So, there's a whole media and fan kerfuffle over the fact that Derek Jeter is not going to the All-Star Game. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports sez that it's because what has been described as "emotional and physical exhaustion." And San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson complained about all the missing in action players at this year's All-Star Game, saying:
"I would say that you would show up, unless you need these three days to recover,” Wilson said. “You are representing your team, so it would be good to be here.” He also said that "it’s one of your duties as a player, out of respect, knowing that there was a guy that really wanted to be on the All-Star team, and his stats were right there, and he would have loved the chance to be here.” Wilson said that "whether you’re taking it for granted or just think it’s a grind, I always think about the pitcher who is better than me at this moment.”
Anyhow, I understand why a lot of fans are upset that Jeter isn't at least just showing up, the way the injured Jose Reyes is, especially since 1) Jeter is getting a reported $500K bonus for being elected, and 2) Jeter got a lot of votes this year because of the 3,000 hit chase. But personally, it doesn't bother me, because I never thought his numbers deserved the All-Star nod in the first place this year. So why would I be upset that he didn't show up at an event that I thought he shouldn't have been elected to in the first place? Backhanded defense, I know, and I totally understand why others feel differently, but it doesn't really matter to me, and I can't be a hypocrite about it and say it does.
So, I want to hear what readers think -- I've already heard a lot on the subject on my Facebook page. What do you think? Should he have gone to the game or not? Tell us about it!
11 comments:
I think a better question is, "Should Bud Selig attend the All-Star Game?" I don't think he should ever again be let into a ballpark. Especially for an All-Star Game, after the stunt he pulled in 2002 in the very temple of greed he built.
If Jeter wants to stay away, that's his business. I practically threw something at the TV last night hearing Bobby Valentine on Sunday Night Baseball beg Jeter to show up.
I would have had a lot of respect for Jeter if he had come out and said that his performance this season did not merit selection to the All-Star team & he was declining so that someone more worthy could take his spot.
If the players are going to start spouting nonsense about needing "days to recover" we should probably just do away with the All-Star Game entirely since they could all say that.
Jeter and Mariano Rivera & anyone else who asked out even though they've been playing for their teams should be taking criticism for their decisions.
- Paul
"...temple of greed..."?? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black - what do you call your new taxpayer-funded bank vault? That's the ultimate temple of greed, corruption, malice, extortion, and every other rotten adjective of which I can think.
All of the Yankers who "opted out" of the All-star game didn't do so of their own accord, they were ordered not to attend by the shrunken heads in Tampa, so that it didn't disrupt their level of play and potentially damage their "inevitable" march to the World Series.
Perhaps the All-star game should be re-scheduled to after the season, like the NFL does, so that way the only excuse a player would have not to play is injury. Or Bud could just make it mandatory to attend if the player is selected, like he did with the whole "home-field advantage" crap.
I have an interesting theory as to why the Captain won't attend - he is perfectly justified in not going having just come back from injury - but it may be deeper than that. The Captain who has a notoriously long memory (just ask A-Rod) can focus back to game 6 of the 2001 World Series when, not only did the D'backs crush the Yankees, but they rubbed it in, playing Sinatra's New York, New York when the game ended. I don't think Jeter has forgotten that....
Jonmouk and (shockingly) Freshy have good points. But kudos to the Daily News for their brilliant back page headline, showing Derek and Minka in Florida yesterday: "CAPTAIN HOOKY."
Jonmouk, that's actually an interesting theory. But even for Jeter the Grudgeholder, I'm not sure!
Wait a sec, my heart just skipped a beat....oh wait there it goes, ok back to normal. You almost had me there, Mikey!
I think Jeter is afraid of playing in Arizona, since it was there that he experienced one of his teams greatest chokes, until 2004 that is. And he didn't just experience the choke, he watched it sail right over his head as the D'backs celebrated their first championship.
Maybe we should refer to him now as "Fraidy Cap"! HA HA HA HA HA
Choke? Considering the Diamondbacks had Matt Williams (caught), Luis Gonzalez (not caught but who's kidding who) and Curt Schilling (surely protected by the Mitchell Report)...
The only reason anyone would be afraid to go to Arizona, aside from the insane heat, is the bigotry.
Again, the pot calling the kettle black. Before you go naming names, you better take your own inventory first. The Yankers have just as many (probably more) steroid freaks as any other team, they just haven't been caught yet. That doesn't mean that they don't exist, they just haven't yet been caught.
And please do some research as to WHY the good people of Arizona are tired of illegal aliens polluting their fine state. It has nothing to do with bigotry, it has everything to do with illegal drugs crossing the border.
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