Jeter The Cheater?

On Wednesday night the Yankees were playing the Rays in Tampa. During the seventh inning, Yankee Legend Derek Jeter was at-bat, attempting to bunt, when a pitch came inside. Jeter recoiled from the plate, spinning away and shaking his arm as if trying to clear the stinging sensation. Jeter was awarded first base and walked down the line. The Rays bench immediately went nuts, because there was a clear noise when the pitch arrive that sounded nothing like a baseball hitting skin. Their complaints were confirmed with instant replay, where it was apparent that the pitch never hit Jeter but instead caught the end of his bat. However, because baseball wants us all to pretend that technological advances don't exist, that kind of thing isn't reviewable by the umpire. The Rays' manager was tossed for arguing while Jeter remained on first. And, because it always happens this way, the next guy hit a homer, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead. After the game Jeter admitted that the ball never hit him and said he was shaking his arm because the vibration from the ball hitting the end of his bat sent a charge up his arm when the ump awarded him first base. Jeter then reminded the reporters it's his job to get on base ahead for his teammates, so he wasn't about to correct the ump.

First off, while I find it a d-bag move, I have no problem with what Jeter did, so that won't be the purpose of this post. Much like Thierry Henry admitted his handball in the World Cup Qualifier but pointed out that it wasn't his problem the refs didn't call it, Jeter is correct when he said he gets paid to get on base, not correct the umpires when they get a call wrong. It was a close game against a team the Yankees are fighting for not only the division title but for the best record in the league, so you should expect both sides to try and make use of any advantage they can find. Also, this post isn't even going to turn into a rant about the increasing need for expanded replay in baseball, because at this point I would just be repeating myself (for roughly the fortieth time). If Major League Baseball wants to stick their heads in the sand about video technology and not acknowledge the fact that the people in the stands are able to watch instant replays on their phones (and therefore know immediately that the umpires screwed up), then they can keep doing that and enjoy being the favorite sport of people over the age of 70. Meanwhile the NFL will run away with the 18-34 demographic because they embrace the future and invent a channel like Red Zone. [Sidebar: My love note to Red Zone is coming. There is a free preview this weekend, by the way. Watch it... it will change your life.]

No, the point of this post (knew I'd get there eventually) is to deliver a head-slap those people who thought Derek Jeter had a moral obligation to inform the ump that he wasn't hit by a pitch and continue on with the at-bat; as if Jeter is somehow above petty cheating. While I admit he seems like a fairly classy fellow, you are giving the guy way too much credit. He is, after all, just a baseball player. This isn't like golf where you are expected to call penalties on yourself. Baseball loves cheating and therefore baseball players love cheating. And why wouldn't they? Things like stealing signs before a pitch are not only part of the game, they are celebrated as tradition and pitchers who admit to doctoring the ball still find their way into the Hall of Fame. People use terms like 'gamesmanship' as a fancy way to excuse the fact that people are always trying to play outside the rules. It is part of what makes the Baseball Writer's moral stance of keeping known steroids users out of the Hall of Fame all the more laughable. Jeter is no better than any other player out there, though I agree completely that if this were done by A-Rod the guys who are on talk radio heads would explode. There is no great morality play here - it is simply the case of a guy taking advantage of a bad call by an umpire. I just hope all you Yankee fans remember that when Jeter gets a 95 mph fastball to the ribs next time the Yankees play the Rays in a couple weeks. (Gotta remind him what a hit-by-pitch really feels like. Part of baseball's unwritten rules - I'm sure you understand.)