Bob Lobel: An Open Letter to Derek Jeter

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Bob Lobel, GoLocalWorcester Sports Contributor

Bob Lobel, GoLocalWorcester Sports Contributor

To: Derek Jeter
       Yankee Stadium
       Bronx, N.Y.

Dear Jetes,

Speaking for a lot of Red Sox fans such as myself, I want to congratulate you on another fine season. It goes without saying that would include your team as long as you were playing for it. However, since you are no longer in uniform due to your unfortunate injury, I could care less about their fortunes.

In fact, the sooner they are out, the better for all of us.

I would not say that if you or Mariano were in the lineup. Mariano and yourself, if I can use first names, are the last of the class. I mean that in more than one way, like class as in classy, and class as in seniors. It was easy to chant “Yankees suck” when it really wasn’t true.

It was having you on the field that made it an empty jeer. (J as in Jeter) You were their captain, their leader and their leadoff man, and they lost all three at once. Mariano won me over on opening day of the 2005 season when, during the awarding of the world series rings to the Red Sox, he was on the to step and waiving to the crowd with a smile because they cheered him.

Of course, they cheered him since he was the losing pitcher in the Dave Roberts steal of second game. The Yankees didn’t really suck that day. They all were on the top step watching the ceremony they probably thought should have been held in the Bronx, had baseball history not been made by the Red Sox.

Obviously, he was never a factor this year, including this particular postseason, which I must say has been very annoying. Forget the fact that it was a hopeless chase for our local nine, but we couldn’t even enjoy the glory that was Baltimore.

You must admit that was a magical story, with our old GM, Dan Duquette, finally getting his due in this town for 2004. We spend a lot of time living in the past, but, let me make this observation. Since when does a 40-year old journeyman, who has played for dreadful teams like Kansas City, Seattle twice and a choking Phillies team, hit late inning home runs past his bedtime, let alone past his prime?

Huh?

What’s wrong with this picture? Am I the only suspicious one around? Spare me the poor sport crap and all that. This is baseball in 2012. We suspect everyone that doesn’t play in our town and we excuse everyone that does.

Raul “bleeping” Ibanez! Give me a break.

MLB testing should have greeted him at every base. Perhaps he should get a tongue swap at first, give a urine sample when he touched second, we’ll take the blood at third and have the results by the time he touched home.

It’s no longer innocent until proven guilty, that’s for the feds. It’s guilty until proven innocent. Don’t like it? Call the AARP.

But Jeets, I don’t want to get into any more sour grapes. What do you say we try to make it like the good old days? Like it used to be! Get healthy, get back, let A Rod do all the aging, and lets make this a pennant race like old times.

Next time I hear that infamous chant about the Yankees, I don’t want it to be about you. Actually, it never, ever was.


                                     Always an admirer , not really a fan,
                                                                    Bob

Speaking of letters, Bob wants to hear from you. If you have a question for the legendary broadcaster, send it to [email protected]. Or, reach out to Bob himself on twitter at his handle @boblobel, or tweet your questions to Sports Editor Joe Parello at his handle @HerewegoJoe. Then, check back every Wednesday to the sports channel to see if Bob answers your question.