*fist pump* (walks away from microphone)

Jeter for player manager.

I await the announcement that Jeter will be the game's first player-manager since Pete Rose.

WTF?

Those comments could not have been posted at more similar times.

Well, I guess it's inevitable now, since that's what's on everyone's mind.

Claude, that means you owe Scoriano a LARGE Coke.

and the relationship we have shared has helped shape me in ways that transcend the game of baseball.

Paging Sam M to the thread ... Will Sam M please report to the thread?

Also, am I alone in finding it odd and a little creepy that Jeter is still calling Torre "Mr. Torre" at the age of 33?

"Those comments could not have been posted at more similar times."

Huh? That's rather... dada. I don't even get what you're saying.

WHOOPS - I'm an idiot, I get it now.

Also, am I alone in finding it odd and a little creepy that Jeter is still calling Torre "Mr. Torre" at the age of 33?

Actually, no. My mentor/conductor from college I still call "Mr. Appling", and I'm 37. So I guess I can see it.

Now that he's no longer Jeter's manager, Jeter can start tutoying him.

Huh? That's rather... dada. I don't even get what you're saying.

He's talking about posts 2 and 3.

Nice comments from Jeter, including the "Mr. Torre."

"Those comments could not have been posted at more similar times."

Huh? That's rather... dada. I don't even get what you're saying.

He's commenting on # 2 and # 3 -- the fact that both he and Scoriano nominated Jeter for player-manager.

As for this:

and the relationship we have shared has helped shape me in ways that transcend the game of baseball.

Paging Sam M to the thread ... Will Sam M please report to the thread?

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

The thought of 97 year old Joe Torre (OK, OK, 54 when he started managing the Yankees) and 21 year old Derek Jeter when he came up to the majors in 1995 having that sort of relationship that "transcends" baseball is . . . . altogether now . . . .

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Even to me. Hey, maybe especially to me. Because the thought of, say, Rivera and Jeter (to me) is kind of hot. But talk about spoiling it by throwing Torre in there . . . . Blech.

Now. That is an odd statement from Jeter. "Mr. Torre"??? Not "Joe"? There's a simultaneous warmth in what Jeter says about Torre and how much he means to him, and yet a real distance in the way he says it. As if he wants to express something truly close, and yet keep his guard stays up all the while. Maybe that's reading too much into nothing, and I'm certainly not being critical, but it's just darned odd.

EDIT: Now that I see a few others commenting they see the "Mr." as less odd, I can see the point. Certainly, some former students with whom I am very close have never been able to get comfortable calling me "Sam" no matter how many times I invite them to call me by my first name. And maybe that's it with Jeter and Torre -- certainly that could be it. Interesting way to look at it.

*fist pump* (walks away from microphone)

You sure he didn't dive into the pit of reporters?

------------

Not for nothing, but why did Jeter wait until now to say something? Rivera had no qualms giving his opinion before the Yanks and Torre parted ways, granted he's a FA to be but you'd think the Captain would say something before now.

Not for nothing, but why did Jeter wait until now to say something? Rivera had no qualms giving his opinion before the Yanks and Torre parted ways, granted he's a FA to be but you'd think the Captain would say something before now.

I would imagine it's because he didn't feel it his place to comment on what is essentially a decision between management and Torre, and I can't fault him for that. Better that than to pull a power play and try to get his guy in the manager's seat.

Not for nothing, but why did Jeter wait until now to say something?

Well, he said

Out of my great respect for Mr. Torre, I have refrained from comment until he had a chance to address the public.

No statement on A-Rod?

Well, he said

Out of my great respect for Mr. Torre, I have refrained from comment until he had a chance to address the public.

So what. If you think he's not going to be back because of someone other than him and you really want him back, you say something. What does Jeter have to lose in speaking out? Nothing. He's not going to be traded or lose his starting job or get killed in the press.

Claude, that means you owe Scoriano a LARGE Coke.

Cuba libre, please.

I would imagine it's because he didn't feel it his place to comment on what is essentially a decision between management and Torre, and I can't fault him for that. Better that than to pull a power play and try to get his guy in the manager's seat.

Indeed. The issue has nothing to do with Jeter, and the people who thought he should publicly take Torre's side in the matter (I'm looking at you, Chris Russo) were utterly lost. It's not his place to do that, it would be unprofessional, and it wouldn't accomplish anything except to highlight the fact that Jeter has no say in the matter.

And we see from Jeter's statement that he didn't take the position that the Yankees had wronged Torre.

Jeter should consider running for president one day. His utterly bland, uninspired statements would fit in perfectly with the fields of candidates on both parties.

So what. If you think he's not going to be back because of someone other than him and you really want him back, you say something. What does Jeter have to lose in speaking out? Nothing.

Professionalism, class, dignity, and common sense. This issue is over Jeter's head; it's a management issue, and he has no business taking sides.

If Jeter pulled the power play we'd criticize him for being a Machiavellian prick. He says what he said, and he's bland and uninspired.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think everyone should probably just lay of Jeter.

And yes, I think it would be awesome for him to be player manager. Not because I like him especially, but because it would be a pretty awesome moment in recent baseball history. If he wins a World Series we'd be witness to a man solidifying his legend. If he loses, we get to watch Mr. Smooth deal with real adversity for perhaps the first times in his career. Just a great story any way you slice it.

I would rather see Curt Schilling hired by the Yanks as player-manager. Imagine the blog comments that would ensue!!

I never thought I'd say this, but I think everyone should probably just lay of Jeter.

I'm offended that he'd waste people's time with statements this vacant. It's bad enough that I have to watch his profoundly dull style of play . . .

Professionalism, class, dignity, and common sense. This issue is over Jeter's head; it's a management issue, and he has no business taking sides.

So was Rivera unprofessional, classless, undignified and lacking common sense with his comments?

Stop trying to make trouble, Dr. Love. We all know that if a player makes bland statements people want him to start taking sides, and then if a player takes sides people say "ZOMG Why don't you stop mouthing off, I would get fired if I acted like this at my workplace.". Nobody has done anything wrong here.

So was Rivera unprofessional, classless, undignified and lacking common sense with his comments?

Yes. Any other questions?

Stop trying to make trouble, Dr. Love. We all know that if a player makes bland statements people want him to start taking sides, and then if a player takes sides people say "ZOMG Why don't you stop mouthing off, I would get fired if I acted like this at my workplace.".

I'm not trying to make trouble, if was I'd be a lot more abrasive. And personally, I wish people at my workplace would step up and take sides.

So was Rivera unprofessional, classless, undignified and lacking common sense with his comments?

I haven't been following closely enough; what did Rivera actually say?

Depends on his comments. I will note that Rivera is in a different position than Jeter, since Rivera is not under contract for next year.

So was Rivera unprofessional, classless, undignified and lacking common sense with his comments?

I wouldn't say he is all of those things, but it didn't look good when he did it.

Jeter does come out classy here.

I haven't been following closely enough; what did Rivera actually say?

BBTF discussion on it

Maybe I missed a post, but it doesn't appear that anyone was upset by what he said.

Not for nothing, but why did Jeter wait until now to say something?

Actually, this is the third time he's drafted a statement, but he couldn't get to either of the first two in time.

So was Rivera unprofessional, classless, undignified and lacking common sense with his comments?

Rivera was asked a specific question about whether Torre's returning or not would influence his decision about re-signing with the Yankees or going elsewhere as a free agent. He answered the question. Nobody asked Jeter if he would retire rather than honor his contract with the Yankees if it meant playing for another manager. Every once in a long while, it's OK to take something at face value. Really.

I seriously doubt Jeter never took a side on the matter. I also doubt there's a very strong correlation between what he announces in a press releases and what is said or done behind closed doors. He strikes me as intelligent and pragmatic in his relation to the press (something I'm sure he learned from Torre). I'm not sure what purpose mouthing off about Torre's ouster would serve, other than to make a symbolic gesture, and bright, pragmatic people tend to realize that symbolic gestures carry less water than Selig's diapers.

Also, am I alone in finding it odd and a little creepy that Jeter is still calling Torre "Mr. Torre" at the age of 33?

OK, there was this very creepy "reunion" special of the Cosby show. There were five very odd things about it:

1. It wasn't the least bit funny -- no memorable outtakes or anything. OK, that's not so odd given the show wasn't funny after its first season.

2. It wasn't a reunion, it was a series of separate interviews mixed in with clips.

3. If memory serves, the participants were mainly the guy who played Elvin (I once met his brother), Phylicia Rashad and one of the young daughters. Kept waiting for Cockroach to show up.

4. Cosby was not one of the interviewees (at least in the bit I saw).

5. Everyone referred to him as Mr. Cosby. Like in "oh it was so funny, this one day Mr. Cosby showed up at the set with ...".

It may have been the creepiest thing I've ever seen on TV.

Everyone referred to him as Mr. Cosby. Like in "oh it was so funny, this one day Mr. Cosby showed up at the set with ...".

I can see the daughter and maybe even the guy who played Elvin doing it, but it would definitely be kind of creepy if the woman who played his wife called him Mr.

I seriously doubt Jeter never took a side on the matter. I also doubt there's a very strong correlation between what he announces in a press releases and what is said or done behind closed doors.

Yes. And?

I don't think there was ever the slightest doubt in anyone's mind, including the Yankee ownership and executives, that Jeter was a Torre backer. Players don't get to choose their manager, and Jeter publicly campaigning for Torre might have been counter-productive (Torre viewed as too close to players or owing his job to Jeter) and set up a potential story line of Jeter being against whoever the new hire is.

I don't see how you fault Jeter on this, but if folks want to do something different in their own careers, they are certainly free to issue statements and send e-mails to their own employer's top management commenting on any possible changes in the senior staff.

Jeter is pure class all the way. Helluva ballplayer too. Classy Captain Clutch.

I prefer to look at this without shading or spin, and I think it's a heck of a nice statement.

Let's just say he wants it.

How do you think his teammates respond, and does it stop, or hasten, the exit of A-Rod, Posada, Pettitte, and/or Rivera?

What do people expect here? Past a diatribing Jeter?

if Yankee fans had a managerial primary, how would the numbers look? Jeter'd be a lock, no? Mattingly, Girardi and Pena all scrabbling for the VP gig.....

Am I the only one that doesn't see Jeter as a leadership/responsibility type? At least in any other way than by example? I don't see him calling pitches, re-arranging the outfielders, calling hit-and-runs, explaining to someone why they aren't playing, talking to pitchers he's taking out, deciding which reliever to bring in. I don't mean this as a judgment or negative, but I don't think he wants that responsibility.

Also, am I alone in finding it odd and a little creepy that Jeter is still calling Torre "Mr. Torre" at the age of 33?

Jeter consistently refers to his elders in such a manner. "Mr. Torre", "Mr. Berra", "Mr. Rizzuto", and so forth.

Say what you want about his defense, but he's been consistently polite, respectful, and well-spoken every time I've heard him speak.

if Yankee fans had a managerial primary, how would the numbers look? Jeter'd be a lock, no? Mattingly, Girardi and Pena all scrabbling for the VP gig.....

I would think that head-to-head with Jeter, Mattingly would win.

Am I the only one that doesn't see Jeter as a leadership/responsibility type?

I agree with this assessment -- which is part of the reason I think Jeter is a lousy captain. I don't think he does much real leading, he's just the first out of the dugout on a home run.

Also, am I alone in finding it odd and a little creepy that Jeter is still calling Torre "Mr. Torre" at the age of 33?

I hope so. Where I'm from, that's generally called "respecting one's elders".

Count me among the Jeter haters that think this was a nice gesture that is not worthy of scorn.

FWIW every time I hear Brian Jordan talk about Bobby Cox he says Mr. Cox. I assume Brian is over 40 now.

i don't think this was such a bad thing to do. he's made it plain he respects torre, but hasn't made it sound like he's going to be huffy and resentful of a new manager. he's walking a fine line here. i don't know if that makes him a great captain though, just a good diplomat.
btw, where i'm from in the south, the 'mr. torre' thing would go unremarked. it's almost obligatory in that relationship.

Great statement. Well done.