"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

The Long Goodbye

 

djetersss

Another Victory?

Here’s Peter Richmond on the season-long lovefest/groanfest that will be Jeter’s retirement tour.

[Photo Credit: Kalamazoo Gazette]

Categories:  1: Featured  Spring Training  Yankees

Tags:  Derek Jeter  peter richmond

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15 comments

1 RagingTartabull   ~  Feb 14, 2014 10:09 am

I'm still pretty shocked he's doing the full-on farewell tour, but whatever he deserves it.

Just send him out on a winner, that's all I ask. It doesn't have to be a World Series (even though, obviously, that would be the dream) but just go on a RUN.

2 MSM35   ~  Feb 14, 2014 10:28 am

Ok! Let's play some baseball.

3 Alex Belth   ~  Feb 14, 2014 10:33 am

1) Screw that. Win it all. LOL

4 edoubletrouble   ~  Feb 14, 2014 10:35 am

I was under the assumption that Mo got all the gifts because he - single-handedly - was the greatest opponent for each and every player in the league. They gave to Mo because he set the bar so high for them.

Doing the parade of goodbyes and thank yous with Jeter seems totally awkward even though he's a great player with an awesome career.

5 RagingTartabull   ~  Feb 14, 2014 10:46 am

3) I'M TRYING TO BE REASONABLE HERE!!!

I'm also way more bullish on this season than SOME PEOPLE around these parts...

6 Alex Belth   ~  Feb 14, 2014 11:21 am

4) I don't begrudge Jeter's farewell tour. And I don't think the Rivera thing was about him being the greatest opponent. He was the best at his position but the position when compared with others is less valuable--a one inning specialist. It would be like rating a kicker higher than a running back or quarter back.

I think this is standard stuff when a player knows he's going to retire--I keep thinking of Dr. J during his retirement year.

7 RagingTartabull   ~  Feb 14, 2014 11:25 am

didn't Kareem have like 3 separate farewell tours?

and let's not even get into Clemens, he said goodbye more times than The Who.

8 GaryfromChevyChase   ~  Feb 14, 2014 11:32 am

[7] But not as many times as the Eagles (LOL)

9 monkeypants   ~  Feb 14, 2014 2:47 pm

[4][6][7]

Several things factor in to how a retiring (great) player is treated during his "farewell tour" (and such a thing is fairly recent concept in professional sports, no). I think that the degree to which opponents respect the retiring player goes into it. Sure, Jeter may be overrated and ll of that, but I get the impression that by and large most other players respect him (inlcuding for reasons that make many here groan: playing the game teh right way and all that jazz). He doesn't showboat; he seems well liked enough; he avoids controversy by and large. Add in longevity and relative greatness, and he's just the kid of player to receive the fairwell tour. You saw this a bit with Chipper Jones, too.

Of course, the player has to announce retirement in advance to get the ball rolling. In that regard I am a little surprised Jeter announced his retirement before the season.

10 RagingTartabull   ~  Feb 14, 2014 2:53 pm

Jake Westbrook is retiring. I remember the day he came up and got shelled by the White Sox at the stadium. Was part of the package for David Justice a few weeks later.

Man, I'm feeling old lately.

11 Jon DeRosa   ~  Feb 14, 2014 3:09 pm

I do not mean this in a way to disparage Mo or Derek or anyone who has a "Farewell Tour", but in order to maximize the profits from a "Farewell Tour", from memoribilia, to ticket sales, to ceremonies, to tv specials, etc, you have to announce before the season.

And I think it's fair to say that not many players have the ability to derive a substnatial profit from such a thing. Andy Pettitte is a price example.

12 Alex Belth   ~  Feb 14, 2014 4:44 pm

10) Yeah, that one made me feel old, too.

11) Good point.

13 RagingTartabull   ~  Feb 14, 2014 5:16 pm

so I've had this thought lately...

the infield, as it stands right now, is "questionable" at best. But I feel like most people are dumping on Kelly Johnson because they wouldn't know him if he sat on their lap. To be clear, he's not a fraction of the player Cano or A-Rod is...but he's not a bad hitter by any stretch.

This has nothing to do with Tex's wrist, or if Jeter can contribute, or if Brian Roberts can contribute anything. Those are all completely legitimate issues. But I don't think Kelly Johnson in and of himself is part of the problem. He's basically going to give you .245/20/75-80 depending on his spot in the lineup. He's a tick above replacement level the last few years...he's not some black hole is my point. This isn't Jayson Nix.

14 edoubletrouble   ~  Feb 14, 2014 6:05 pm

that black and white pic is awesome Al B

15 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Feb 14, 2014 8:07 pm

2015 maybe can be the A-Rod MLB Farewell Tourâ„¢. Come see A-Rod get beaned at every MLB stadium, complete with video tributes of his greatest 'hits'. The 2004 glove slap! The Dallas Braden crossing the mound Game! 'Hey!' An ALCS 'K' montage!

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
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