Jeter hits 3,000
- Derek Jeter is all smiles before the start of action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium July 7.
Arguably the best player in the history of the greatest baseball franchise of all time has added to his long list of achievements. Derek Jeter became the first New York Yankee to have 3,000 career hits July 9. His 3,000th hit came off a solo homerun against the Tampa Bay Rays, typical of “Captain Clutch.”
Fellow Yankee great and member of the “core four” Jorge Posada was the first to meet Jeter at home plate to congratulate him after the milestone hit. Jeter has once again solidified his place in Yankee lore with the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle. His homerun will be talked about on the same level as Ruth pointing out where he would hit his home run during an at bat. Jeter went 5-for-5 in that game, driving in the winning run.
There should be no argument about Jeter’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame. He has five championships, 12 all-star selections, five gold gloves, four silver sluggers, and was named 1996 American League rookie of the year. Furthermore, he was named World Series and All-Star MVP in 2000, the first player to ever earn both titles in a single season. He’s a true champion, captain and gentleman of New York. Even though the New York media was talking about the Yankees taking Jeter out of the lineup, I don’t think they’re talking much about that after this latest triumph.
All-Star Game
The All-Star game festivities started July 11 with the home run derby. Prince Fielder, David Ortiz, Robinson Cano and Adrian Gonzalez all made it out of the first round. Ortiz and Fielder hit just eight home runs combined, while Gonzalez hit 11 and Cano hit 12. Gonzalez had the opportunity to bat first in the finals, and promptly hit 11 home runs again, ending with a total of 31. Cano had to hit 12 home runs in the final round to beat Gonzalez’s total. In an amazing display of power, Cano hit 12 homeruns to win the derby. Cano had his father Jose Cano pitch to him during the derby, which made the day even sweeter for the Yankees second baseman.
In the actual game, the National League beat the American League for the second year in a row. Before last year, the American League had a 13-game streak from 1993 to 2009. The National League’s Roy Halladay and American League’s Jared Weaver started the game for both sides. After the first two innings, the American League was ready to put in Josh Beckett until his knee started to flare up and he decided to pull himself out of the game just moments before he was slated to pitch. Beckett was diagnosed with a hyperextended knee and in his last start before the All-Star break said he didn’t feel 100 percent while warming up during the game. The sudden change threw the American League’s pitching lineup out of whack, and they were unable to recover. In the fourth inning, with two men on, Fielder hit a homerun to put the National League up 5-1. The National League’s pitching overpowered the potent American League lineup, holding them scoreless for the rest if the game.
With the win, the National League clinched home field advantage for their representing team in the World Series.
In other news, the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers started off the second half of the season with a blockbuster trade. The Mets sent the Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez and cash for prospects to be named later.