The New York Yankees are just one game out of the wild card race after defeating the Baltimore Orioles in a thrilling game on Thursday night and with the Rays faltering down the stretch, one player that will not be contributing to the AL Wild Card standings is shortstop Derek Jeter.
According to ESPN.com, Jeter is being placed on the DL and that will end his season, which he has called a nightmare after coming back on and off the DL multiple times after coming back from his ankle surgery in the offseason. Jeter has dealt with quad injuries and other flare ups and Brian Cashman said he made the choice to help get Jeter healthy and also to save him and Joe Girardi from themselves, as they both know that Jeter will want to play if he is physically able to and not fully back to health.
Jeter was a horse last season, playing in nearly 160 games, but this year he has played less than 20 while shuffling back and forth from the designated list and it is the third time back now and his season basically now will be over. Jeter originally broke his ankle last year in the postseason in the ALCS against the Tigers and he made a comeback nearly halfway into the season, missing 91 games before playing again, but he quickly was out of the lineup with a quad issue and then when he came back, it flared up again.
Jeter never was able to play consistently without pain this season and after being taken out of a game last week, the team made the decision to put him on the DL, which basically ends his season. Jeter had a great season in 2012 while hitting over .310 on the season, but this year he was limited to just 17 games and he hit under .200 and now everyone is wondering if his career could be over. Jeter has every intention of playing next season despite his age and the team brought in Brendan Ryan from the Mariners to play SS, as he is one of the best defensive players in the game.
Jeter knows that he has to get healthy to help the team win and while he wants to play when the games matter the most, especially with the Yankees just one game out, him, Girardi and Cashman made the decision together and realized it was the best choice for the team and for Jeter, as it will enable him to get fully healthy for next season.
American League Wild Card Standings:
W L PCT GB
Texas 81 64 .559 -
Tampa Bay 78 66 .542 -
NY Yankees 78 68 .534 1
Cleveland 77 68 .531 1.5
Baltimore 77 68 .531 1.5
"I wasn't moving the way I wanted to move, I wasn't hitting the way I wanted to hit. I wasn't doing anything; I wasn't throwing the way I wanted to throw," Jeter said. "If you can't play how you're capable of playing or what you're used to doing, then you're really not helping out. If I'm not able to play how I want to play, then I'm not benefiting the team."
