"If any major league player with a $17 million paycheck and more than 3,000 hits on his résumé could be said to have been taken for granted, Derek Jeter is that player."
Well, there is exactly one player who fits those qualifications.
So Jeter is the oldest, youngest, most overrated, most underrated, tallest, shortest, and Derek Jeterest player with a $17 million paycheck and more than 3,000 hits.
"Over the past decade or so, as the New York Yankees have stockpiled superstar after superstar, from Jason Giambi to Alex Rodriguez to Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia, it has seemed as Jeter has moved further down the list in prominence on the roster, even if he still carried the label of Captain."
Easily the most popular Yankee during this time, by a wide margin. So I guess it depends what you mean by "prominent."
But, yeah, players who sign $200 million contracts tend to get attention.
"In fact, in a lot of ways, Jeter may once again be the MIP -- Most Important Player -- on this team."
MIP! I like it. It's clever.
"This year, with the ballclub perceived by many of its own fans to be aging and in decline, with its attendance having waned steadily since opening that money pit of a new ballpark in 2009, and without a highly touted -- and high-priced -- free agent coming to town to give it a boost, it is time for the Yankees and their fans to rediscover Jeter."
Best attendance in baseball in 2012. 3.5 million. Maybe the Phillies had a few thousand more paying customers.
As for the money pit in steady decline, these are its attendance numbers:
2009: 3.7 million.
2010: 3.8 million.
2011: 3.7 million.
2012: 3.5 million.
Jeter is easily the most popular player on the team and probably the most popular player in MLB.
Did Wallace Matthew forget the hubbub about Jeter's 3,000th hit? When Jeter passed Gehrig? Did Matthews read the NYT article about people lining up in a parking lot to get Jeter's autographs? Does Matthews watch TV or listen to the radio?
How can Yankee fans "rediscover" something that is ever-present?
"Does anyone really think A-Rod will hit his first milestone, No. 660, as a Yankee, let alone No. 763?"
I think ARod will hit his 660th HR as a member of the Yankees.
"That deal was a slap in the face to Jeter, who was heading toward his own milestone of 3,000 hits."
ARod's contract was not a slap in the face to Jeter.
"So was the privately stated position that the Yankees would soon be Robinson Cano's team, that Eduardo Nunez was being groomed to replace Jeter as the shortstop of the future ..."
Not slaps in the face to Jeter.
"Nobody is going to buy a ticket to Yankee Stadium to see A-Rod this year, especially since he won't be in the lineup until after the All-Star break at the earliest. And as great as Mo is, no one buys a ticket to see him, either, for the simple reason that you can never be sure when he will actually get into the game."
Simply untrue. Though I agree that Jeter is the most popular player and Jeter's absence will hurt attendance, lots of people buy tickets to see ARod and Mariano.
ARod's First Game Back will be the biggest sports story of the day. The stands will be packed, even if the fans show up just to boo him.
"As long as Jeter's rehab goes as planned -- and he and manager Joe Girardi insist he is still on schedule to be ready for the April 1 season opener -- you can buy a ticket with full confidence that Derek Jeter will be in the game."
Kewl!
I'll be sure to buy a ticket with full confidence that Captain Derek Jeter will be in the game.
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