When it comes to sports, ALL sports, I am a conspiracy theorist. I know deep in my fanatical soul that there are usually reasons for the way things just seem to work out.
The bail-out calls by the refs to ensure the big market NBA team triumphs. Duh. The extra tight strike zone on pitchers that fans love to see flip out. Yup. The Tuck Game…yeah, no one wanted the Raiders to win that game.
So why not baseball, and why not the Yankees.
Derek Jeter is barely batting over .250. He has 20 RBI which is second worst in the lineup squeaking by the immortal Brett Gardner. Plus he pissed of management with his contract holdout. With all this, his minor, grade 1, lowest grade calf strain lands him on the DL. This is a day-to-day injury at best!
“But wait,” you say “why would the Yankees want to hold Jeter out of the lineup?”
Great question. Because they are money grubbing, attention hogs that care more about their image than what is right for the team or players. That’s why.
It was often said during the contentious contract negotiations that Jeter had the Yankees over a barrel just as much as the Yanks had Jeter. Jeter IS the modern day Mickey Mantle. They couldn’t let him walk, but how could Jeter walk away from HIS team. Furthermore, many said there is no way the Yankees would let Jeter reach 3000 hits in another uniform. Let’s rephrase that…in another stadium.
Oh, that’s right. Jeter is 6 hits from 3000 but averages about a hit per game. Unless he rattled off three consecutive 2 hit games the Yanks would be on the road. Not just on the road, but visiting arguably a team with more “history” than the Yankees. Thanks-Dad Steinbrenner doesn’t want to see Jeter reach 3000 at Wrigley and not get to profit off it! So a calf strain is the perfect excuse to put him on the shelf. After Chicago, New York was off to Cincinnati meaning Jeter would have to go five for around 45 to be looking to reach the milestone at home.
Or you give him a 15 day vacation. Then a slightly extended rehab in AAA because, to anticipate the press conference, “We’re bringing Derek back slowly. We don’t want to rush him back and risk re-aggravating his injury. He means too much to this team. We need him down the stretch.” Puh-lease.
Target July 4 for Jeter’s return my friends. Why July 4?
Yanks are in Cleveland. Jeter will play Monday because it’s a holiday and his mug will be all over TV for all the vacationers to see. (Cha-Ching). They will give him Tuesday off staying on the “easing him back” routine, but it’s more to ensure he doesn’t rattle off too many hits in stinky Cleveland. Then we’ll see him Wednesday for the series third game. Jeter will be a couple hits away and would you look at that! Home for a 4 game stand against Tampa. 3000 hits = done.
But wait, there is more! What happens after the Tampa series? All-Star Game! Three days of Jeter loving on the National Stage!
Well played again New York. Classless move to create you’re ideal moment.
I’m sure your half empty stadium will go nuts when Jeter reaches 3000.
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