Tag Archive for Baseball

New York Yankees: Is Derek Jeter’s Career Winding Down?

Let me begin by saying no.  The captain of the New York Yankees may have hit a few bumps, and he may have had to dig himself out of a few slumps, but the captain is back and prepared to lead.

While we all watched earlier in the season, we saw Jeter battle through some difficult times.  We cringed as we saw some terrible batting attempts.  Our hearts ached while we watched him struggle.  Those dark days were not the Derek Jeter that we knew.  We know him as the Lou Gehrig of today.

Many criticized him.  Many said that his time was up.  Some mocked him.  Any true Yankee fan who bleeds Yankee blood believed in him.  Just as we Yankee fans believed, he followed through.  He is our captain.

During his struggles, Jeter sustained a calf injury which put him on the disabled list for three weeks.  His injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

Before his injury, his batting average was .260.  During the three weeks that he was out and recovering, he worked on his batting mechanics with instructor Gary Denbo.  Once Jeter was reactivated, he hit .331 in 69 games.  The captain had returned with a vengeance. 

We all know the history from that point.  He smashed a home run for his 3000th hit against Tampa Bay pitcher David Price.  Only 28 people have reached that milestone.  Jeter went five-for-five in that game silencing the critics.

Derek Jeter has had more time to recover from his calf injury during the off-season.  Spring training isn’t far off, and I think that we’ll see the Jeter that we know.  Yes, he’s getting older.  He proved that he still has the skill and strength to play quality baseball.  2012 may very well be a monster year for Jeter.

Jeter is a rarity.  He is one of those athletes who only comes along once or twice in a generation.  He is a phenomenal athlete, a skilled sportsman, and he is the definition of a true gentleman of the game. 

Derek Jeter is a class act, and I look forward to him silencing the critics once again long before they have a chance to have an opinion.

MLB Trade Rumors: 5 Reasons Why the Miami Marlins Should Trade Hanley Ramirez

Soon after the signing of Jose Reyes, rumors began to swirl that Marlins superstar Hanley Ramirez was disgruntled by the signing and wanted to be traded. While Hanley himself seemed to shoot down the rumors via Twitter, many fans and analysts seem to believe that Ramirez truly wants out of Miami. 

Ramirez is no doubt an All-Star quality player. In fact, he is the sort of player that can completely change the face of a franchise. His rare combination of contact, power and speed would make him a hot commodity on the trade market. 

Here are some reasons as to why the new look Miami Marlins should trade Hanley Ramirez.

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Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox: Who Are the Winners and Losers in Deal with A’s?

Last season, the now former general manager of the Boston Red Sox, Theo Epstein, made a big trade for Adrian Gonzalez and an equally big free-agent signing when he snagged outfielder Carl Crawford. 

New general manager Ben Cherington hasn’t dipped into the free-agent market, but he hasn’t been too gun-shy about pulling the trigger on trades. 

When the Red Sox take the field on Opening Day 2012, the guys who emerge from the bullpen for the key innings are going to be totally different than what Red Sox fans have grown accustomed to. 

Daniel Bard looks to be headed toward the starting rotation. 

Jonathan Papelbon will be closing games out in Philadelphia. 

It’s going to be the Melancon and Bailey show in Beantown. 

Cherington got Houston closer Mark Melancon in a deal a few weeks ago. And yesterday, he pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Josh Reddick, who was in the running for the vacant right field position, along with two prospects, Miles Head and Raul Alcantra, to Oakland for their closer, Andrew Bailey, as well as reserve outfielder Ryan Sweeney. 

As of now, Melancon figures to be the eighth inning set-up man, and Bailey will close. 

On the surface, this deal appears to dramatically favor the Boston Red Sox. After all, Bailey is a young closer signed to an affordable contract through the year 2015. He had a subpar 2011, but he was also hampered by injury. 

Melancon is cheaper and younger and figures to set up and work the eighth inning. 

Who wins and who loses in the deal that went down just before 5 p.m. EST yesterday?

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