Pride of the Yankees
Incite Magazine, May 2000 (Thanks to Jessi for typing this up)
DEREK JETER PROFILE:
Position: Shortstop
Team: NY Yankees
Nickname: D.J., Jete
Fav. Movie: Seven
Fav. Baseball Movie: Major League
Worst Baseball Movie: Major League 2
Fav. CD: Notorious B.I.G.'S Born again
Find out more: www.yankees.com
Now Appearing: All-Star Baseball 2001
Derek Jeter used to dream about being a Yankee. Today he is their starshortstop, best hitter, and most saught- after bachelor. Jon Robinson satdown with future Hall of Famer to find out about his favorite players and whythe damn Yankees are just so damn good in All-Star Baseball 2001.
Were you a baseball fan growing up?
Oh yeah, I was always a big fan and a big fan of the Yankees. I was born in NJ, but I grew up in Michigan, so my dad really like the Detroit Tigers when I was a kid. I never liked the Tigers, though, because you can't like thesame team as your dad. You need something to argue about. Besides, having a debate about baseball with your dad can be fun.
Since you were a Yankee fan growing up, how did it feel when you first put on the pinstries, ran out onto the field, and played your first game as a New York Yankee?
Actually we were on the road when I first got called up to the majors. we were playing a series in Seattle against the Mariners, so it was good for me because I was able to to play a couple of games and get my first hit out of the way before I had to play in Yankee Stadium. Everything just seemd so enormous the first time I ran out onto the field. It was weird.
All of the Yankee players who have worn the single-digit numbers, such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio, are such legends. Were you intimidated at all to be given number 2 ?
They just gave me #2, and I never thought about its signifigance until someone brought it up to me later. I just took it because it was the smallest jersey I could find. My dad played as #13 in college, so growing up I was always #13. But when I got called up, Jim Leyritz had 13, so they gave me 2.
As you know, All-Star Baseball 2001 lets you play as a team of Cooperstown legends. We were wondering what old timers you admired watching when you were learning the game?
Jackie Robinson, obviously. My favorite old timers though, still aren't that old, because when I was growing up the players I admired were Dave Winfield, Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith. I'm also a huge fan of Barry Larkin because he went to school in Michigan where I grew up. Those are the guys I followed and, in some cases, continue to follow today.
Do you think you play like any of the baseball legends you saw play growing up?
I don't think so. I really don't try to emulate anyone: I just like to go out and play the game.
All-Star Baseball also lets you play the role of a George Steinbrenner and draft a team from scratch. Who would you draft?
I'd probably take the shortstops first. I'd draft three: Alex Rodriguez, Nomar Garciaparra, and myself if I had the chance. But it all depends on who else is available, who I have in my farm system, and wht my payroll is. I don't think any team can afford all 3 of us, though, but that's what makes the video game & the whole fantasy element to the draft so fun. You can put your favorite players all on 1 team, and that's exactly what I would do with my squad.
After taking the shortstops, I'd move on to 1st base, but I'm biased, so I'd take my man Tino Martinez. Then I'd just go around the horn and take the Yankee team I have right now in real life. I'd grab Chuck Knoblauch, then I'd pursue Scott Brosius and Bernie Williams, and I wouldn't stop drafting Yankees until my squad was complete. I wouldn't change a thing on my team, especially now that we got Rock (Tim Raines) back. He's my favorite teammate of all time. For 3 years I've never seen him in a bad mood. He's just one of those guys you see him laughing, and you start laughing. You don't even have to know what he's talking about. He's just a great guy to have on the team.
Did you influence the scouting reports of All-Star Baseball?
Last year I did all of the pitching scouting reports. I went over all of the pitchers that I knew, all of the intricacies of their stats, their stamina, their arms, all of their strengths and weaknesses.... Acclaim put me to work. But that's okay because now when I play the game, I'm pretty good because I know in detail how every pitcher works the count, and I know exactly who I can take deep at any time.
Did you bump-up any Yankee pitchers stats?
Oh yeah, and those guys made me look good by what they accomplished last season. So I bumped them up, of course, because I want the Yankees to have a stacked team.
In terms of realism, do you think a video game can ever match exactly what occurs on the field?
I think th new All-Star Baseball is about as close to what we do on the field as you can get. You look at the graphics, right down to all of the authentic player stances and pitcher deliveries, and it looks like you're actually watching a real game on TV, but you're controlling the action. It's amazing. Then, by incorporating all of my scouting reports and giving each pitcher the exact pitches he throws and how he throws them.... This is about as real as it gets.
Is there anything about baseball that a video game can't capture?
Probably the atmosphere, in terms of the fans yelling and screaming and really getting into the excitement of the game. It's a big part of baseball, but I've never seen it accurately represented in a video game. They need a game that has all of the bleacher creatures in Yankee stadium. These are some of the most fun fans because they will chant your name in the top of the first inning until you turn around and wave to them. I like the bleacher creatures because they're so into the game & they're not afraid to get rowdy.
Do you think there should be bench clearing brawls in video games?
That's an unfortunate part of baseball, but I'm sure somebody will add the fighting into a game soon.
If you could take any one quality from any other player in the majors, what would you take?
McGwire's power. I'm not a home run hitter, but it would be nice to feel his power in some of my swings and maybe hit 70 homers myself someday.
Do you have a lucky bat that you like to use in games, or do you just grab whatever bat happens to be in the racks?
Bats break too much, so you could never use 1 for the whole year. So, when I find a bat I lkie, I just ride it until it breaks. On a good streak, I go through about 1 bat every 2 weeks.
How many gloves do you tend to use throughout an entire season?
I use one glove for games and 1 for practice.
Who do you think is the best shortstop in baseball today?
There are so many great shortstops right now, I don't know how I can narrow it down to just one. Especially because different players excel at different aspects of the game. So, I don't think I can pick just 1.
Do you think this is the greatest era for shortstops in the history of baseball?
That's what people are building it up to be. But to be honest with you, people want to talk about myself, Alex and Nomar, but we've only been in the league 4 or 5 years. You have to stick around for awhile before you build it up to be the greatest era ever.
The talent's definitely there, but the longevity is what will determine how great we truly are. And there are some guys I didn't even mention, like Rey Ordonez, Omar Vizquel, and Edgar Renteria. There are just so many talented shortstops right now, but again, only time will tell if collectively we can be the greatest ever.
Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. Do you have any superstitions on the field?
None at all. Everyone has a specific routine they go through before a game to prepare themselves, but I'm not superstitious about any of it. I don't need to spin sideways over the foul line or anything like that. I just run through my different drills, like batting practice and fielding, then I usually pop in a CD and listen to some hip-hop to get myself ready to play.
Back when you were a rookie, did you fall victim to any pranks?
I don't know how it happened, but I escaped all of the pranks. They pretty much just left me alone. Tim Raines has got to be the biggest prankster on the team right now, though. Everything Tim does is funny; you just have to know him.
Getting away from baseball for a second, everyone knows you used to date Mariah Carey. Was it difficult for 2 celebrities like yourselves to get together?
Mariah's just at a whole other level when it comes to superstars. She's recognized all over the world in an instant, and unfortunately, the media made up a lot of different things about our relationship. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to her in a while, but we're still friends. She's just a really good person.
Getting back to baseball, what's the best thing about being a NY Yankee?
Probably all of the tradition that comes with it. You have access to a lot of the old players for advice, plus we're given the opportunity to compete for the championship every year.
Do you think that any other team can beat the Yankees in 2000?
I hope not. I mean, anyone is capable of winning a series; the tough part is just getting to the playoffs. 162 games can be grueling, but I think the best teams do end up making the post-season. The key is for your team to get hot at the end of the regular season and ride that momentum throughout the playoffs. We won the World Series the last two years, but don't look for us to become complacent. The Yankees aren't done winning championships....not by a long ways.
THREE STRIKES WITH DEREK JETER:
Did you ever wait in line for anyone's autograph?
I was never a big autograph seeker. I got Dave Winfield's autograph, that's it. I was always a huge Winfield fan, so I went to see him at Tiger Stadium, but he's the only guy I ever asked for an autograph.
When you were doing the scouting reports for All Star Baseball, who did you say was the toughest pitcher you have to face in real life?
I don't want to tell you that, because I don't want word to leak out and give that pitcher the edge. But when it comes down to who has the nastiest stuff, Pedro Martinez is the obvious choice.
What would happen if John Rocker gets traded to the Yankees?
That will never happen, John Rocker will never be a Yankee.