Just When I Wonder If Jeter’s Still Got It…
…he goes and has a game like today.
No, he didn’t throw himself into the seats or anything nearly as dramatic. But he’s like the guy who works at my local pizza place…he always delivers.
In the third inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Rays, he knew exactly where to be to make that 5-3-6 double play happen. He not only raced over to cover third but put a perfect tag on Kapler.
It didn’t hurt that the Yankees finally have a first baseman who can make that throw over to third. (No disrespect to Giambi. He sure was fun.)
![jason-giambi-autograph[1].jpg](https://mlblogsjaneheller.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/jason-giambi-autograph5b15d1.jpg?w=400&h=300)
Let’s see. What else did Jeter do today?
With the Yanks down 3-2 in the top of the eighth, he doubled and scored the tying run. Never mind about the pizza delivery guy. He’s more like my Fed Ex guy who shows up even if we’re having a mudslide.
Oh, and in the top of the ninth with the score still knotted at three? Guess who singled home the go-ahead run?
Yep. Which makes me think Jeter is not like the pizza delivery guy or the guy from Fedex, but rather like my primary care physician, Dr. Jeffrey Hadsall (affectionately known around my house as J-Had).
Like any good doctor, J-Had is in charge of making sure I don’t have a heart attack or stroke or otherwise keel over unexpectedly, and that’s exactly what Jeter does by making sure the Yankees don’t lose close games.
There were other Yankees who kept me from feeling sorry for myself about Xavier, whose elbow, it turns out, consists of this.
Cano’s two-run jack put the Yanks on the board….Damon knocked in Jeter with a single….Bruney threw killer stuff to strike out Upton and Crawford….Ransom doubled and scored the winning run…And Mo performed his usual 1-2-3 magic, talk about saving my life over and over again.
Special mention goes to Andy Pettitte, who pitched efficiently and skillfully and reinforced what a stellar rotation the Yankees have. There have been bumps in the road so far, but I still think this team will win it all this fall.
In the meantime, I’m so excited about tomorrow’s opener at the new Stadium that I’ll probably be up all night thinking about it. It’ll be on at 10 a.m. here in California, so I’m not even going to pretend to do any work. Tomorrow is all about the Yankees, their new home and the legendary players who’ll be there for the ceremonies. Oh, and beating the Indians would be nice too, so I don’t have to hear it from this guy.
Confessions of a She-Fan 
the double-play was awesome.. i was watching GameDay at work and then with Gabe Kapler at second with no outs, i saw 2 outs! when i saw Pena to Teixeira to Jeter, i was going, huh? very cool on the video
aw, what a nice guy Giambi is.. he’ll sign a fan’s boob with earnestness, lol
I am surprised you didn’t go the G-thong photos! LOL! I liked Giambi, but it does feel good when Tex consistently makes great defensive plays. Jeter has been great the last couple of games. I saw Pete Abe’s comment about how great it is that Jeter will be the first Yankee to go to bat in the new Stadium…so true!
Scott
http://fotr.mlblogs.com
Jane – I hope the opening of the New Yankees stadium goes well today. I’ll be teaching, so I won’t see it – but I’ll look forward to the highlights!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Jeter is losing it slowly (in a natural, un-enhanced, respectable way), but I think he’s still got some tricks up his sleeve. You don’t go from great to over-the-hill in a season. Just a natural decline that comes with age. But the guy can still hit.
Steve T.
http://soxblog.mlblogs.com
Ew. Nady’s elbow is disgusting! Hip hip hooray for the Captain! (He’s on my fantasy team — no, NOT THAT fantasy team, Jane.) Good for them. Which C.C. will we see-see today?
J-Lun
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
I also have Jeter in my MLB fantasy team… I’m very happy I also have Swisher!! :0)
Jane, I also which I was the Stadium today, it’s bound to be great… I’ll try to catch it online cause I’m at work, why couldn’t they do that at night, huh?
I also have Jeter in my MLB fantasy team… I’m very happy I also have Swisher!! :0)
Jane, I also wish I was the Stadium today, it’s bound to be great… I’ll try to catch it online cause I’m at work, why couldn’t they do that at night, huh?
he’s still the king of clutch!
Happy Yank Day!
Derek Jeter is Mr. Clutch. Granted, I don’t see him play every night, but as far as I am concerned, he isn’t losing anything. If I had to pick a favorite “non-Red”, it would be him, no doubt.Russhttp://wight4256.mlblogs.com
That plate of…whatever…would probably look more delicious if it wasn’t just slopped on the plate. Although I really wouldn’t want my elbow to be made of it. That would not make for a good time. And that is a rather, um, interesting headdress that man has. I would imagine that might start to itch after a while.
Jen
http://ajroxmywhitesox.mlblogs.com
Well, seems like the Yankees had a really great game! Jeter is a very interesting player, but he seems to have a lot of class.
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
It was a very slick DP, Levelboss. And yeah, Giambi’s quite a sport!
It’s a funny thing about Jeter, Scott. Everybody’s writing about how he’s lost range. I know it’s true, but then there are the “intangibles” and they were never more in evidence than last night. I hope he has a great game today.
It should be quite a day, Julia, with plenty of pomp and circumstance. You probably won’t be able to miss the highlights even if you wanted to. LOL.
Exactly, Steve. Nobody stays young forever (sigh), but the guy can still play.
J-Lun (good one), I don’t know which see-see we’ll see-see today, but I hope it’s the pitcher we saw-saw last time. He was fab.
The YES Network will probably have an Encore of the game tonight, Latinyankeerebel. Otherwise, it’s the computer for you!
Happy Yank Day to you too, Mike. Let’s hope for a great inaugural game.
I love that Jeter is your favorite non-Red, Russ!
That “Indian” in the photo is one of the Wahoo Brothers. They dress up like that to watch the Tribe. What can I tell you, Jen. Fans are fans!
It was a fun game to watch, Kaybee. No crazy misplays, just good baseball.
Yes, Yes, Yes (on the YES Network)…a fine evening it was, and let’s do hope that it carries over…Jersey Bob was all aglow telling me about Teixera’s great play — “we haven’t had a first baseman who could do that since SKOWRON!” Well, I dunno, but ain’t it grand…I liked (for once) how ESPN described Jeter’s hit has “putting a little Captain in ya” — aye aye, matey; as they say on the softball fields, take a hit and pass it around! (Subject to many interp’s…) And now at last to Caesar Steinbrenner’s Palace…may it be worth every dime…as another jealous fan who can’t see it live, I/we depend on your exquisite eye & ear for all of the juicy details to follow, as only YOU can provide…go get ’em!!
“Caesar’s Steinbrenner’s Palace.” Great description, Dave. I won’t be able to provide ALL the juicy details, since I just have my TV to rely on, but I’ll do my best.
The Captain still has it!!! He was awesome in the last two games of that series. That was two clutch hits by Ransom and Jeter to secure a much needed win in the division. We need to beat the Tampas and Bostons in the division if we are going anywhere this year. Lets keep it up in the Bronx today!
Bombers Weekly
http://denveryanksfan.mlblogs.com
It was a big series for us, Bombers Weekly, because we do need to beat the Tampas and Bostons if we’re going to succeed. And beating Cleveland in the Bronx today and this weekend is definitely on my wish list!
Hey, Jane …
Well, the first game at the new Yankee Stadium has turned out to be a pitchers duel … 1-1, going into the top of the 7th inning … Maybe, the game will enter the bottom of the 9th, and Derek Jeter will get the big hit once again, leading the Yanks to victory !!!
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It’s interesting, before the game a gentleman named Harry Heller was interviewed on the Yes Network … He is 99 years old, and attended the first game at the old Yankee Stadium and saw Babe Ruth hit the first homer in the Yankees opening win that day !!! … Mr. Heller also had a ticket for today’s opener vs. the Indians !!! … I wonder if he is any relation to you, Jane?
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Anyway, the Indians just took a 5-1 lead in the 7th [the bullpen, the bullpen, the bullpen] … We will def need Jeter to get that big hit now !!! … Oh, no, a grand slam, 9-1 … and, another homerun, 10-1 …
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Jane, in what started out as some happy comments, quickly turned into very sad comments … The “Opening Day” is not very nice any more !!! [Oh, the bullpen !!!]
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Take care, Jane … Let’s hope for a big comeback !!!
— Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
Hey, Jimmy. Interesting about the 99-year-old man with the same last name as mine. (I watched the MLB Network feed, not YES, so I missed the interview.) No relation, as far as I know. Anyhow, I wish we had a victory to celebrate today instead of the debacle that was our bullpen. When we lose, we lose big, don’t we?
Jane,
Yanks lost their home opener, but I think CC did pretty well from what I have heard. Some of our ballplayers are like doctors, they keep us healthy. But not west coast games. Especially ones that go extra innings.
Elizabeth
http://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com
Jorge needs to hang them up, 6 LOB and adding to his total. Jeter can still fling it, speaking of that DB. CC looked like Mr. Staypuff.
I think you might have received a call from that Indians fan!
By the way, can I interest you in a catcher named Moeller?
Ken
http://brooksrobinsonrules.mlblogs.com
Jeter was tremendous yesterday. Lefty pitched a good game, and Bruney is impressing me again. I’m fairly happy with Gardner too.
Today was a wretch, a total stink bomb. Veras and Marte collapsed, and the team couldn’t hit a lick in the clutch–again. Veras and Marte are pitching themselves to the end of the bench, or SWB.
Jason from The Heartland
http://heartlandpinstripes.wordpress.com/
I just wanted to say its just one game. Its no time to rest easy. Your team is tough, always!
Aaron
http://mlbtribefan.mlblogs.com
Rough night at the new stadium tonight. It’s a shame the Yankees had to stink up the new ballpark in their home opener, but it’s really only just one game. The Yankees will bounce back.
Shelley http://diamonddiva.mlblogs.com/
Elizabeth, CC didn’t have his “A” game today, but he pitched well enough to keep us in it. Can’t say the same for our bullpen.
I’m not ready for Jorge to hang it up just yet, Observations. It was his solo shot that got the Yankees on the board.
You can keep Moeller, Ken. He’s very serviceable, but not exactly a HOF-er.
Good call, Jason. A stink bomb is exactly what today was.
You’re right, Aaron, but congratulations to your guys for getting it done today.
You and Jason both used the word “stink,” Shelley. I guess it’s unanimous!