During the 2010 off season, with contract rumors swirling and 3000 hits looming, Derek Jeter more then ever was the talk of the town. The impossible needed to be done. How do you put a dollar value on an aging legendary veteran who has led your franchise to five World Series titles over his seventeen year career with the club? What is the value of twelve All Star appearances and a franchise leading 3,105 hits and 339 stolen bases? In the end, 36 year old Jeter signed a lucrative three year, $15 million contract with an option for a fourth year. At the time many said this was way too much money and it makes no sense to pay for past performance, especially when over the next three years the Yankees have $60+ million/year going to A-Rod, Sabathia, and Teixeira.
Jeter's slow start in 2011 did not help his case as talking heads, journalists, and even fans proclaimed he was done. April left Jeter with a .256 avg 0 HR and just 5 RBI. May was no different as he slowly approached 3000. Everyday the countdown flashed on the scoreboard and everyday the pressure and craziness surrounding the milestone built. It didn't help either that by mid-June, on the cusp of 3000 Jeter went down with a calf injury. This DL stint more then anything just added fuel to the "Jeter is washed up" fire.
Would Derek ever get 3000? Would he ever be the same again? The diehards such as myself knew he would, but the overwhelming majority did not. Then on a scorching July afternoon the tables turned on Jeters 2011 season... and the rest of his career. In dramatic fashion, the only way the Yankee captain knew how, stroked a solo homer into the left field seats in the bottom of the third for his 3000th hit. At that moment he not only reached a milestone, but the weight of the most intense sports city in the world was instantaneously lifted off his shoulders .
From then on Jeter's production exploded and quietly led the Yankees into October.
August - .387 BA / .472 SLG / .906 OPS / 41 H
September - .303 BA / .416 SLG / .777 OPS / 27 H
And now it is 2012. Contract signed, money in the bank, milestone passed, girlfriend gone (RIP Minka); will the five time Gold Glove perennial All Star Derek Jeter be back to make a run at number 28? Ladies and gentlemen he is. Through 10 games Jeter has gotten off to a blistering start:
First 10 games - .378 BA / .667 SLG / 1.071 OPS with 3 HR and 9 RBI
Some may give the "its just early" excuse, others might bring up his stats were inflated coming out of the Baltimore series, but I firmly believe Jeter is back to 100%, not playing injured, and will continue his hot hitting through the rest of the season. Bookending the Orioles series, Jeter hit extremely well against two of the best pitching staffs in the American League in the Rays and Angels. So for those of you who said he was done, just know you could not have been more wrong. Derek Jeter is back!
...oh wait, he never left.
~ Shilz
Jeter's slow start in 2011 did not help his case as talking heads, journalists, and even fans proclaimed he was done. April left Jeter with a .256 avg 0 HR and just 5 RBI. May was no different as he slowly approached 3000. Everyday the countdown flashed on the scoreboard and everyday the pressure and craziness surrounding the milestone built. It didn't help either that by mid-June, on the cusp of 3000 Jeter went down with a calf injury. This DL stint more then anything just added fuel to the "Jeter is washed up" fire.
Would Derek ever get 3000? Would he ever be the same again? The diehards such as myself knew he would, but the overwhelming majority did not. Then on a scorching July afternoon the tables turned on Jeters 2011 season... and the rest of his career. In dramatic fashion, the only way the Yankee captain knew how, stroked a solo homer into the left field seats in the bottom of the third for his 3000th hit. At that moment he not only reached a milestone, but the weight of the most intense sports city in the world was instantaneously lifted off his shoulders .
From then on Jeter's production exploded and quietly led the Yankees into October.
August - .387 BA / .472 SLG / .906 OPS / 41 H
September - .303 BA / .416 SLG / .777 OPS / 27 H
And now it is 2012. Contract signed, money in the bank, milestone passed, girlfriend gone (RIP Minka); will the five time Gold Glove perennial All Star Derek Jeter be back to make a run at number 28? Ladies and gentlemen he is. Through 10 games Jeter has gotten off to a blistering start:
First 10 games - .378 BA / .667 SLG / 1.071 OPS with 3 HR and 9 RBI
Some may give the "its just early" excuse, others might bring up his stats were inflated coming out of the Baltimore series, but I firmly believe Jeter is back to 100%, not playing injured, and will continue his hot hitting through the rest of the season. Bookending the Orioles series, Jeter hit extremely well against two of the best pitching staffs in the American League in the Rays and Angels. So for those of you who said he was done, just know you could not have been more wrong. Derek Jeter is back!
...oh wait, he never left.
~ Shilz
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