Scott Garceau: In Finest Hour Jeter Salutes O's
Tommy Lasorda has spent decades telling anyone who'd listen about "The Big Dodger in the Sky." Sorry Tommy but Thursday night the big guy traded his Dodger Blue for pinstripes. How else can you explain Derek Jeter's final act in the Bronx? Let's make one thing perfectly clear if Jeter struck out 4 times and the Yankees lost 9-1 it wouldn't change how Yankee fans and baseball fans in general feel about The Captain, but what we got was a Disney movie sprinkled with Broadway flavor.
The fall night was damp and electric like so many others that had a Jeter signature. It was nights like this that Jeter laid the foundation of his Cooperstown career, the major difference this time it was all about him not his ordinary team. He just missed a home run in the first inning, his RBI double off the wall might have been enough. In the 7th inning a broken bat roller gave Jeter another RBI and the Yankees the lead, that's a nice way to end it, right?
With the Yankees up 5-2 in the top of the 9th it would have been a fitting end if a Jeter replacement trotted out to shortstop and the legend left waving good-bye to his fans amid a deafening roar of Derick Jeter cheers and tear filled hugs from his teammates, but that wasn't the script. Instead the Orioles Adam Jones would blast a 2-run shot followed by Steve Pierce's game tying homer, he didn't know it but closer David Robertson had the best 3-run blown save of his life.
With the game tied at 5 the Yankees would now bat in the bottom of the 9th and Jeter would be the third hitter in the inning. The script called for a runner on 2nd and one out. On a normal night this would call for an intentional walk to set up an inning ending double play, but not tonight. Buck Showalter owed it to the game to pitch to Jeter and he owed to his family not to lose his life to crazed Yankee fans that might have killed him.
Orioles pitcher Evan Meek threw a first pitch fastball that was headed for famous, Jeter's legendary inside-out swing smashed it into right field chasing home the winning run and setting off a celebration usually reserved for the 7th game of the World Series. In the final inning of his 20 years in the Bronx, in his final at bat at Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter turned the place upside down with his first walk-off hit in 7 years, in a game that really meant absolutely nothing Derrick Jeter made it priceless.
Jeter had so many big moments against the O's in the Bronx; we'll never forget the Jeffrey Maier homer in 1996. Thanks Richie Garcia! The Orioles were there when he broke Lou Gehrig's Yankee record for hits in 2009. Then there's the Buck Showalter connection, Buck was in his first year in New York when the Yankees drafted Jeter in 1992, Showalter brought Jeter to the majors in 1995 and decided he was worthy of wearing a single-digit number. "You'd better be right about this," George Steinbrenner told him.
Evan Meek said that as Jeter came off the field, he said to the Orioles' bench, "Congratulations and good luck. You guys deserve it," In his finest hour Jeter took time to congratulate the Orioles on their division title. Thanks to Charles and Dorsey, mom and dad raised a special son. And yes, Mr. Steinbrenner, Buck Showalter was right, number 2 never looked better.
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