Derek Jeter gets his wish: The Marlins home run sculpture is outta there

The Miami Marlins won county permission on Tuesday to move its home run sculpture out of Marlins Park to the plaza outside, giving Derek Jeter a key win in his efforts to erase the legacy of former owner Jeffrey Loria.

The sculptor behind “Homer,” New York’s Red Grooms, opposed moving the seven-story piece of public art, saying he designed it under a $2.5 million contract with Miami-Dade County specifically for its perch in center field. The sculpture whirs to life whenever the Marlins hit a home run, sending mechanical marlins spinning and fountains spraying during a 29-second cycle timed to end once the typical base runner makes it to home plate.

Grooms proved a significant obstacle for Jeter, who personally pitched the 81-year-old artist last month when the former Yankee visited Grooms at a Chelsea gallery exhibiting his work. A county board populated by artists and art supporters must approve changes involving Miami-Dade’s Art in Public Places collection, and this week Grooms urged members to reject Jeter’s plan.

Given his decisions with players since taking control of the team, I can see why Jeter wouldn’t want to keep around something that reminds people of home runs….

Marlins CEO Derek Jeter: Don Mattingly ‘under contract’ for 2019

MIAMI—Derek Jeter signaled Thursday that Don Mattingly is expected to return next year as manager of the Miami Marlins, providing some dugout continuity for a last-place team in transition.

Mattingly has one season to go on a four-year contract he signed when he joined the Marlins for the 2016 season.

“Is he going to be back in 2019?” Jeter said. “He’s under contract. Yeah.”

So, what do we suppose Mattingly did that is leading to him being punished so?

Yankees 1998 reunion was missing Derek Jeter and completely ignored Joe Girardi

[Insert jokes concerning loyalty of the Steinbrenners/the question as for what team Jeter really is working for here]

The 1998 New York Yankees reunited at Yankee Stadium Saturday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their World Series championship.

Well, most of the 1998 Yankees reunited. There were a few notable absences, including former captain Derek Jeter and former catcher-turned-manager Joe Girardi.

How the Yankees handled those absences may have been the most notable takeaway from the event. A recorded message from Jeter was played to explain his absence, while Girardi was reportedly completely ignored throughout the ceremony.