12-24-2019, 08:58 AM
TAMPA, Fla. -- Derek Jeter pulled into the parking lot of the New York Yankees minor league complex on Thursday, walked out of his grey Mercedes-Benz and waved a hand holding a bottle of mineral water as about 50 fans applauded his mere arrival. After taking batting practice in an indoor cage and throwing on a field, he drove out of the parking lot about 90 minutes later -- the car cleaned and polished, its silver hub caps shining. He stopped and rolled down the drivers side window to sign photographs, baseballs and other memorabilia for the first dozen people or so who had waited in line. Already the most adored player on the baseball team with the highest profile, the New York Yankees captain figures to be the recipient of an ever-heightened level of adulation during the next 7 1/2 months as he circumnavigates the major leagues in a farewell tour that could be called Pinstriped Parting 2 following Mariano Riveras emotional exit last year. Asked whether he felt good about the decision he announced Wednesday, Jeter responded: "I do." But he didnt want to get into an extended discussion. Jeter will hold a news conference at Steinbrenner Field next Wednesday, the reporting day for the teams position players. "Ill address it when we get over there the first day of spring. Its easier that way," he said. Jeter took the Yankees by surprise with his Wednesday morning telephone call to owner Hal Steinbrenner, and his Facebook announcement later in the day jolted fans accustomed for nearly two decades to the constants of his hot hitting and cool demeanour. Speculation began about a suitable replacement: Hanley Ramirez, Asdrubal Cabrera and J.J. Hardy are among the players eligible for free agency after the season. "I wish hed have quit in 05," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said, laughing, remembering Jeters many performances against his Boston Red Sox. "If youre a baseball fan, he is the walking example of whats good in baseball. You respect him so much, and yet you want him to have as little to do with the outcome of the game if youre his opponent -- and thats probably the biggest compliment you can give him. Hes going to find a way to beat you whether its on the bases, on defence or at the plate. "And again, because I was in that division, I saw it too much," Francona went on. "He ranks right up there with the most respected players. Im glad hes walking away on his own terms. Well probably get to see him seven, eight times. I hope he goes 0 for 28 and we give him a nice plaque or something, but I dont see that really happening." By Wednesday night the Yankees had sent out an email with links to Jeter gear and ticket information. They announced Thursday that general individual ticket sales will start Feb. 24 -- up from March 5 last year. Stubhubs lowest price for the Yankees regular-season home finale on Sept. 25 was $307.50 for a single upper-deck seat and its highest was a fanciful $66,432.90 for a pair in the bleachers. Asking amounts for game No. 162 at Boston three days later were similarly inflated. Mariano Riveras farewell season turned into a marketing opportunity, Already Steiner Sports is selling Jeter game-used equipment that includes jerseys ($15,000 and up), cleats ($1,049.99 and up), batting gloves ($599.99 and up) and even a sock ($525). "This was all sudden. Well sit with Derek and Casey and his people and come up with a plan," Yankees President Randy Levine said, referring to Jeters agent, Casey Close. Jeter had no desire to switch positions or change teams. He wanted to be a member of the Yankees and a shortstop, and nothing else. He was limited to 17 games last season after breaking an ankle in the 2012 playoffs, and he turns 40 in June. He could join Luis Aparicio and Ozzie Smith as the only one-position players with 2,500 or more major league games, according to STATS. If he is able to regain his place on a regular basis, he would be a superannuated shortstop. Only Honus Wagner (1914, 15), Luke Appling (47, 49) and Omar Vizquel (2007) have appeared in 100 or more games at the position in the year they turned 40 or later. "With the captain, its an experience Im going to tell all my kids and the people that I know," Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli said, "because I think hes the greatest player Ive ever seen in my life." NOTES: Masahiro Tanaka also was at the complex, wearing a Yankees T-shirt and shorts, and threw a bullpen session of about two dozen pitches. Jeter joked about having to learn more Japanese to communicate with Tanaka. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Tanaka threw two- and four-seam fastballs, splitters and sliders. "It was good. Hes still trying to catch up I think with the time change and everything. Just trying to ease him into things," he said. "Were going to go slow with it." ... The Yankees will play exhibition games against the Miami Marlins in Panama City on March 15-16 to honour Rivera, the first visit of Major League Baseball to the Central American nation since 1947. AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Goodyear, Ariz., contributed to this report. China Jerseys Reviews . Never caused problems. Never raised a ruckus. Never got sick or hurt while frolicking in the fields of Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky. China Jerseys Online . They say things like "stress is when you dont know what youre doing" and "I wasnt hired to motivate players, I was hired to coach motivated players." They ring as true now as they did when Mularkey heard them the first time playing tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame coach 25 years ago. http://www.chinajerseyspaypal.com/.Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. China Jerseys NFL Authentic . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. China Made Jerseys . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St.WOODBRIDGE, N.J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. The 38-year-old right-hander didnt pitch after June 1 in 2012 because of a strained right shoulder. His spleen was removed in January 2013 after he was injured when he fell in the snow at his home in Vermont. Pavano had been hoping to return to the major leagues this year. "Despite my strong desire to compete and hard work in preparing for the upcoming season, I feel that the amount of time lost from my spleen injury, coupled with the recovery from my complications from that injury, preclude me from continuing to compete at my highest level, which is necessary to perform in the major leagues," Pavano said in a statement released Wednesday by his agent, David Pepe. "I have achieved many things as a major league pitcher of which I am very proud. However, I feel at this time, I am simply not able to continue to pitch at the major league level, and these last three months of rigorous training have failed to produce the results that I was looking for to allow me to continue my major league career.dddddddddddd" Pavano, an All-Star in 2004, was 108-107 with a 4.39 ERA for Montreal (1998-02), Florida 2002-04), the New York Yankees (2005, 2007-08), Cleveland (2009) and Minnesota (2009-12). He was an All-Star in 2004, going 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA and earning a $39.95 million, four-year contract with the Yankees. Injuries limited Pavano to 26 starts, 145 2-3 innings and a 9-8 record during his Yankees contract. He rebounded after leaving New York and went 17-11 for the Twins in 2010, when he tied for the AL lead in complete games with seven. "It has been an honour and a privilege to have been a major league baseball player, and the gratitude I have for being able to do that is profound and beyond any expression I can make in words," he said. ' ' '