When the Yankees made the trade for Alex Rodríguez this off-season and announced that he'd be switching to third base, there was immediate criticism. He was clearly a better shortstop than Derek Jeter, according to the doubters, and when Jeter's defense started to falter, team unity would be threatened. So far this hasn't happened, but as it turns out, it's been Jeter's bat, and not his glove, that has disappointed. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Jeter is hitless in his last thirty-two at bats, a streak which is reaching historic proportions. A few notes:
• It is the longest hitless streak of Jeter's career.
• It is the longest hitless streak of any Yankee in the Steinbrenner era.
• Jeter's batting average has dropped eighty points during the streak.
• Reds first baseman Sean Casey has sixteen hits during this time.
• Ben Affleck and Jennifer López have gotten engaged and split up three times. Or at least it seems like it.
But the Yankee captain has taken his slump in stride. A few quotes:
"We didn't play well at all. It's been a rough beginning for a lot of people."
-- Following 0 for 4 outing in 11-2 loss to Boston on April 23rd.
"The booing is directed at a lot of people, and it should be. We haven't played well."
-- Following 0 for 4 outing in 2-0 loss to Boston on April 25th.
"Pitchers aren't going to feel sorry for you."
-- Following 0 for 4 outing in 5-1 win over Oakland last night.
Certainly, Jeter has looked better at the plate over the course of his last eight or ten at bats, but the Bronx crowd has booed him frequently, although with a tinge of guilt. Beginning with Tuesday night's Oakland game, the crowd has been trying to will him through the slump, begging him for a hit as he steps to the plate. He actually received standing ovations as he dug in for his final at bats last night, and the fans remained on their feet throughout a gritty ten-pitch at bat in the seventh inning, chanting "Let's go Jeter! Let's go Jeter!" until he finally drew a walk in what looked to be his final plate appearance of the night. But the Yankees rallied in the bottom of the eighth to give him another shot at breaking the 0 for 31 hex, and the crowd again rose to its feet, exhorting him to end the misery, but he instead shot a ground ball to first to end the inning. 0 for 32. As he returned to the dugout, the boos rained down. This is, after all, New York.
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