Ask a non-baseball fan to come up with the name of a current New York Yankees player and you will likely get Derek Jeter as an answer. Jeter has to be one of the most recognizable athletes in recent history - he is known as the "Captain" of the Yankees, his 3,304 career hits rank tenth on the all-time list, and he's Cal Ripken's favorite current player. But guess what? Derek Jeter has not played a single game this season due to a nagging ankle injury that just isn't getting better.
Despite Jeter's absence from the baseball diamond this season, there are some idiots out there (who apparently smoke way too much crack) who believe that despite being on the Disabled List all season, Jeter deserves to be in this season's All-Star Game. Are you SERIOUS? That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard (next to Ted Williams claiming he was Hispanic, but I already ranted about that on a previous post). Tracy Ringolsby, a cowboy-hat-wearing blogger for MLB.com, says that Jeter is worthy because "He's been an All-Star 13 times, the same as Ken Griffey Jr., Joe DiMaggio and George Brett, and he has hit .440 in the midsummer event, tied with Griffey for the eighth-highest average in All-Star history." So? Is he playing right now? NO! Can he field a ball or run around the bases? NO! Hey, you know what? I haven't been able to play Major League Baseball this season either - can the fans vote for ME? Oh, that's right; I'm not a Yankee. And Yankees are entitled to everything wonderful in life. I was telling a co-worker that when I get to Heaven, I'm going to have to wait in line and wait for all the Yankees to go in ahead of me. He reassured me by saying that Yankees don't go to Heaven, so I have no reason to worry.
Here is what Colorado Rockies' shortstop Troy Tulowitski said about the matter:"He has meant a lot to the game, and at the end of the day, [the All-Star Game] is a fans' game and they should recognize the players they want. If there is one guy who didn't have to play to be elected, it would be him." Sorry, my man; if we break the rules for Jeter, we have to break the rules for someone else. Yes, they broke the rules and elected Roberto Clemente into the National Baseball Hall of Fame right away instead of waiting for Clemente to become eligible after 5 years of retirement - but Clemente was DEAD! If, God forbid, Derek Jeter happens to die, then they can break the rules and make him a shortstop emeritus or something like that. But if you have a pulse but aren't able to play because of an injury, then your name should not even be on the ballot. How about the Yankees' current shortstop, Eduardo Nuñez? I bet he feels like chopped liver right now, having played 24 games this season and not even having his name on the ballot!
Don't get me wrong; I actually like Derek Jeter. I think he is the face of baseball today, and his generosity and philanthropy are to be admired. I especially liked him in the movie "The Other Guys" and in the "Seinfeld" episode where George Constanza is giving batting advice to Jeter and teammate Bernie Williams. He will deservedly be in the Hall of Fame and will have his number 2 retired (currently the only single-digit number not previously retired by the Yankees). But how about the Detroit Tigers' Jhonny Peralta? He's batting .295 with a bunch of RBIs. Or Alexei Ramirez of the Chicago White Sox, who is batting .292? Even the Orioles' J.J. Hardy, whose batting average sucks but at least he plays every day! Really, people - let's find someone else to vote for who can actually show up on that day and play!
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