Jeter’s Yankee Stadium Farewell a Big Hit

OK, so you may not necessarily be a Derek Jeter fan. Meaning you would be even less of a fan of his season-long farewell tour, as the New York Yankees captain concludes his career. That said, how could anyone not be touched — at least slightly — by Jeter’s ninth-inning, game-ending single that provided a 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in his final game Thursday at Yankee Stadium?

Video below of Paige Ocktobur. In case you were wondering (even if you weren’t).

* In a perfect world (or storyline), Jeter would have ended his career with that game-winning at-bat. Instead he is going to make his final farewell appearances at Fenway Park where the Yankees will play the Boston Red Sox. Something says beating the division-leading Orioles is a bit more dramatic than beating the last-place Red Sox (no matter how strong the Yanks’ rivalry might be with Boston).

* Speaking of retiring, Paul Konerko of the White Sox has had a farewell tour that enjoyed considerably less fanfare than Jeter’s. Then again, Konerko doesn’t play for the Yankees and never has been a high-profile player like Jeter. Wonder if Konerko had it to do all over again, whether he would have stuck around for 2014. His stats this season: five home runs, 22 runs batted in .217 batting average. Not exactly the stats that will lead to baseball’s Hall of Fame. But his long tenure with the Sox likely will lead to a statue at U.S. Cellular Field.

* Speaking of Konerko, some folks suggest how wonderful it would be if he could hit a homer in his last at-bat. Well, if he indeed does hit a home run at any point this weekend against Kansas City, he ought to make that his last at-bat — even if it’s in the first inning.

* Speaking of the Royals, their 6-3 victory Thursday over the Sox puts K.C. on the cusp of a postseason berth for the first time since 1985 when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. One more victory or Seattle loss and the Royals will end their drought. Most teams would say a 29-year World Series drought is long, but in Chicago (as in the Cubs who last appeared in one in 1945 and won one in 1908) that’s nothing.

* Speaking of the Royals victory (or Sox loss, depending on your point of view), the outcome leaves the Sox with a 39-39 home record. Meaning the Sox need to win two of their three remaining games to have a home record as good as the Cubs’. Now there’s a sobering thought, no? Or a non-sobering one perhaps.

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