Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jeter, Gift Baskets, and Japan

Did you hear the easiest way to get a Jeter autographed ball? Oh I did! The New York Post male-chicken blocked Jeter. It would appear the mighty Yankee captain has a lot of ladies up in his Trump Tower papa pad. He then sneaks them out the back door the next morning. He’s a gentleman though, he has a car waiting to take them home, or to the pawn shop.  When a lucky lady opens that car door, plops her tampered goods down on that seat, what does she find? Awwwww Derek! Thanks for the gift basket with Yankees swag and even a Derek Jeter autograph baseball!

His whole game plan crumbled when he, as Tracey Jones would say “pulled some wool”, and it just so happens he pulled this wool more than once. When the repeat yankee-yanker got into the morning ride home, she got the exact same gift basket as last time. Jeter, Jeter, Jeter…. If anything ruins a good plan it’s complacency.


2011 Allen & Ginter Derek Jeter and Joba Chamberlain Jersey Relic Cards



The last time we heard about Jeter scoring was in the decisive game 5 of the AL Division Series. When Detroit walked Teixeira, pushing Jeter across the plate and putting Curtis Granderson on third representing the tying run. Ultimately and oh-so-sweetly, Detroit emerged victorious in the 3-2 ballgame (later to get eliminated by the Rangers in the Championship Series).

Jeter finished the 2011 regular season with 546 at bats, 84 runs, 162 hits, 6 homers, 61 RBI, and  81 strike outs.


2011 Topps Derek Jeter Gold Variation #330 1424/2011


Derek Jeter now has a career 3088 hits, dangerously close to the honorable Peter Edward Rose. I am  certain that this 37 year old, 16 season veteran won’t reach 4256 hits (however Pete did put in 24 seasons and was almost twice that in age at 45 years old).
In 1979, after 16 seasons Pete Rose sat on 3372 hits at the age of 38. When Pete was officially over-the-hill, he was still putting up numbers like 185 hits in 1981, how about 172 in 1982? even had 107 in 1985 (one year before retiring).

2011 Allen & Ginter Derek Jeter Home Town Heroes


At the end of the day, Derek Jeter is one of the best all-around ball players of the 21st century, a future HOFer, and of course, a ladies’ man. In related news, the Yankees won a bid to talk to Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima of the Seibu Lions. Nakajima, is already 29 years old, and they say will serve as a utility infielder. Nakajima has some power, but not a contact hitter with 107 strikeouts with the lions. I don’t think the Yankees will sign him within the 30 day window, if they do sign him it will be for a fair price. There is not a shortage of solid infielders right now and I think Jeter has many years of snagin’ balls out of the dirt left in him.


Hiroyuki Nakajima-SS for the Seibo Lions

One thing is for sure, When I see a kid with a Jeter autograph ball, telling a story of how his mom got it  for his birthday….I am going to take a long hard look at this kid, and see if he  has any resemblance to Derek.

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