Why You Can't Hate Derek Jeter

Is it any surprise that Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit was a home run? The man who has come up big so many times on the biggest of stages capped a career milestone in the grandest way possible. Those huge moments, which annihilate composure, have always been in contrast to Jeter’s personality: deferential, calm and professional.

I couldn’t get past the fact that in Jeter’s press conference, he kept referencing how relieved he was the Yankees won. The fact that he went 5-for-5 and drove in the game-winning run had something to do with that of course. In the midst of a celebration of an individual yardstick which few can measure up to, The Captain was just as concerned with the W. He seemed relieved like “now we can get back to the business of winning baseball games.”

How do you hate a guy like that?

From the most soured Sox fan to ardent small market defender, who wouldn’t take a guy like that on their squad? He’s one of those guys you feel silly booing at a game, like Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn or Josh Hamilton. It doesn’t stop you from doing so, but you still glance left and right to make sure you aren’t the only one. If you did heckle him, what would you yell? “Cool rings!” “Your girlfriend(s) is ugly!” Come on.  It’s easy to hate the Yankees: the payroll, the Steinbrenner’s, the never-ending stream of high profile free agents. But how do you hate Derek Jeter?

You can’t, barring some cocaine-induced sports psychosis which leaves you with nothing but your favorite hat and no appetite. You may not like him for what he’s done to your team but deep down, you respect the guy. I have always included the “don’t get me wrong, I would take Jeter,” preface in every Yankee conversation.

I have friends that are die-hard A’s fans and they like talking about “The Play” as much as Nic Cage has liked making good movies the past 18 years. After a few minutes discussing Jeremy Giambi’s baserunning prowess, they will remind you that only one man could have made that play. “F@%*$&! Jeter.”  They mean no disrespect, they want to, but being knowledgeable baseball fans they cannot without undermining their credibility.

That’s the sign of a great player, when they can rip your heart out and you still have a begrudging respect for them and a sense of “well, what did I expect.”  It’s not like Bucky Dent, David Tyree (sorry New York) or David Eckstein. This is the guy you expected to come up big and he did. That validation is few and far between. You have Jordan, Montana, Brady, Jackson, Ortiz etc. Guys you know who have the capacity to beat you and do it at the most inopportune time.

You get the feeling Jeter was made for that role. I used to think the “Yankee for life thing” and the smooth, professional exterior was a sham. It’s not. It’s easy to see why he has come up big so many times and why he has reached a plateau few have. He knew it was going to happen. Has there ever been an athlete more suited to weather the New York spotlight? He is perfectly comfortable in that role.

He is the antithesis of A-Rod: in search of an identity. Jeter has always been comfortable in his skin because he doesn’t know anything else. Is he a bit DiMaggian in terms of controlling his image? Sure, but you won’t see him kissing a mirror in Vanity Fair or having the grossest mutual popcorn feed in history with one of Charlie’s Angels. He has always done things the right way because that’s who he is.

He controls his image the same way he controls and directs things on the field. I have heard the argument that if he were in Kansas City, he would be just a good player. Maybe. But I guarantee the rest of that team doesn’t mail it in before the break. We can talk OPS and range all day, but it’s guys like Jeter that change cultures.

Look at the 1996 Yankees. I’m not saying Jeter was the main cog on that team, but he was the difference. That was not a great baseball team. You had a core of established players, good pitching held together by free agent glue. There is no way that team beats the Braves on paper. It’s hard to imagine the Yankees in a “title drought,” but that is what it was. There wasn’t much of a difference between that team and the 1995 squad, except they had Jeter for a full season.

If it wasn’t Jeter’s team in 1996, it has been ever since. Look at the 1998 squad. There isn’t one superstar and they absolutely destroyed everyone placed in front of them. They came in day in and day out, expecting to win. Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and Co. took cues from their 24-year-old shortstop. He wasn’t given that role, he took it.

Statistically, there have been better shortstops, particularly the guy that plays to his right. However, how many people would label A-Rod as a team player or a winner? Do you think Jeter takes a quarter of a billion dollars to play in Texas? I know that’s cliché, but you need guys like Jeter that serve as the glue on championship teams. Chemistry is important. If it weren’t teams like the Heat and the 2004 Lakers win every year and the 2010 Giants lose in the NLCS.

Jeter is the Tom Hanks of baseball, you don’t want to argue against him and you can’t hate him. Has he lost a step? Sure. Is he past his prime? Probably. But for every booted ground ball (“Larry Crowne”) and slow roller to the right side (“The Terminal”) you have The Play (“Forrest Gump”), Mr. November (“Philadelphia”), 3000-plus hits and a fistful of World Series titles to look back on. That’s not a bad view.