Sunday, September 7, 2014

Derek Jeter Day Is Officially Over


Jeter's Yankee career is not over but Derek Jeter Day is. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts Mr. Jeter for everything that you are and everything you have done. From The Greedy Pinstripes family, and I think I speak for all of the Yankees family when I say, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

This has been Derek Jeter Day.

Yankees' Offense Gets Shutout Again in Finale Loss to Royals

Shane Greene surrendered no earned runs in five innings and the bullpen followed him by getting the last twelve outs, but since the offense continued to not do anything the Yankees embarrassingly lost to the Royals today, 2-0, in the rubber game at Yankee Stadium.

Because this contest happened on Derek Jeter day, logically, it was expected the Yanks would put up a solid fight, the least they could do to honor the legend's career.

Nonetheless, for the second time in three days their bats couldn't cross home, a fact only made worse by their recurring defensive struggles.

To start off the day of frustration, the aforementioned Greene side-armed a Nori Aoki grounder into right field with two on and two out in the top of the second, bringing Josh Willingham home to give Kansas City an early lead.

Then in the third, following a drop of a routine flyball by Carlos Beltran and a steal, KC circled the bases again to double their advantage, scoring when Eric Hosmer blooped one into shallow right field to drive in Alex Gordon.

On that play, interestingly, Gordon actually stumbled while rounding third, but since Brian McCann failed to realize his doing so the star third basemen did get in easily, a misfortune that summed up the Yankees' day pretty well.

Derek Jeter Day: Jeter's Most Iconic Moments


Derek Jeter has had so many iconic moments that I would hate to narrow them down to even a Top 10 list but I gave it my best shot. Today is surely a bittersweet day for me because I love being able to look back and honor the Yankees Captain in my own way but I hate to say goodbye. Let's re-live Derek Jeter one more time before we say goodbye to Derek Jeter and Derek Jeter Day.

Jeter's first Little League home run


The Flip


The Dive


Jeter Jump Throw


Jeter's 3,000th Hit


Farewell to Yankee Stadium


Andy Pettitte & Jeter remove Mariano Rivera from final game


SportsCenter Top 10 Plays


Ultimate Career Highlights

Derek Jeter Day: Derek On Television


Derek Jeter is a very talented man whether it be in commercials, on the baseball diamond, or on television. So many times we have seen Jeter on the Jimmy Fallon Show, Mark Teixeira's Foul Territory, Seinfeld, and a few other surprises that were enjoyable. Here we have to hit the high spots or we would be here all day. The game may be over but Derek Jeter Day is not, enjoy!

The Other Guys - You Shot Derek Jeter


Jeter and Bernie Williams on Seinfeld


Jeter on the Jimmy Fallon Show


Jeter on Foul Territory w/ Mark Teixeira


Jeter vs. John Rocker on Celebrity Death Match





Derek Jeter Day Open Thread: Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals


Welcome to the Derek Jeter Day game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. This is the open thread for the game and I expect there to be plenty of Derek Jeter memories being swapped back and forth between us all. The Yankees will send Shane Greene to the mound to face off with the Royals Yordano Ventura. The game will be played at 1:30 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, TBS, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

The Yankees have a few more weeks of games to play so get your Yankees tickets here on the blog. We should have plenty to saw both on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) and Facebook (The Greedy Pinstripes) so be sure to give us a follow on both.

It's an open thread so I'll start off the discussion. As hard as this is what is your favorite Derek Jeter memory? Mine is his Mr. November home run. My birthday is November 2nd and he continued to lead the team that wouldn't take no for an answer. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your Derek Jeter Day. Go Yankees!


Yankees Injury Updates: Tanaka, Phelps, Cervelli, Gardner

Some updates on the Yankees' currently injured players, courtesy of The Star Ledger's Brendan Kuty:

Masahiro Tanaka
Tanaka, the Yanks' ace who's gone 12-4 with a 2.51 ERA this season, threw a 34-pitch bullpen session before yesterday's 6-2 win, reporting no problems with his partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. If stuff like this continues to happen with his rehab, Tanaka will appear in another game sometime this month, regardless of how New York's doing in the standings.

David Phelps
Phelps tossed a 31-pitch simulated game this morning, also not reporting any pain. Best case scenario for him right now: he'll be available out of the bullpen Tuesday before hopefully rejoining the rotation later.

Brett Gardner
Gardner wasn't in the lineup yesterday, and won't be again today due to ab pain. He might be available to pinch hit in this afternoon's finale against the Royals, but won't be completely back until Tuesday.

Francisco Cervelli
Cervelli has been suffering severe migraine headaches since Friday, the reason why he is yet to play this weekend. As of now, it's unknown exactly when he'll return, although it is still good to know that the headaches don't seem to be related to the three concussions he's suffered during his career.

Meet A Prospect: Mr. Derek Sanderson Jeter


What else can be said about Derek Jeter that he has not said by himself, only with his bat. The owner of the Yankees Captain spot, 5 World Series rings, and basically anything else he wants, Derek Jeter has been the poster boy for all of baseball and especially the New York Yankees since the 1996 season. While Derek Jeter surpassed 3000 hits last season he has Pete Rose's hit record in his sights, it is just a matter of if he wants it enough to keep playing. If you look at Derek's list of woman folk he has had attached to his arm you would know that Derek gets what Derek wants. It was not always like that though so let us meet the kid from New Jersey, Derek Jeter. 


Derek Sanderson Jeter was born on June 26th , 1974, in Pequannock, New Jersey to parents Dr. Sanderson Charles Jeter and Dorothy Jeter. Derek's parents, a substance abuse counselor (Sanderson) and an accountant (Dorthy), met while serving in the United States Army in Germany. Derek's parents, at a very early age, were very strict and hard on him but very consistent. As a child his mother instilled Derek's positive attitude in him, insisting that he could not use the word "can't". Derek even had to sign a contract every year that set acceptable and unacceptable forms of behavior. Derek lived in North Arlington, New Jersey, until he was four years old when he moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Derek and his sister, Sharlee, attended New York Yankees games while spending the summers with their grandparents in New Jersey and became very passionate about the Yankees. Derek later said that as a child Yankees stand out Dave Winfield inspired him to pursue baseball. 



Derek spent his high school days at Kalamzoo Central High School where he played baseball and basketball. In his sophmore year he batted .557 and followed it up with a .508 average in his junior year. In his senior year he hit .508 with 23 RBIs, 21 walks, 4 home runs, and a .831 slugging percentage with a .637 on base percentage, 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts, and just a single strike out. After a stellar season like that Jeter received an All State honorable mention, the Kalamazoo Area B'nai B'rith Award for Scholar Athlete, the American Baseball Coaches Association 1992 High School Player of the Year Award, 1992 Gatorade High School Player Of The Year Award, and USA Today's High School Player of the Year. This kind of acknowledgement got him a scholarship offer to play baseball from the University of Michigan that he obviously declined. Much later in his career Kalamazoo Central High School inducted Jeter into their Athletic Hall of Fame, in 2003, and renamed its baseball field in Jeter's honor in 2011. 


Derek was drafted straight out of High School by the New York Yankees in the first round of the MLB First Year Players Draft 6th overall. Hal Newhouser, a scout for the Houston Astros team that had the first pick overall that season, lobbied for his team management to select Jeter although the Astros feared that Jeter would require a salary bonud of at at least $1 million to skill college and go pro. The Astros, instead, drafted Phil Nevin and signed him for $700,000. Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter and the waste of a pick that he quit his job with the Astros in protest. The Yankees gave Jeter a $800,000 signing bonus to skip being a Wolverine and instead become a Yankee. Yankees scout Dick Groch said he would not go anywhere but "Cooperstown". 


Derek played four season in the Yankees minor league system, beginning with a struggle in the Gulf Coast League. His manager even had to bench him at the end of the season in 1992 so his average did not drop below the Mendoza Line, .200 Batting Average. In 1993 though he came out of the offseason determined and was voted the Most Outstanding Major League Prospect  by the South Atlantic League managers after hitting .295 with 5 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases. He was also named to the All Star team even though he committed a South Atlanta League record 56 errors. Somehow, though, he was named the SAL's Best Defensive Shortstop, Most Exciting Player, and Best Infield Arm by Baseball America. In 1994 he was named the Minor League Player Of The Year Award by Baseball America, The Sporting Newas, USA Today, and Topps while winning the MVP of the Florida State League. The 1994 MLB strike and mild inflammation in his right shoulder while in the Arizona Fall League kept Jeter from the majors, officially, in 1995 but he would be called up for the post season run to sit on the bench and take in the experience of playing for New York. 


Derek was named the Yankees starting short stop starting for the 1996 season after Joe Torre stood up against George Steinbrenner, who as we all know was never happy about the growing pains young players have to go through. Steinbrenner even approved a trade that would have sent pitcher Mariano Rivera to Seattle for short stop Felix Fermin because Gene Michael and Brian Cashman convinced Steinbrenner to give Jeter an opportunity. Aren't we glad that he did? 

Jeter was the first rookie short stop to start the season as a starter for the Yankees since Tom Tresh in 1962 and he did not waste any time getting acclimated, hitting his first MLB home run that day. He won the Rookie of the Year award after hitting .314 with 10 home runs, scoring 104 runs, and driving in 78 RBIs. His first post season home run came in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, the Jeffrey Maier home run.  Jeter won his first World Series ring in that rookie season when the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves in 6 games, the first Yankee World Series since 1978. Jeter batted .361 in that post season. 1998 was Jeter's first All Star Game appearance while the Yankees won 114 games during the regular season while on, in my very biased opinion, the greatest team of all time. Jeter would finish third that season in MVP voting but most importantly Derek had his second ring as the Yankees beat the Padres in 4 games. Another All Star appearance in 1999 and another World Series ring with the Yankees beating the Braves again for Jeter's third ring. After the 1999 season Derek agreed to a 7 year $118.5 million dollar contract but George Steinbrenner did not want to set a salary record and pay Jeter more then Juan Gonzalez, who was working on an 8 year $143 million dollar extension, so the Yankees agreed to a 1 year deal worth $10 million. That ended up being a "mistake" because Jeter had another All Star appearance, including the game winning hit and All Star Game MVP, and had yet another World Series ring when the Yankees beat the Mets in 5 games.  Jeter, while winning his fourth World Series ring, won the World Series MVP and became the only player to ever win the World Series and All Star Game MVP in the same season. Jeter then signed a 10 year $189 million dollar deal, making him the second highest paid player in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez, which was much more then the original extension proposal


Derek would make his fourth All Star game appearance in 2001and also made the "flip play" in the ALDS against the Oakland A's that will forever be remembered. Jeter would also earn the title "Mr November" when he hit a game winning home run as the clock struck Midnight on November 1st, the first World Series to ever be played in November. The Yankees would lose the 2001 World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks in, again in my biased opinion, the greatest World Series of all time.  Jeter would dislocate his left shoulder on Opening Day of the 2003 season when he collided with Blue Jays catcher Ken Huckaby at third base, missing 36 games. That season Derek Jeter was recognized as the 11th captain in Yankees history eight seasons after Don Mattingly, the last Yankees captain, retired. After typical Jeter seasons from 2003-2007 Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's record for hits at Yankee Stadium with his 1,269th hit with a home run off of Ray's pitcher David Price in 2008. He broke the record two days later when he got a hit off of White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd. 


2009, after the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, reloaded with many free agents signings and trades that brought CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Texeira, and Nick Swisher to name the big ones. This would also be the season that Derek would return to the lead off role when Girardi flipped him and Johnny Damon in the batting order. Jeter recorded his 2,675th hit as a short stop, passing Luis Aparicio's previous record for short stops, in August of the 2009 season. Jeter followed that up by passing Lou Gehrig as the Yankees all time hits lead when he singles off of Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman on September 11th, 2009. Jeter would win his 5th World Series championship in 2009 when the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 6 games to win their teams 27th World Series Championship of their storied history. Jeter also won his 5th gold glove that season and finished third in the MVP voting behind eventual winner Joe Mauer and teammate Mark Texeira. In July of 2011 , off of pitcher David Price of the Rays, Derek collected his 3000th hit on a home run to left field at Yankee Stadium. He is now assaulting Pete Rose's all time hit record. 



Derek Jeter created the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996, a charitable organization, to help children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction. and it also rewards those who show high academic achievements. Derek also serves as an ambassador for Weplay, a website designed to get children involved in sports.  Jeter, when not being a good charitable person, is probably hanging out with a beautiful woman. Derek's little black book includes girls like Scarlett Johannson, Minka Kelly, Mariah Carey, Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Gabrielle Union, Joy Enriquez, Jordana Brewster, Vanessa Minillo, Jessical Biel, Jessica Alba,  and the list goes on and on... I hate you Derek Jeter.


What do you say to summarize Derek Jeter, I mean really what can you say? Going into the 2012 season he is a 12 time all star, 5 time Yankee Player of the Year, All Time Yankees hit leader including the only player in Yankees history to reach 3,000 hits, 5 gold gloves at short stop, 4 silver slugger awards, 2 GIBBY Awards for Moment Of The Year, 2 Hank Aaron Awards, 2 Lou Gherig Memorial Awards, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated All Decade Team, a Roberto Clemente award, an All Star and World Series MVP, 5 World Series rings, an AL Rookie of the Year, being on the team who went to the playoffs in 16 of his 17 seasons, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on. The greatest part of it all though? He still goes out there every day that he physically can, hurt or not, and has just as much fun today as he did in 1996 for the Yankees. The Captain... Derek Jeter.





Jeter did not have a great 2013 season and will be honored today at Yankee Stadium for Derek Jeter Day. Join us in saying goodbye to a Yankee legend and the Yankees captain, Mr. Derek Jeter. 

Yankees Game Preview vs. Kansas City Royals 9/7/14


Welcome to Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium where the New York Yankees will host the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three game set this weekend. The Yankees will send Shane Greene out to the mound looking to get Jeter a win on his day and he will be opposed by Yordano Ventura for Kansas City. The game is scheduled to start at 1:35 pm ET but expect the pregame ceremonies to go a little long for Jeter. The game can be seen on the YES Network, TBS, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Greene is coming off the worst start of his young Yankees career as he allowed six earned runs in 2.2 innings against the Boston Red Sox. This was Greene's first loss since July 21st as he has been stellar since being called up to the rotation this season.

Ventura is coming off a start in which he allowed two earned runs while striking out seven in 6.1 innings for his 11th victory of the season. Ventura missed his previous start with a sore middle back and looked strong in his return for Kansas City.

You're running out of time to see the Yankees at Yankee Stadium this season so get your Yankee tickets while you still can. Obviously today's game is sold out but last I checked Derek Jeter figurine day at Yankee Stadium on September 21 against the Toronto Blue Jays was not. Get your tickets while you still can because those are going to sell out soon as well.

Go Yankees!!

Recap & Ranking The Derek Jeter Farewell Tour Gifts


The most creative gift has to go to the Texas Rangers but they had a little help from President George W. Bush while the gift most likely classified as "going through the motions" has to go to the Kansas City Royals. No gift from Kansas City, just a donation to the Turn 2 Foundation. Honestly that's probably what Derek Jeter would have had each team do but who buys the person socks and underwear for Christmas when they ask for it? If I had to make a Top 5 list I would go with the Rangers gift, the Mets gift, the Tigers gift, the Blue Jays gift, and the Angels gift. All of these are very likely to be outdone by a large margin by the Yankees this afternoon and by the Boston Red Sox on the final game of the season. Stay tuned to the YES Network this afternoon.

#2 Yankees Cowboy Boots
Houston Astros (4/2/14)

Yankees #2 paddle board
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5/7/14)

Golden Bat and a $10,000 donation to Jeter's non profit charity
Milwaukee Brewers (5/11/14)




#2 made out of Subway tiles and a Derek Jeter cake. 
New York Mets (5/15/14)


#2 off the Wrigley Scoreboard 
Chicago Cubs (5/21/14)


A case of dirt from US Cellular Field, a donation to the Turn 2 Foundation, and a bench made from baseball bats and bases.
Chicago White Sox (5/25/14)


Stan Musial cuff links and a $10,000 donation to the Turn 2 Foundation. 
St. Louis Cardinals (5/26/14)


$34,000 watch from Robinson Cano, Safeco Field base, and donation to the Turn 2 Foundation
Seattle Mariners (6/11/14)


Last second base bag used in Metrodome (Yankees ALDS clinching win) and $10,000 donation to Turn 2.
Minnesota Twins (7/5/14)


#2 guitar and a Lego portrait of the Captain
Cleveland Indians 7/10/14


Signed and framed jerseys from Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin
Cincinnati Reds 7/19/14


Cowboy boots, framed picture with President George W. Bush, and $10,000 donation to Turn 2
Texas Rangers 7/30/14


$10,000 donation to the Turn 2 Foundation
Kansas City Royals 8/25/14


University of Michigan Baseball Jersey
University of Michigan 8/27/14


Two seats from Tiger Stadium, three paintings of Jeter at Kalamazoo High School, Tiger Stadium, and Comerica Park, and $5,000 donation to Turn 2
Detroit Tigers 8/27/14


Three night all expenses paid trip to the Canadian Castle of the Rockies and $10,000 donation to Turn 2
Toronto Blue Jays 8/31/14

Quick Hit: Derek Jeter In Commercials


Derek Jeter and the #RE2PECT commercial got me thinking what other commercials has Derek Jeter been in? There was more than I thought by a long shot surprisingly so enjoy Jeter showing a side we didn't get to see nearly enough in his time as a player, his human side. Enjoy!

#RE2PECT



Gatorade commercial stealing a base off John Lackey



Ford commercial



Visa commercial with the late George Steinbrenner



Gillette commercial w/ Tiger Woods singing "Stayin' Alive"



This is Sportscenter - Who Touched My Razor?



"I Live For This"



2008 Upper Deck Baseball Cards


This Day In Derek Jeter Day & New York Yankees History 9/7


In case you guys and gals didn't hear today is Derek Jeter Day at Yankee Stadium and right here on the blog.

With that said on this day in 1974 the Yankees Graig Nettles was suspended for ten games after stuffing his bat with six super balls. The bat was shattered by a pitch and found by the Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Frehan. Nettles claims the bat was given to him as a gift by a fan in Chicago and hit a home run with the bat in this game for the only run of the game. The Yankees would beat Detroit 1-0 while playing in Shea Stadium while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.

Also on this day in 1955 the Yankees Whitey Ford becomes only the fifth major league pitcher to throw consecutive one hitters. In his last start Ford held the Washington Senators to one hit, a seventh inning bloop single by Carlos Paula. In this start Ford held the Athletics to one hit in a 2-1 Yankees victory.

Also on this day in 1952 Johnny Mize hit a pinch hit grand slam to give the Yankees a 5-1 win over the Washington Senators. With the home run Mize would have the honor of hitting a home run in all 15 big league stadiums presently in use.

And finally on this day in 1908 the Washington Senators Walter Johnson continued to dominate the Yankees with his third victory in four days over the Bronx Bombers. In those three games Johnson allowed a total of zero runs to the Bronx Bombers. Johnson started the dominance with a six hit performance on Friday blanking the Yankees. Johnson pitched the very next day allowing only four hits and no runs on Saturday. The Yankees were not allowed to play on Sundays so Johnson had to wait to hold the Yankees to two hits in the first game of a Monday Labor Day doubleheader at Yankee Stadium for the third consecutive shutout.


The New York Yankees Present Derek Jeter Day


Welcome to Derek Jeter Day both at Yankee Stadium and right here on The Greedy Pinstripes.