watching the way Mantle went out in his final season? All year long when Jeter was a consistent 270+ hitter all I kept thinking was, "At least he's not going out like Mantle" who finished his last season hitting a lowly 237. But as this slump of Jeter's continues (now 0-24) he very well could be right around the same average. Not the way I wanted to see him finish out.
I mentioned in my other thread that he's getting simple outmatched at this point. Part of it is that his age has caught up to him and he's not as quick with the bat. I also think part of him has checked out of the game.
Time to emulate the Iron Horse and take himself out of the lineup? I think maybe he doesn't play the last 3 games in Bahstan.
No, he's about the only thing the Yankee fans have left to cheer for. I'm still hoping he's got a few more hits left in him.
Given the quality of pitching and general lack of hitting in the 1968 season Mantle at .237 was only 13 points lower than Reggie Jackson who was number 25 at .250. Yastremski won the batting title at .301, and the Mick did get 18 bombs. Jeter is slumping badly, but you know he wants to be in there , he can remove himself from the lineup and Ryan would be better defensively but would suck at the dish. The people are paying to see him play, money talks, bullshit walks. What I would like to see is the Yankees go into Tropicana, sweep the Rays, with the crowd shouting Jeters name and watching Maddon sniffle about it.
Mantles final years cost him his .300 career BA .....a number he really wanted to maintain. Mentioned it a couple of times. In fact, his FINAL season cost him the lifetime .300 BA., would've finished at .302 if he quit a year earlier. yeesh He looked horrible in his final couple of seasons. He ran like Walter Brennan walked in The Real McCoys. I just wonder...haven't done the math- If Jeter goes into a total freefall in these final games...how much lower can/will his (over.300) lifetime BA dip?
I once heard Mickey Mantle state that in all World Series in which he participated felt that each Yankees series win or loss was deserved. The one exception was the '60 World Series with the Yankees having a huge run differential but ended up losing game 7 by one God Damn Run. I would imagine he may have felt the same way about .300 lifetime but shit happens. Still can't take nothing away from him. Mantle was number 7 on the field but in my time as a fan he's number one. In the case of Jeter they will let the boy boogie woogie till the end. The only thing we had to cheer for last year was Mo and Andy, this year it's Jeter.
Still got my "Day to Remember" buttons, and program book, which accompanied the button, for every Fan in Attendance.... Only a couple weeks left-and- Regardless of his light hitting, not driving the ball, like he used to....its still an Honor to Watch Jeter, Our Captain, and recall better years. Gotta' hand it to Derek, he didn't win 5 World Series Rings by sitting on his hands.... Mick was utterly painful to watch Run. As a kid watching Mick was a big question, why, how did those legs get so bad, tho' we all knew why and how. Now as an old Man, I can't run any better than Mick, and I know now exactly how he must of felt on the ball field.
_______________________________________ Mantle had this special "thing" about him..even in his final years. I think His record 18 career WS homers will never be broken- and he hit them at a better AB Ratio than his career HR numbers. His fabulous Triple Crown, for BOTH leagues, which is still the last time it's been done. His excellent speed when he was younger...these are the things which really tell what kind of player Mantle was when he was at the top of his game.
Mantle was "magic". In my youthful eyes, he could do no wrong. He could do it all. Beat out bunts, sped from first to third, hit mammoth HRs, raced to make outs in the old Yankee Stadium centerfield. Threw out baserunners with his powerful arm. He knew the basics of hitting and of defense. He was serious about playing the game, but most of all.....he had fun doing it. And I had fun watching him do his thing. Yankees have never struck gold as they did when an Oklahoma scout (forget his name) signed The Mick.
Hell if you remember Mantle when he had speed you've got to be old, hell I don't even remember that & I'm 60