with a diehard fan the other night and he’s convinced we’re heading into the “Horace Clarke years” of mediocrity. He also thinks Cashman should be fired for signing old war horses like Beltran and Roberts and just bring up the kids and see how they do. He’s adamant that we shouldn’t trade the farm for somebody like Cliff Lee.

Will the Yankees make the postseason? Only if the rest of the division can’t get it together. We just aren’t a very good team right now with all the injuries and limitations. I hope Shane Greene proves to be the real thing, but two great starts don’t make a career. I need to see more. I hope Kuroda staves off fatique and age. I hope Phelps finishes strong. But then there’s the offense. Remember the days when we hit homer after homer? Ten runs weren’t rare. Now we’re lucky if we scratch out three.

So we’ll see. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy watching Jeter for as long as his season goes and anticipate the final goodbye from the last of the Core Four.

Get Up Close and Personal With the Captain!

June 16, 2014

How’s this for an off-day offer: spend a game day with Jeter!

Seriously!

It’s all part of his Turn 2 Foundation, and it’s one cool opportunity for Yankee fans, so listen up. The Turn 2 Foundation has announced a raffle – a ticket costs as little as $10 – to benefit the Foundation, and here’s what the lucky winner gets. Ready?

Private pre-game lunch for 4 with Jeter at one of his favorite NY restaurants
A ride with him to the ballpark
VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the Stadium courtesy of the Yankees
Pre-game batting practice status in front of the Yankee dugout
Autographing time with members of the team as they take the field
4 seats in Jeter’s private suite

Additional information can be found here.

What a deal, right? And it’s all for a great cause. Who’s in?

Bruised, Battered But Still Kicking

May 29, 2014

Maybe the fans in St. Louis are the nicest people in America. Not only did they give Jeter an ovation practically every time he took a breath, but, according to Sterling and Waldman, they came over to Yankee fans dining at a local restaurant after a Yankees win and congratulated them with a “Nice game.” If only we saw that sort of behavior everywhere.

But I digress. What’s most amazing is that the Yankees are still standing and the road trip ended on a winning note. All this despite the absence of Beltran and Teixeira, despite the slump and benching last night of Solarte, despite the use of McCann at first base and despite the makeshift pitching staff. Yes, Tanaka notched his first loss in forever and the Yankees defense was sloppy at best, and the offense was forced to play “small ball” (I do miss the homers), but if it weren’t for Toronto’s miraculous run of wins the Yanks would be on or near the top of the heap.

Do I think the team can go patchwork into the rest of the season this way? Probably not. Guys need to come back healthy and holes need to be filled. But I was pretty impressed by this road trip. The boys did us proud in the Midwest. They deserve this day off.

All Hail Nuno

May 7, 2014

He doesn’t look like a pitcher. He’s sort of ungainly. And I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from him in tonight’s series finale against the Angels, but he very nearly shut them down completely. He was great – just what this team needed.

The tribute to Jeter before the game was very classy and respectful, and he seemed to enjoy it, especially the presentation of the pinstriped paddle board. I was hoping they’d do a funny scoreboard video starring the rally monkey, but it was a straightforward montage of clips – the same clips we’ll likely see at every stadium this season. It’s still hard to believe this is a farewell tour for the Captain, whether he calls it that or not. I can’t imagine the Yankees without him, but I do get that the time is right for him to walk away. I hope he puts together a group of investors and buys the Yanks someday. I loved his homer, btw.

Meanwhile, the poor Angels made a mess of the early innings tonight. It was a comedy of errors and miscues for them right from the get-go. Oh well. Not my problem. I was just glad we won. We left the bases loaded twice, but I can’t complain about nine runs.

Praying Didn't Work, Yankees

May 4, 2014

I was really hoping the Yankees would have a good series against the Rays since it was my birthday weekend, but except for Tanaka’s game it was a disappointment.

CC…..What’s up with him?

Kuroda….Is he burned out?

Robertson….Blown save?

Jeter….Yes, he feels good, but he needs to hit the ball.

The hitters will hit, I’m sure, but the starting pitching? It’s a huge concern right now, which proves you can never have enough. I went into the season thinking we were solid, but suddenly there was no Nova, no Pineda and mediocre outings from CC and Kuroda. So we’re left with Phelps, Nuno and (gulp) Aceves, along with Tanaka, our new ace. Sure wish we had another arm to count on because right now this team is limping along.