Jeter Does It His Way

Put yourself in the shoes of a fan who bought tickets to tonight’s Yankees game:

Derek Jeter is three hits shy of tying Lou Gherig’s all-time Yankee record for career hits in pinstripes…..EXCEPT the Captain is mired in his worst slump of the season; 0-for-12 during the past three games.

Chances are when you walked into the Stadium tonight you weren’t feeling too good about seeing history made tonight.

And then Jeter decided it was time do things his way.

It started with a bunt single to get things rolling. What a crafty veteran move.

The guy couldn’t hit a lick since Sunday so instead he decides to kick-start tonight with a bunt single while the Tampa defense was on it’s heels. Brilliant.

That set the stage for a rocket grounds-rule double to center (probably the best hit ball all season at Yankee Stadium that didn’t go over the fence) leaving Jeter one hit shy of tying Gherig.

As for the at bat in the 7th, it was classic Jeter. On the cusp of history, Mr. Clutch did what he had to do to ensure a base hit.

Using his patented dive across the plate, Jeter slapped a single to the opposite field between first and second…a hitting strategy that I’d estimate got him about 1,500 of his 2,721 career hits.

How fitting. You know Jeter wanted to come through for the fans that showed up tonight (there may have been added motivation knowing that Thursday is an off day).

If you weren’t a believer at the start of the night that he’d have a shot to tie the mark, I’m guessing that when he came up in the 7th you were pretty certain he’d get a hit during that at bat.

And that goes for his entire career.

Be it in an April matinee or an October playoff push, when Jeter comes up in a must-hit spot, he’s nearly certain to have a productive at bat.

Tonight – when he knew it was time to let his greatness shine – he was up to the task.

That’s the Jeter Way.

Matt Estreich for The Huddle