Jeter delivers as Yankees struggle for consistency

The AL East is on a knife-edge with the Yankees, Orioles and Rays all separated by just two games. But one thing provides New York with the advantage; they have Derek Jeter.

For a 38-year-old shortstop to be producing at the plate and in the field is remarkable considering his offensive struggles last season and his advanced age. But we have gotten used to the Captain performing like this, and like he says himself, he isn’t thinking about how old he is getting but more about how he is going to perform day in and day out.

The Yankees have remained atop the division after splitting a four-game series against Baltimore at Camden Yards in their latest series, which ended yesterday in a 13-3 victory including Jeter’s 15th home run of the season.

Jeter has broken so many records over the years that the numbers become less flattering as we get more and more expectant of his ability, but taking all concerns and doubts coming into this season his latest achievements must be respected beyond measure.

No other player in Major League history has ever surpassed ten home runs in his age-37 or later season, and only 13 shortstops have surpassed ten long balls after their age-35 season; Jeter has three of them.

The lifelong Yankee is leading the American League with 191 hits and is just eleven runs short of triple figures for the season. Last week against Tampa Bay Jeter broke the season record for hits for a 38-year-old shortstop, passing Honus Wagner who picked up 181 in 1912.

The number 2 is on course to play about 140 games at shortstop this season, so if you haven’t already figured it out, the stats are simply mind-boggling.

This leads us nicely to the division race. Jeter’s production and leadership skills provide so much of the fight that New York has needed this year. With the Red Sox in last place and apparent free-fall, it was predicted to be a simple formula for the Yankees to qualify for the playoffs. Instead the Bronx Bombers have seen a ten game division lead slip through their fingers and twice in the last four days they have been tied with the Orioles atop the AL East.

Both times they have managed to win the next day to create a bit of breathing room, and though the Yankees have had a lot of injury problems this year – Mark Teixeira returned to the lineup on Saturday before re-injuring himself on a crucial double-play ball in the ninth inning – they realise that the O’s and Rays provide serious competition and will not be going quietly.

The blowout victory yesterday was needed in light of the club’s recent pitching woes. Ivan Nova only came off the DL on Saturday, while Andy Pettitte still resides there. Ace C.C. Sabathia has blown leads in his last couple of starts so in recent times the offence has been depended on to win a game.

That hasn’t been the case and a shocking statistic laments that poor performance. Since winning the first three games of a series against the Rangers on August 13-15, the Yankees haven’t won consecutive games since, leading to them losing a six-game lead in the division during a 22-game span.

Alongside that is their dependence on the long ball, which has accounted for 48.6% of its runs this season. The Yankees lead the league with 210 and when the Bombers put runs on the board they are very hard to beat.

In the four-game set against Baltimore, the Yankees’ offence plated 31 runs – which is more than the total from their previous eight games – while collecting 43 hits and drawing 18 walks.

It was the last time the Yankees will face the Orioles this season, but manager Joe Girardi knows they won’t go away. With 22 games remaining, he will be hoping the Yankees can stay relatively healthy while playing the way they have done throughout this series.

One man he can count on to do that is Jeter, who will forever be a productive member of the Yankee organisation.

Photo courtesy of Marianne O’Leary