Derek Jeter: Countdown to Retirement

[terrynever]

I really don't understand what we're debating.  I don't know millions of Yankee fans but I know a lot.  All of them either love, really like, or deeply respect Jeter and want to honor him during his farewell tour.  These same people may not necessarily vote for Brian Roberts as the starting 2B, but they sure as hell will vote for Jeter over Ramirez.  I'm not even saying I blame them.  People can vote for whoever they want.  My only point to Jon was that there isn't some nationwide longing to see Jeter start the ASG, but the vast majority of NYers would want to see it for one reason or another.

All of them? Not me. They didn't have farewell tours in the old days. Ripken started this crap and modern owners bought in because it's another way to make money. Mo took it to another level last year but he had good intentions, asking to meet with behind the scenes ballpark personnel in each city. Jeter's motives for announcing his retirement early are his own business. It hasn't been a distraction to his team so far. He's killing them a few times each week with his fielding and weak hitting.

 

[WayBackVazquez]

All of them? Not me. They didn't have farewell tours in the old days. Ripken started this crap and modern owners bought in because it's another way to make money.

Ripken did not start it. At this point in his final season, he hadn't even announced yet. Yaz's retirement was an open secret, and Johnny Bench and Ozzie Smith for example both announced in June of their final years and got the retirement tour treatment like Ripken later would.

 

[jon abbey]

My only point to Jon was that there isn't some nationwide longing to see Jeter start the ASG

 
And I'm saying I think there is, outside of the AL East. Plus if you're a smart fan of a NL contender, you know him in there ups your chances slightly of winning the game...

 

[jon abbey]

Also a lot of it is just name recognition, every casual fan in every ballpark knows Jeter and has been told for close to two decades that he is the face of the game, rightly or wrongly. It is about Q rating much more than it is WAR. 

 

[Rasputin]

Also a lot of it is just name recognition, every casual fan in every ballpark knows Jeter and has been told for close to two decades that he is the face of the game, rightly or wrongly. It is about Q rating much more than it is WAR. 

 
I swear to god, one of these days I'm going to run for President with a two item agenda. One, I will only nominate supreme court justices that will do away with the antitrust exemption, and two, I will beat the powers that be over the head with the 82nd airborne until they come up with an all star selection method that isn't assfuck stupid.
 
I expect to win in a landslide. What jobs do y'all want?

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Not if the pitch is grooved like Ripken's was.

 
Yeah, but back then it didn't count. "This time, it counts."

 

[DanoooME]

The worst part is not only is he getting elected, he'll probably lead off too, killing the AL offense.

 

[glennhoffmania]

 
You and Pauline Kael.

 
I had to look up who that is.  I'm not very bright.
 

 
And I'm saying I think there is, outside of the AL East. Plus if you're a smart fan of a NL contender, you know him in there ups your chances slightly of winning the game...

 
Good point about the NL fans.  I hadn't considered that angle.

 

[jon abbey]

I've never been a Jeter fanboy and I get that if you're surrounded by kneejerk Yankee fans, it's easy to hate him passionately, but the average non AL East baseball fan wants to see this guy play as much as possible before he retires. 
 
Yesterday in St. Louis was another great example, something I've never seen, a curtain call for a player who never got into the game:
 

 
Really it'd be much more surprising if Jeter wasn't leading the vote, it's a popularity contest and Jeter is wildly popular, baseball-wide. 

 

[SumnerH]

The worst part is not only is he getting elected, he'll probably lead off too, killing the AL offense.

 
Who has first ups?  Can we bench him before he kills us in the field?  
 
Lead off, ground out weakly, take curtain call, hit the showers.

 

[glennhoffmania]

It's in MN, right? So, no.

 

[rembrat]

Jeter's only crime is being a Yankee. He played his prime ball during a scandalous era in the game and in one of the craziest cities in the world and aside from some hookup stories there isn't any dirt on him. He'll finish his career some where close to .312/.380/.444 and is idolized by just about every infielder his junior. Let the man be celebrated in peace.

And Farrell will have him bunt.

 

[glennhoffmania]

If Farrell has any balls he'll bat him 9th.  There's no way he won't be the worst hitter in the lineup by a decent margin.

 

[bankshot1]

If Farrell has any balls he'll bat him 9th.  There's no way he won't be the worst hitter in the lineup by a decent margin.

 Jeter batting 9th, likely means 3 innings of CI at SS. If Farell had balls, and wants to optimize his chances of winning, hits him 2nd. Jeter gets his deserved national spotlight, and then Farrell pulls him in the top of the 2nd, for a SS that can field.

 

[jon abbey]

Heh, there is no way he is not hitting 1st or 2nd and playing half the game. You must know that on some level, why stress about it?

 

[mauidano]

I've never been a Jeter fanboy and I get that if you're surrounded by kneejerk Yankee fans, it's easy to hate him passionately, but the average non AL East baseball fan wants to see this guy play as much as possible before he retires. 
 
Yesterday in St. Louis was another great example, something I've never seen, a curtain call for a player who never got into the game:
 
Really it'd be much more surprising if Jeter wasn't leading the vote, it's a popularity contest and Jeter is wildly popular, baseball-wide. 

Accept the fact this is going to happen and fuggedaboutit.  Reality will set in next year with a clean slate and we'll bitch about someone else.

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Heh, there is no way he is not hitting 1st or 2nd and playing half the game. You must know that on some level, why stress about it?

Because this time it counts!!!

 

[jon abbey]

Jeter has to be sad he only gets one series in SEA this year, 7 for 11 so far with a few deep shots mixed in even and his first multi-SB game since 2009. Right now he has 61 hits in NY's first 64 games, 3377 currently, on pace for 3470. 

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

Interesting to that HFA was topsy-turvy. Neither team won a home game in the season series.

 

[jon abbey]

The whole league has been like that so far, 7 teams above .500 at home and 8 above .500 on the road.

 

[TheoShmeo]

I think I saw a highlight of Jeter fist pumping last night.  I was half asleep so I may be incorrect.
 
Either way, I used to think that I wanted Jeter to unretire and play another year given how mediocre he now is.
 
No longer.  Just go away.

 

[terrynever]

I just had a dream that Jeter threw out a runner from deep short. Wait. It actually happened in Saturday night's game. McCann had to scoop the throw out of the dirt.

 

[WayBackVazquez]

Two walks in his last 80 PA.

 

[glennhoffmania]

So he was traded to the Sox?

 

[joyofsox]

From 10 days ago:
 
Why Would You Ever Throw Derek Jeter Anything But A Fastball?
Mike Petriello, Fangraphs, June 10, 2014
 

 

[jon abbey]

Not sure on what pitches, but he drove the ball well a bunch of times on the West Coast trip (after that article was written). 
 
Since this is bumped, I'll update: Jeter is at 3385 hits, on pace for 3469. 

 

[WayBackVazquez]

Also, to reach 3500, he needs 115 hits in the Yankees' next 91 games. The only player in MLB with 115 hits in his team's last 91 games is Jose Altuve.

 

[jon abbey]

Also, to reach 3500, he needs 115 hits in the Yankees' next 91 games. The only player in MLB with 115 hits in his team's last 91 games is Jose Altuve.

 
This makes it sounds harder than I think it potentially is, Jeter had more hits per game than this in his last full season played, 2012 (216 hits). 

 

[WayBackVazquez]

 
This makes it sounds harder than I think it potentially is, Jeter had more hits per game than this in his last full season played, 2012 (216 hits). 

 
I don't think it makes it sound harder than it is; I think it makes it sound like pretty much what it is.
 
Jeter led the league MLB in hits in 2012. He would likely need to lead the league MLB in hits the rest of this year to get to 3500.

 

[jon abbey]

3 hits today puts him at 3400, on pace for 3472. 

 

[jon abbey]

At 3407 now, on pace for 3475. 

 

[jon abbey]

I haven't seen this anywhere else, but I'm pretty sure he now has the most hits of any non-OF to play the game. He is still 12 behind Honus Wagner overall, but Wagner played 373 games in the OF. 
 
Overall he is still 9th, but should move to 6th in the next few weeks if he stays healthy. Speaker at 3514 in 5th is out of his range (thanks to the lost 2013 season), so 6th will be his ceiling.
 
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml

 

[EvilEmpire]

OK, but we all know he is a non-IF too.
 
 
Figured I'd just get that out of the way now.

 

[jon abbey]

This is the thread where we respect his accomplishments, the other one is the one where we make fun of the hype. 

 

[WayBackVazquez]

Derek's on pace to finish with 290 GIDP. That would put him at #12 all-time. Staub and Brooks Robinson at 297 and Baines at 298 are out of his range (thanks to the lost 2013 season), so 12th will be his ceiling.

 

[joyofsox]

Tom Seaver expects Derek Jeter to become first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee
 
"I can't see how he won't be. ... I've thought about it; Jeter should be the one. What can you say he hasn't done? He has every credential imaginable — great player, good citizen. He plays the game properly, respects the game and his predecessors. He's done it in the big city, for one team that wears a uniform of greatness. He has no marks against him. He has the numbers. And he wins. He's a class act all the way. A pro's pro, a gentleman's gentleman. If you're starting a franchise, who do want as your first pick? I'll take Jeter, thank you. And I'm sure I wouldn't get too many arguments."

 

[rembrat]

I would vomit. 

 

[AlNipper49]

Seaver sounds like someone that I would love to be in a cash fantasy league with.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

He is 2-for-2 tonight, tying him for 8th all time with Yaz at 3,419. Next up is Honus Wagner at 3,420.
 
 
Edit: Fixed Wagner's hit total.

 

[jon abbey]

3420 actually, just one away. That is a huge one for a SS. 

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Yankees beat writers keep tweeting conflicting info in regard to the career hit list. Per Baseball Reference, Jeter just tied Wagner. Is that not right?
 
Edit: Per AP, Wagner does have 3,430 hits as I originally posted. So, Jeter is 7th by himself, 10 back of Wagner.

 

[jon abbey]

I always use the Baseball Reference list, but there is definitely conflicting info out there for players from early baseball days like Wagner and Anson, I will investigate this a bit more:
 
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/H_career.shtml

 

[jon abbey]

Rotoworld:
 
"Jeter finished tonight's game with 3,420 hits, officially leaving him 10 shy of Honus Wagner in sixth place at 3,430 (Baseball-reference has Wagner at 3,420, which is probably more accurate, but MLB uses Elias for its stats)."

 

[jon abbey]

Actually sounds like some shitty research by Elias:
 
"Honus retired after the 1917 season with 3430 hits, later changed to 3415 then to 3420 after some research and recalculations took away 15 hits, then found five more hits."
 
http://blogs.piratesprospects.com/history/happy-138th-to-the-flying-dutchman/

 

[jon abbey]

He is on pace to finish with 3476 total now. He would need 80 hits in the last 57 games to get to 3500, not impossible but pretty unlikely. 

 

[Frisbetarian]

O-fer today means Jeter needs 69 hits in 45 games. He would need a serious streak to have a chance, but fuck, I hope he does it. 
 
We were lucky to watch this man play baseball.

 

[glennhoffmania]

The most amazing thing about this is that he's been able to stay healthy.  I figured there'd be at least a couple of DL stints with a pulled hammy or something.

 

[Hyde Park Factor]

The most amazing thing about this is that he's been able to stay healthy.  I figured there'd be at least a couple of DL stints with a pulled hammy or something.

I remember talking with a friend a few years back about where Jeter would end up on the all time hit list. We estimated at the time that he would collect approximately 600 more hits before the end of his career (2013 changed that!), which would have put him between Anson and Speaker. It was impressive talking about it then, but even more so now when you see his name on the list next to those guys.

As far as his health, I'm sure his limited range helped to reduce wear and tear on those old legs.

 

[cromulence]

I was at the game Saturday - bought tickets months ago with no knowledge of Paul O'Neill Day and obviously that Jeter would do that. Just dumb, ridiculous luck. Also got to see Mike Aviles lose his cool at a persistent heckler in LF. Good times.

 

[WayBackVazquez]

At this point, he appears to be focusing on hits without regard to getting on base. His pitches per PA are near the bottom of the league, and he's walked once in his last 15 games.

He's 10 for his last 50 with 0 walks, so I'd expect there'll be a day off coming.