Jeter feeling Reyes' pain
Last Updated: 11:44 AM, March 13, 2010
Posted: 2:01 AM, March 13, 2010
Comments: 245
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Kevin KernanTAMPA -- Remember when Jose Reyes was the shortstop of the future in New York and Derek Jeter supposedly was starting to slip?
Now, things just keep getting worse for Reyes and the Mets while Jeter and the Yankees keep winning championships. No one knows better than Jeter what a difficult task it is to survive and thrive in New York and right now he feels for his sidelined Mets counterpart.
"First and foremost is your health, and it goes beyond anything you do on the field," Jeter said yesterday at Steinbrenner Field. "You wish him the best. I don't like to see anybody go through that kind of stuff. It's just that he's had such bad luck. You have to assume that his luck is going to change here soon. All you can do is be patient."
PETTITTE PITCHES SIMULATED GAME
Reyes, 26, is out for two to eight weeks because of thyroid issues. Friends said he is really down because of this latest setback. Because of calf and hamstring injuries, Reyes did not play in a game after May 20 last season. This year, he may not be able to play until May 20.
"I'm sure it's frustrating for him," Jeter said. "I'm not familiar with the situation that he has now. The only thing you can do is to try and stay positive. It can be very, very difficult to do at a time like this."
Jeter, 35, admitted he "can't relate" to what Reyes is going through. Jeter keeps rolling out 150-game seasons in his Hall of Fame career. Last year, he played 153 games and then another 15 in the postseason as the Yankees collected their 27th world championship and Jeter earned his fifth ring. He is beginning his 15th full season in the majors.
Though Jeter and Reyes play the same position and bat leadoff (Reyes, however, is supposed to be moved to the No. 3 hole this season), the two are much different players. Much of Reyes' game is in his legs, and that can take a physical toll on a player. Jeter managed to steal 30 bases last year, but he lets the importance of the moment dictate when to steal.
"Jose has had a lot of injuries with his legs because he runs a lot," Jeter said. "So that's one of the differences. He's the type of player who is running a lot, stealing a lot. Ever since the first time he tore his hamstring, I was always getting worried for him when you see him running because that can be tough.
"I've never torn a hamstring. I pulled a hamstring, but those can be tough injuries to get over."
Reyes may have to change his game and not focus on stealing bases so much. He will have to play more of a prevention game. The Mets' new slogan this season is "Prevention and Recovery." Reyes is going to have to get some luck going his way.
Jeter suffered food poisoning on Thursday and was sent home with what the Yankees thought was the flu.
"I'm good now," Jeter said. "It was food poisoning or something, some bad fish." Not a good week for seafood and New York shortstops after Reyes was prohibited from eating iodine-rich seafood while being treated for his thyroid ailment.
Jeter will be in the lineup in Lakeland, Fla., today as the Yankees play a split-squad game against the Tigers (they also will play host to the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field).
Each day, Jeter works a similar routine. To watch him in the batting cage is fascinating, especially when he uses the one-arm drill to hit balls the other way. It's all about preparation for Jeter. It paid off in a championship last year, his and the Yankees' first since 2000.
"You have to keep going at it," Jeter said, noting it's important to enjoy the ride, wherever it takes you. "You have disappointments, bad seasons and you just continue to plug away and I think we've been able to do that. You appreciate the road, too, even though it's something that's hard, you still appreciate it and it puts things in perspective."
For Reyes, the road has never been more difficult.
"I just wish him luck," Jeter said.
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Comments (302)
Post Your CommentNEW YORK YANKEES
03/16/2010 7:00 AM
Jeter was not far and away the best shortstop in the game during his heyday - and maybe not even one of the top three. Jeter has never won an MVP award and has only finished in the top five twice. By comparison, A-Rod has won 3 MVP Awards (1 with a big asterisk) and finished in the top five three other times. Only two times in his career has Jeter led the league in any offensive category, finishing first in runs in 1998 and first in hits in 1999 (if you want to get picky he led the AL in singles in 1997 and 1998 - watch out Ichiro!)
Yankees27
03/15/2010 5:32 PM
Jeter was by far and away the best shortstop in the game during his heyday - one of the top three all time. Jeter has won dozens of awards and he has finished in the top five 3 times, and top ten 7 times in MVP voting.
He has finished in the top 20 in 11 of his 14 full seasons.
He is 48th all time in AL/NL MVP voting.
21st in the AL MVP voting
1996 RoY.
He was the 2000 All Star and World Series MVP.
And 2000 Babe Ruth Award recipient.
4 Gold Gloves, 4 Silver Sluggers, 2 Hank Aaron Awards, 1 Roberto Clemente Award,
2009 SI Sportsman of the Year, 2009 DN NYer of the Year, 2009 TWIB Play of the Year,
10 All Star games, 2009 AL All Star Vote leader ( 4,851,889 votes)
Jeter averages 208 hits, .317 BA, 81 RBI, .388 OBP, ,459 SLG & 301 TB per 162 games played
All time MLB hits leader for the SS position.
All time Yankees hits leader.
5 World Series .353 .353 .409 .346 .407... Only Ruth Berra and Jeter have 5 WS .300 BA+
5 rings... The only SS with more is Phil Rizzuto... Holy Cow !
Recognized World Wide as a class act, true Champion and All American Sports hero !
God Bless Derek Jeter ! And thanks for giving him to us Lord !
Burn Baby Burn !
03/15/2010 4:50 PM
You are so right. Those are some hot babes.
nutJoba
03/15/2010 12:56 PM
Burn Baby Burn !
03/12/2010 1:00 PM
"Hey, why don't you repost that list of all the hot babes that Jeter dated ...
OK here it is...
1997-00: Mariah Carey
2000: Miss Universe, Lara Dutta
2001: Joy Enriquez 2002: Jordana Brewster
2003: hostess from the famed strip club Scores
2003: Miss Teen USA, Vanessa Minnillo 2004: Jessica Alba
2005: Scarlett Johansson
2005: Vida Guerra
2006: Adriana Lima
2006: Jessica Biel
2007: Gabrielle Union
2008-09: Minka Kelly
2009: 22-year-old college girl
What a list of hot babes. Hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, Jeter has em all !
nutJoba
03/15/2010 12:54 PM
Burn Baby Burn !
03/12/2010 1:00 PM
"Hey, why don't you repost that list of all the hot babes that Jeter dated ...
OK here it is...
1997-00: Mariah Carey
2000: Miss Universe, Lara Dutta
2001: Joy Enriquez 2002: Jordana Brewster
2003: hostess from the famed strip club Scores
2003: Miss Teen USA, Vanessa Minnillo 2004: Jessica Alba
2005: Scarlett Johansson
2005: Vida Guerra
2006: Adriana Lima
2006: Jessica Biel
2007: Gabrielle Union
2008-09: Minka Kelly
2009: 22-year-old college girl
What a list of hot babes. Hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, Jeter has em all !
nutJoba
03/15/2010 12:54 PM
Burn Baby Burn !
03/12/2010 1:00 PM
"Hey, why don't you repost that list of all the hot babes that Jeter dated ...
OK here it is...
1997-00: Mariah Carey
2000: Miss Universe, Lara Dutta
2001: Joy Enriquez 2002: Jordana Brewster
2003: hostess from the famed strip club Scores
2003: Miss Teen USA, Vanessa Minnillo 2004: Jessica Alba
2005: Scarlett Johansson
2005: Vida Guerra
2006: Adriana Lima
2006: Jessica Biel
2007: Gabrielle Union
2008-09: Minka Kelly
2009: 22-year-old college girl
What a list of hot babes. Hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, hot babes, Jeter has em all !
Take Back the Web Site!
03/15/2010 8:38 AM
************************************************************************************************
Report NY Post pervert...nutJoba... a.k.a...What's the deal w/ you, jeter and babies, son?
at NYPD Crimestoppers: 1800 577 8477 or at nyc.gov/nypd
For gross violation of: New York Penal Law, Article 235.22
S 235.22 Disseminating indecent material to minors.
How much longer must we endure this deviants obscene comments ?
Apperantly the NY Post does not care.
We do... Stand up and be heard !
************************************************************************************************
nutJoba
03/14/2010 8:22 PM
If you really want to take action have the POST turn over the IP addresses of the following posters to police:
Burn Baby Burn !
03/12/2010 8:22 AM
"NY Post blogger "blo-Joba" earned his name the old fashioned way... On his knees."
World Champs
03/12/2010 6:52 AM
"i'm bitter joba f u c k e d the day lights out of my sister and my wife at the same time"
tuco
03/10/2010 7:19 PM
"The Yankee envious jerk goes up and down the Hershey Highway 6, 7 times a day."
XDR Tuberculosis
03/10/2010 6:21 PM
"I may be wrong but I'm thinking "Derek Jeter is overrated" is a Knob Jockey, a Butt Pirate, a pole smoker, you get the picture."
Art Fowler
03/12/2010 7:14 PM
"It is called a typo. GOD YOU ARE SUCH A D/ICK !"
See 3/12/2010 Yankee Article titled:
FLU BUG KO's JETER
Posted 3/12/10 1:00 pm by "Burn Baby Burn"
Now this clown claims jeter is dating babies? Sick, very sick. We suspected there was a jeter/NAMBLA/blogger connection and this proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Burn Baby Burn !
03/12/2010 1:00 PM
"Hey, why don't you repost that list of all the hot babies that Jeter dated ..."
PLEASE CALL AND REPORT "BURN BABY BURN". SAME GUY AS TONYV/TAKE BACK/Fowler/XDR/tuco