The Captain

While watching the All Star game last night, there was obviously a lot of attention on Derek Jeter.  He got an ovation before his first at bat, when he exited the game, and with each of his hits.  During his first at bat, there was a very clear voice that was shouting, "Overrated!"  The question is...is he?

Usually, I wouldn't let a Yankee take up an entire blog post, but this is no regular Yankee.  This is Jeter.  He spent most of his childhood in Michigan and graduated high school in Kalamazoo.  Although he was a Jersey boy who loved the Yankees, he's given a lot back to the Kalamazoo community.  His Turn 2 Foundation works to get kids and teens involved so they turn to better influences and lives.  Anyone who invests in a community who helped him develop as a person is someone that I can respect.  It also has departments in Florida and New York, helping inner city kids in multiple states.

Nowadays, you don't see many franchise players.  You see fewer who signed right out of high school.  You see fewer still who spend their entire career with the Yankees.  Baseball players are traded more frequently than the cards that hold their likeness.  Off season, mid season, trade deadline, designation, release...transactions happen everyday.  For one player to stay with one team for his entire career (1992-2014) with the Yankees is amazing.  Yankee fans are demanding and the organization responds by trying to construct a championship team every year.  Jeter fit the bill every year, making himself valuable to a team looking for a World Series title.  He was a shortstop for his entire career, a demanding position that requires agility, strength, and leadership.  Most guys don't make it their whole career at shortstop.

Jeter helped his team to win five World Series championships, becoming the MVP of the WS in 2000.  He made appearances in 14 All Star games (out of 20 seasons...that's 70% of the time).  He has five Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers and was the Rookie of the year in 1996.  He probably has multiple houses just to keep all his awards.

What's more, Jeter has been the captain of the Yankees since 2003.  That's not a title that is given out freely and not very many MLB teams advertise an official "captain."  Jeter's name is synonymous with the Yankees and it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Do we even have to talk about his numbers?  His career batting average is .311 with over 3,400 hits and 258 home runs.  Not only are his numbers great, but he's consistent.  He doesn't have one fantastic year and a bunch of fair ones.  No, he seems to have a great season every year.

There's no doubt that he will be elected to the Hall of Fame, it's only a matter of if it's the first year or second year of eligibility.  His number (2 for those new to baseball) is sure to be retired with many other single digits at Yankee Stadium.  Every stadium he's visited this year has celebrated him as if he was their own.  He's not just a New York figure or a baseball figure...he's a sports figure with the likes of Tiger, Jordan, and Namath.  He's also not bad to look at (see here) and has dated some pretty high profile women.

So, is he overrated?  No, he's not.  Did Derek prove that guy wrong?  Ya, by hitting a double immediately.  Wainwright might have admitted to serving Jeter a lollipop, but it's still a way to go out.  Congrats, Cap.  You will be missed by this Tigress.

Verbing

The other day Avila hit a very slow, very weak dribbler to third base.  In most cases, he's out before he gets half way to first.  However, the defense had the shift on so instead Avila gets a hit.  I thought, "Oh, he Victored that".  That's right, your favorite players become nouns or verbs when something happens to them consistently.  Here are a few more:

Avila (verb)- to get hit with balls, bats, or even attitude where the pads just don't cover.  I was catching Porcello and I got Avilaed like three times in one inning!

Verlander (verb)- to have all the skills in the world and over think things to the point of self destruction.  I had the best season of my career, but then I started dating a supermodel and really Verlandered up my next season.

Rajai (verb)- wear an oven mitt unnecessarily.  I was weeding the garden and I Rajaied so I wouldn't get pricked by thorns.

Phil (verb)- to sprint in order to prove one's moxie. While I could have walked past the hot guys, I Philled so they could see me in all my glory.

Leyland (verb)- smoke more cigarettes than a normal ad executive from the 60s smoked in a week.  I was so nervous about the job interview that I Leylanded all the way there.

Porcello (verb)- to win in the most undramatic fashion, to the point of boring others.  I Porcelloed on Jeopardy when everyone got the Final Jeopardy wrong but I bet the least amount of money.

Sanchez (verb)- to pester others during an interview.  My best friend Sanchezed me while my boyfriend's father grilled me on my life goals.

Cabrera (noun)- a person who excels at something with half the effort of others.  I studied for hours to pass the test, but my friend is such a Cabrera that she got an A just for showing up.

It takes a special kind of person to be a Cabrera.  I wonder who will Cabrera up in the second half of the season.

All Star Break

I'm still here.  As previously stated, my life has been consumed with Mini Tigress, who already has a voracious love for the game.  She's learning a lot about baseball and about our Tigers.  Here are some things we've learned in the first half of the season:

Born a Tiger fan

Everyone deserves a second chance.  Just look at Phil Coke.  Admit it, you wanted to trade him.  Now he's turning it around and making us proud to see him storming out from the bullpen every week.  The season is young, but I have high hopes that Phil will continue to be, well, Philthy.

Being young and inexperienced can work in your favor.  JD Martinez is tearing things up and earning his stripes (get it, he's a Tiger).  He's been an effective five man behind Victor for sure.  It's also striking that his performance is so great that he's been keeping Davis and Hunter out of the lineup.  That's saying something.

Nice guys still finish first.  He might never be an everyday player, but Donnie Kelly is still a coach's favorite player.  Fans are also on the Donnie Kelly train.  They cheered and yelled for his intentional walk this week like he was Miggy.

It's good to be king.  Miggy is still Miggy.  74 RBIs as of right now.  With the All Star break as the unofficial middle of the season, he's on track to be close to 150.  He's the king, just bow and accept it.

When starting pitching is on, the team is on.  Verlander and Scherzer are still ironing out some details and quirks.  Who would have thought Ricky P would be the most consistent pitcher?  Crazy.  Just goes to show that pitches are fickle creatures.  Let's just stay away from these are injuries that have plagued pitchers this year.  I could talk on that forever and how the culture of pitching has to change in order to save our pitchers.

Our bullpen is still the red haired child in a house full of brunettes.  Every team has an issue, ours is forever the bullpen.  When Nathan is struggling, you have to wonder if it's something in the water out there in left field.

Remember fans, Tigers are still atop of the Central.  If the Tigers remain consistent, then I see no issue with continuing that trend.  Bring back the roar in 20-1-4...for the kids.