Derek Jeter finally got his 3,000th hit and a lucky fan is getting to meet his idol. On a picture perfect Saturday afternoon and Yankee Stadium buzzing with anticipation after Jeter singled in the first inning to bring him within one hit of reaching the milestone, Jeter jacked a 3-2 slider from David Price into the upper deck in left center field for a solo home-run and Yankees history.
As Jeter rounded the bases, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman tipped his cap to the Yankees shortstop while Jeter's teammates gathered at home plate to greet the Captain. Price quietly placed his mitt on the mound and quietly walked over to the the Rays dugout. The now-infamous pitcher knew there would be a long celebration.
Jorge Posada, probably Jeter's closest freind on the Yankees, was the first to give him a heart-felt hug followed by Mariano Rivera.
Both dugouts were standing at the rails and the crowd oohed and ahhed every swing Jeter took after the first hit. They knew the next one would mean they were a part of Yankees history.
The third inning home run tied the game and was Jeter's second of the game. You wouldn't be hard-pressed to believe Jeter was just as happy for the long-awaited hit as he was that it tied the game. Contributing to the team is what Jeter is all about.
The 48,000-plus fans who witnessed the historic moment started lining up at the concession stands buy mementos minutes after the hit and the love fest continued a full ten minutes after he got No. 3,000.
Jeter did his part to keep everyone happy by doubling and scoring in the fifth.
The fan who caught the historic home-run ball, Christian Lopez, a young man from upstate returned the ball for four Champion Suite tickets through the World Series.
Showing posts with label David Price. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Price. Show all posts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tampa Bay Rays Robbing Jeter Chance of Getting 3,000th Hit At Yankee Stadium
Are the Tampa Bay Rays robbing Derek Jeter out of a chance to get his milestone 3,000th hit at Yankee Stadium this weekend? You bet they are.
Blame Mother Nature for tonight's rainout of the New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game but, if Jeter falls a hit or two short of attaining 3,000 in the remaining two games, blame the Rays for helping dick the Yankees captain out of getting another shot at the historic base hit inside Yankee Stadium.
Tonight's game was called on rain and the Yankees wanted to reschedule the game in a double-header on Saturday but the Rays vetoed the request to play two.
The Rays had the right to turn down the double-header and said they didn't want to lose the home date. They could have just as easily made a concession for Jeter out of respect.
The game will now be played on September 22, a mutual off-day.
"I can't control another organization's right and decision," shrugged Yankees GM, Brian Cashman after he heard the Rays response to not double up on Saturday.
Now Jeter has two games, instead of three, to get the final two hits in the Bronx. After that, the team hits the road.
Jeter is batting .257 and is averaging about a hit per game. The odds are in his favor that he will join the exclusive 3K Club this weekend, but he'll have to do it going through two of the league's best pitchers.
The Yankees will face David Price (8-7, 3.56 ERA) on Saturday afternoon and James Shields (8-6, 2.47 ERA) the next day before the three-day All-Star break.
Yankees fans can't be too happy about the Rays decision to reschedule the game in September. Many of them paid an escalated, premium price for tickets with the slim hope that they would be lucky enough to pick the right game this weekend and witness Jeter get No. 3,000 in person.
Jeter really wants to be the first Yankee to get 3,000 hits and do it for the fans in Yankee Stadium. Now his chances have been cut by a third.
"There is more pressure," said Curtis Granderson, the Yankees centerfielder.
If he fails to get the big hit this weekend, expect the Toronto Blue Jays to jump for joy. The Yankees begin an eight-game road trip north-of-the-border on July 14th and the Jays could use a sell-out.
Expect a lot New Yorkers to make the six-hour car trip to see Jeter get the historic hit, even if it's in Canada.
Thanks a lot Rays.
Blame Mother Nature for tonight's rainout of the New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game but, if Jeter falls a hit or two short of attaining 3,000 in the remaining two games, blame the Rays for helping dick the Yankees captain out of getting another shot at the historic base hit inside Yankee Stadium.
The Rays had the right to turn down the double-header and said they didn't want to lose the home date. They could have just as easily made a concession for Jeter out of respect.
The game will now be played on September 22, a mutual off-day.
"I can't control another organization's right and decision," shrugged Yankees GM, Brian Cashman after he heard the Rays response to not double up on Saturday.
Now Jeter has two games, instead of three, to get the final two hits in the Bronx. After that, the team hits the road.
Jeter is batting .257 and is averaging about a hit per game. The odds are in his favor that he will join the exclusive 3K Club this weekend, but he'll have to do it going through two of the league's best pitchers.
The Yankees will face David Price (8-7, 3.56 ERA) on Saturday afternoon and James Shields (8-6, 2.47 ERA) the next day before the three-day All-Star break.
Yankees fans can't be too happy about the Rays decision to reschedule the game in September. Many of them paid an escalated, premium price for tickets with the slim hope that they would be lucky enough to pick the right game this weekend and witness Jeter get No. 3,000 in person.
Jeter really wants to be the first Yankee to get 3,000 hits and do it for the fans in Yankee Stadium. Now his chances have been cut by a third.
"There is more pressure," said Curtis Granderson, the Yankees centerfielder.
If he fails to get the big hit this weekend, expect the Toronto Blue Jays to jump for joy. The Yankees begin an eight-game road trip north-of-the-border on July 14th and the Jays could use a sell-out.
Expect a lot New Yorkers to make the six-hour car trip to see Jeter get the historic hit, even if it's in Canada.
Thanks a lot Rays.
