“Derek Jeter can’t carry this team alone all season.”

Men on this site have made the mistake of doubting Jeter before. (cough WP cough)

Actually, UJD, I seem to remember you also asking if Jeter was totally cooked last year.

I glad Jeter stepped back from the verge.

I hope I continue to have been wrong about Jeter for several years.  Can we have 1999 era A-Rod too?

RAB writes,

RF Tyler Austin: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB — 12 for his last 23 (52.2%) with four doubles, two triples, and three homers … dude is out of his mind right now, pretty much the only batter more locked in at the moment is Matt Kemp

Can he play first?

[3] He’s in the outfield because Bichette is manning 3B, so probably.

Before the season, if you had to guess which were the five teams (other than the Yankees) most likely to make the playoffs, you’d say Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Red Sox and Angels, right?

And the Yankees somehow play them all this month. What the fuck, schedule makers?

They also get to play the Twins and Baltimore, 2 of the teams least likely to make the playoffs. So that balances it out a bit. But yeah, that’s a tough schedule.

[5] I don’t mind it. Get through this part of the schedule with a good record and we should be all set the rest of the way.

That’ll do, WOE, that’ll do.

I’ve doubted Jeter many a time.  It’s easy because I’m a fool.  That’s how I got to be in the position I’m in today.

Actually I was most impressed by his blast to left center that Vernon Wells ran down.

[9] To be fair to all those who were on Jeter’s dreadful offensive production for 1.5 years, his swing looked terrible. He literally looked like a 12 year old in little league who had learned to just touch the ball with the bat because, hey, it’s made out of aluminum and it’ll probably go into the outfield. He was way out in front, hands leading the hips, etc… all the things you’re not supposed to do. Now he’s back to driving the ball.

[10] I had pretty much given up on Jeter by June of last year.  And I’m the optimist.  I’d still be shocked if he’s more than a 3-4 win player this year.  But if he is, that is easily earning his contract, and buying the Yankees time to find a replacement.

[11] - Pretty much this.  I’m as big a Jeter fan as any but that being said I know he can’t keep up the pace he’s been on since coming off the DL last year.  I’ll settle for being good enough to earn most of his contract and keep the starting SS position. 

However he is really driving the ball so far this year.  He’s like the Jeter of old.  I’m going to appreciate it for however long it lasts because at any moment it could be gone for ever.

However before it is all said and done I would REALLY like to see him get a pie in the face.

My favorite part of the Jeter Renaissance is that in two different articles I’ve read over the last 48 hours the writers have insinuated that Jeter could win a batting title this year. You know, after 9 games.  I guess it’s comforting that the hyperbole and over-reaction machine works in both directions.

[13] - To be fair, he did hit .331 after coming off the DL last year so it’s not JUST 9 game.  But yeah, he’ll still be 38 in 2 months and unless he went the Bonds route I don’t think there is a good enough chance of that happening to talk about.

[14] Cal Ripken hit .340 as a 38 year old.  IDK if Ripken was on steriods or not, but if we assume not, there’s certainly precedent.  Lots of it for guys hitting .320 or higher after their 38th birthday (which would put Jeter in contention for a title).  But definitely, it’s too early for talking about it.  If he’s still hitting over .330 at the end of May…

Cal hit .340 but he was injured half a season.  He did that over only 80 something games.  And even if he did bat .340 the entire year, he still would have finished 4th in the AL that year.

I know Ted Williams won batting titles at 38 and 39 but he was Ted Williams.  Musial won at 36.  George Brett won a batting title at 37.  Gwynn won 4 straight from 34-37.  That’s all I can think of off the top of my head.

[16] Well, I’m not so much concerned about “won a batting title” at that age.  Because that also has a lot to do with how others hit.  I’m just into if, “there’s a good enough chance of that happening to talk about”.  I think if his BA is above .320, it’s good enough to talk about, at least.

I’m not a BBRef member so I can’t see top-9, but I revised criteria to 37 and above, BA > .320, qualified for batting title, and BA > .320.  There are 22 seasons that fit that criteria.  And yes, all the guys on the list were great hitters and great hitter for average but…so is Jeter.

I’m not trying to argue that he *will* do it, just that there is precedent for high-average career hitters to put up great (batting average) seasons after age 37.