These Yankees are, well to say “Vanilla” would be putting it mildly. They show little emotion win or lose. Now, you can say that that is a sign of professionalism and an even keel, but I don’t see it that way. I watch the post game interviews and shutter at the same, generic, stock answers over and over out of this bunch. “We are grinding right now.” “I feel good at the plate, just hitting the ball right at them.” “It’s a long season, we’ll hit our stride.” Gentleman, WAKE UP AND PLAY! The season can get short on you really quickly.
This brings me to our beloved, retiring Captain. I am as big a Jeter fan as anyone, but he is starting to wear on me a bit. I remember Apollo Creed in “ROCKY III” screaming at a struggling Rocky Balboa, “THERE IS NO TOMORROW! THERE IS NO TOMORROW!”
For Derek Jeter that is an absolute fact now. This is the last season in the sun for the Hall of Fame Shortstop. The team isn’t very good at the moment (Absolutely dreadful offensively) and Jeter continues to give his short “Jeterian” answers game after game, “Nope. I don’t worry about it.”
When asked if he realized that the Bummers had gone 1 for 17 with RISP the seemingly unconcerned Captain said, “Nope. Not until you said so.” What? I mean I don’t think Jeter should know the exact number of missed opportunities his club had, but he absolutely should know it was too many.
Now I don’t want readers thinking I doubt the Captain’s heart and drive to win. That is never in question and never has been, but I do wonder if he might want to consider explaining to this new version of Yankees that this ain’t how we do it around here. Yes, he has never been a “Rah Rah” type player. Jeter leads by example…but the example as of late is more fitting of a 7 hole hitter that platoons at short. If it were my last year I would want a blaze of glory not a fade to black with the slow roll of credits to sounds of Simon & Garfunkel.
The Yankees need a spark. They need fight and they simply don’t have it. It’s not much fun to watch them, so it can’t be much fun for them to be playing this way. Yeah, CC is out…but was CC that much help? Sure, Beltran was banged up but he’s back now so… I mean I lit Tex up like a pinball machine prior to the season and with his stitched up elbow he is the Yankees’ only real power.
This looks more like Yangervis Solarte’s club than Derek Jeter’s right now and it’s killing me.
I was at Mariano’s final game at the Stadium last year. It was amazing to say goodbye to Mo…but what still gets me was the fact that the Yankees lost that game and missed the playoffs. It bothered me that Mo confessed to Big Papi of all people that he was, “Ready to be done.” I get what he meant, but it still seemed odd to make that statement.
Is Jeet ready to be done? Is this just a parade around the league one more time? Does he wish he walked away with Andy and Mariano? Maybe. I seriously doubt that Jeter would be okay with a September end to his career…but then again, I don’t know what it’s like to have played at such a high level for 20 seasons. Maybe these aren’t Jeter’s Yankees anymore and he is looking to join the old guard in the pages of history. C’mon Cap! Once more unto the breach, dear friends! You ain’t done yet!
**Hey, no matter how old this song is it still gets me fired up. This one’s for you New York Yankees! "THERE IS NO TOMORROW!!”
--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."
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