When your nicknames include, “Mr. November”, or “The Captain”, big things are going to be expected of you. Hall of Famer Derek Jeter earned those monikers with his clutch, determined and steady play as the Yankees shortstop from 1995-2015. His teams won 5 World Series championships. Jeter was named the Series MVP in 2000.
The consummate team player also racked up some pretty impressive personal numbers too, 3,465 career hits and a batting average of .310. Not to mention he won the Gold Glove five times and was named to the AL All-Star team 14 times in his 20 years on the field.
I mention all of this, because Derek Jeter, is now starting all over, and is a rookie again. Earlier this season, he joined FOX to contribute to their baseball coverage as a studio analyst. While working a limited schedule alongside Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, he’s now a featured panelist during the network’s ALCS broadcasts on the pre and postgame shows. Like in any business the first time through, you aren’t likely to succeed. His first broadcasts were met with some criticism.
Making his debut during the 2023 MLB London Series, early reviews were mostly positive. But there were some that found Jeter didn’t mesh well with his colleagues on the set. Dan Patrick was one of those guys that thought it wasn’t natural banter.
“There’s a lot of forced laughter on that Fox set with A-Rod and Jeter and Big Papi,” Patrick said on his show at the time. “And then Big Papi fooled [Jeter], tricked him into a Red Sox jersey – and then laughter.”
I get it. Remember though Jeter, after making his Major League debut in 1995, played 15 games and struck out 11 times in 48 at bats. But, who, besides hard-core Yankees fans and probably Jeter himself, remembers that? I would venture to guess there aren’t many people out there that do.
Just like in baseball, chemistry doesn’t happen overnight. Having an experienced and excellent host in Kevin Burkhardt certainly helps the cause, mainly because of the broad base of personalities on the set. Rodriguez, who to me says a whole lot of nothing every time he speaks, fashions himself as a ‘baseball expert’. Ortiz is the loveable ‘Big Papi’ and is loud, funny, gregarious, and can make a good point from time to time. Then there’s Jeter, the steady presence, who KNOWS the game and brings calmness to the proceedings. Just like he did on the field for so many years.
Now a few more games into his new career, Jeter is proving his worth and I have really enjoyed what I’ve seen during the postseason. While he’s still getting used to being on the set, the information and opinions he’s giving are right on the money. Authoritative, with no hemming and hawing, no searching for words, just his point in a clear and concise manner.
Derek Jeter was always a bit coy with the media during his 20-year playing career, but he was always there at his locker. He talked, but according to many of those who covered him over the years, he just didn’t say anything. So, if you are expecting Jeter to make headlines, or have a controversial take, you just aren’t going to get it.
When you think of the postseason success and failure Jeter has experienced, who is more credible to analyze than him? Jeter was directly involved in the Yankees’ 5 titles and even in the Yankees’ blowing a 3-0 lead in the ALCS against the Red Sox in 2004. Highs and lows, but he seemed to remain the same steady guy. That’s evident in the way he approaches his analysis and interview questions. Jeter’s take on the Astros being down 0-2 in the series is a good example of what I’m talking about.
“Well, I mean, this team in Houston is great on the road. We talked about their struggles at home. They played great on the road,” Derek Jeter exclaimed. “But this Texas Rangers team plays better at home. I mean, it’s just a whole other level for them. So, look, just because they’re down two games, it’s not over. Sure. You know, we’ve lost a series being up 3-0. I don’t want to bring it back up, but we’ve lost a series up three.” Jeter said, knowing what was coming next. “You did?” Ortiz interjected. “We did. We did. But my point is everyone in the Texas Rangers clubhouse knows this series is not over.”
I was very curious to see how a player of his status, would do interviewing a ‘player of the game’. After Game 2 of the ALCS, the panel took turns asking questions of the winning pitcher for the Rangers Nathan Eovaldi.
Derek Jeter: You know we we’ve been talking a lot on this set about managers in this series. Boch and Dusty have the ability to go with their gut and manage with their eyes. How much do you appreciate this day and age Boch leaving you out there to get out of that jam?
Eovaldi: Yeah, I mean I can’t thank him enough for that opportunity. You know it’s one of those situations where you know it’s like okay cool like he’s leading me in here like you got to get the job done. Fortunately, I was able to do that today. But again, Boch has been amazing. He’s got that old-school mentality. And Mike’s been the same way of the game planning and everything and preparing us for those big moments. And I was just extremely thankful to be able to get out of that.
Rather than getting into the weeds of how the game has changed since Jeter played, he brought it back to the managers. Both have over 2,000 wins and are considered ‘old school’, but I thought the question was along the lines of how unique the situation is in today’s game. It is well known that Jeter isn’t into all the analytics of today’s game. The question was along the lines of ‘the way the game was when I played’, without really having to say it. I liked the perspective of the question and it invoked a great answer as well.
Jeter seems to be allowing some of his, dry, for lack of a better word, sense of humor to poke through from time to time as well.
During an ALDS Game 3 postgame interview on FS1, following the Astros 9-1 win over the Twins last week, Jeter asked Alex Bregman how the team stays so “relaxed?” The third baseman said that Houston’s players, for the most part, “grew up” watching Jeter’s Yankees make their way through the playoffs. To which Derek Jeter replied. “He [Bregman] was very ‘kind’ calling us old, saying he grew up watching us,” Jeter said sarcastically. “You were watching us in college.” Good stuff.
Not surprising to anyone, but Jeter’s work ethic is pretty obvious too. Even after his playing days and ownership days were done, he paid a lot of attention to the game. He knows the teams and players.
I’m enjoying what I’m seeing out of Jeter here in this postseason. I think he was an excellent addition to the FOX Sports crew, with great name recognition, and instant respect and there’s a quality to his commentary. When Derek Jeter speaks, I’m anxious to listen and hear what he has to say. He provides something different than his two teammates at the desk. Jeter deals in specifics and can break down a situation well. Jeter’s commentary and analysis of the playoffs aren’t the generic stuff that some have resorted to using. He’s the Captain, not Captain Obvious.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
