For One Night, Position Clear On Great Debate
Boston Globe, July 12, 2000
By Dan Shaughnessy
ATLANTA - Derek Jeter vs. Nomar Garciaparra? In the 2000 All-Star Game, Jeter was The Man.
New York's shortstop went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and became the first Yankee to win the All-Star MVP Award as the American League defeated the Nationals, 6-3, last night. Garciaparra, meanwhile, went 1 for 2 and committed two errors in five innings at short.
''It means a lot,'' Jeter said when asked about the MVP award. ''With the shortstop position in the AL, you never know if you're going to get a chance to come to an All-Star Game, never mind start one. It's tough to win an MVP award. You never know how many at-bats you're going to get.''
Seattle's Alex Rodriguez was voted to start the game but suffered a concussion and could not play. This forced All-Star (Yankee) manager Joe Torre to select an alternate starter, and he went with his guy even though Garciaparra came into the break hitting a robust .389.
Jeter got hits off Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, and Al Leiter.
''I basically had the same game plan against everyone,'' said Jeter. ''I'm a free swinger. I think it's known around the league, maybe both leagues.''
It was Jeter's first All-Star start. A-Rod has started three times and Garciaparra narrowly won the fan vote for the Fenway game last summer. In two prior All-Star appearances, Jeter was 0 for 2, both strikeouts.
''I wanted to at least put the ball in play,'' said Jeter. ''But when you're facing three guys like that, you want to swing early in the count. If you fall behind, you're in trouble.''
Jeter doubled off Johnson in the first (''I was thinking about bunting, but Randy Johnson's not the guy to bunt off''), singled off Brown in the third, then delivered the key hit when he stroked a bases-loaded single to center off Leiter in the fourth.
''He threw me a cutter,'' said Jeter. ''He does it every time I face him. I try to lay off of it. I didn't hit it well, I just hit it in the right place. He's a tough pitcher. [Roberto] Alomar and I were talking about it after our at-bats. He throws the ball, it seems like it's going to go down the middle and it runs off your hands.''
Jeter was flawless in the field.
''You get butterflies before the game,'' he said. ''It's a situation where you have the best players in baseball here. You want to have fun, but you also want to do well. But the No. 1 priority I think is just to come out here and give the fans a good show.''
Torre said, ''I just saw Derek's parents and I know they are really proud. He's far beyond his years in terms of experience.''
Mike Bordick, Torre's third shortstop alternative for the game, appeared as a pinch hitter in the third and flied to center field. Garciaparra replaced Jeter in the fifth inning and made an error on a routine grounder behind Derek Lowe in the sixth inning. Garciaparra lined to left in his first at-bat, then hit a high-hop single over the third baseman in the American League's three-run ninth. It was Garciaparra's first All-Star hit in five official at-bats.
In the bottom of the ninth, Garciaparra overthrew first base while tossing on the run for his second error, but then started a 6-4-3 double play that ended the game. He is the first shortstop and seventh player overall to make two errors in an All-Star Game.
''Last year was pretty special for me, playing in front of the fans at Fenway and all,'' said Garciaparra. ''I know Chipper Jones must have felt great hitting a home run in front of his home fans tonight.''
In 1999, Jeter replaced Garciaparra for the start of the fourth inning. The ceremonial transfer made for a nice photo-op and Jeter continued the tribute by mimicking Garciaparra's home plate ritual. Then Jeter struck out. Last night, Jeter used his own routine and played his own game and it worked out considerably better.
''I didn't really get to talk to Derek,'' said Garciaparra. ''He was too busy getting a bunch of hits. But tonight I imitated him. I got a hit.''