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April 6, 2026
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New York Minute
If only I liked Oysters. There are a few places that held a certain mystery for me as a kid and the Oyster Bar is one of them. My parents talked about it with reverence. I’ve actually been once as an adult–I had a drink there with a friend a few years ago–but still haven’t had the Oysters.
[Photo via NYC Nostalgia]
Our Great Yankee
The most memorable part of the final weekend of Derek Jeter’s career wasn’t the 2 hits he collected, the tasteful tribute on Sunday by the Red Sox, or the many ovations he received. It was the sense of relief that enveloped him. For most of his career, Jeter has rarely displayed emotion when talking with the press. Occasionally, he’s been sharp, other times, kidding. But usually, he’s deadpan and emotionless by design. But ever since his final game at Yankee Stadium last Thursday, Jeter showed a vulnerability and tenderness, that made him more accessible than ever before. His famous monotone gave way to something softer, both less sure and more intimate.
And for the first time, he looked unsure of himself at times on the field.
“I’m happy, man,” he told reporters after the last game of his career on Sunday in Boston, in which he went 1-2 with an RBI. “Because it’s hard. It’s a lot of stress, too. Like I said the other day, you try to play it cool, but out in the field with the bases loaded, one out, you’ve got Manny Ramirez at the plate, it’s not a comfortable feeling at times. When you’re facing Pedro (Martinez), trying to get a hit, it’s not a comfortable feeling.
“I remember running into Shawon Dunston a few years ago in San Francisco, and I had never met Shawon Dunston. I saw him on the street; me and Jorge were going to lunch and ran into him. I said, ‘How are you doing?’ He said, ‘I’m stress-free. I don’t have to worry about hitting any sliders anymore.’ So I’m looking forward to it. I gave it everything I had physically, and I gave it everything I had mentally during my time. Now it’s time to step back and, like I said, let someone else play.”
Jeter sat out Friday night’s game but played on Saturday, striking out and reaching on an infield single. He took himself out of the game and sat on the bench for the rest of the afternoon, smiling, laughing his teammates. Since the Yankees and Red Sox were both out of playoff contention, the gamed had a surreal, spring training feel. Then, yesterday, he lined out to short in his first at bat then reached on a Baltimore chop the next time up. The final at bat of his career. He watched the rest of the game from the dugout, and again, seemed relieved.
“I said I was going to play, so that’s why I played,” Jeter said later. “There are a lot of fans that told me that they came a long way to see these last games, so I felt it was right to play here. But don’t think I didn’t think about that, I thought about it. People say, maybe New York was your last game because you want to remember that as the way your career ended. But you can’t take that memory away. I don’t care if I played for another three weeks, that memory is going to be there and it’s never going to go anywhere. I played out of respect for this rivalry and the fans here.”
Jeter’s finale seemed interminable at times but in the end–the classic finish at Yankee Stadium, the relaxed, earnest sendoff in Boston–he delivered one last time and was afforded the chance to take it all in. He showed more of himself than ever before and went out on a high note.
Also, we’ve likely seen the end of Ichio! and our man Hiroki Kuroda. They’ve been fun to watch, and Kuroda, especially, has been a favorite. Man, could be all she wrote for David Robertson too and boy, he’s been a good Yankee. Don’t forget our boy Cervelli, either. Lousy as the season was in some ways, it could have been worse and there were pleasures to be had: Port Jervis, Zelous and Zoilo. How about the bullpen, especially Dellin Betances!
This has been the 12th season we’ve covered the Yankees here on the Banter. The coverage is less intense than it was 5, 10 years ago because I’ve got other interests and besides, now there are so many other wonderful Yankee blogs out there. But I still love watching the team and rooting them on and am humbled to have you guys stop by and hang with us.
The season might be over for the Yanks but this ain’t football–we do this everyday. We’ll be here–served fresh daily!–for the playoffs and beyond.
Thanks for coming through. I really appreciate it.
[Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images]
And Now, The End is Here
The Yanks got pounded yesterday to the tune of 10-4. Today gives their last game of the season.
One last time to say goodbye to our pal Jeter.
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Derek Jeter DH
Brett Gardner CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Chase Headley 3B
Stephen Drew SS
Francisco Cervelli C
Chris Young LF
Jose Pirela 2B
Never mind the DVR:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: AP via Chad Jennings]
Anybody Home?
Captain Jeter sits tonight.
Dig this lineup:
Jose Pirela 2B
Eury Perez CF
Francisco Cervelli 1B
Chris Young LF
John Ryan Murphy C
Austin Romine DH
Brendan Ryan SS
Zelous Wheeler 3B
Antoan Richardson RF
Never mind tomorrow:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Photo Credit: Sophie Barbasch via MPD]
S’long Old Chum
Derek Jeter plays his last game in the Bronx tonight. It’s the first home game he’s ever played when the Yankees were out of playoff contention.
It’s been raining all day but word is they’ll still play. Our man Hiroki’s on the hill.
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Brian McCann C
Mark Teixeira 1B
Chase Headley 3B
Chris Young LF
Stephen Drew 2B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jose Pirela DH
Never mind the Kleenex:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
Picture by Bags.
Don’t You Worry
The Yankees’ feeble October dreams were dashed for good yesterday. El Cappy went hitless for the first time on the homestand.
Today gives rain–all day and into the night. I’m sure they’ll everything they can to at least start it. Give Jeter just one at bat. Imagine if yesterday was it, though? Last at bat a ground out to first? Wouldn’t be the worst way to go, quick and painless and without too much ado.
Picture by Bags.
Couple Few
The Yanks and O’s play a matinee this afternoon in the Bronx.
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter DH
Chase Headley 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Francisco Cervelli C
Stephen Drew 2B
Chris Young LF
Antoan Richardson RF
Brendan Ryan SS
Never mind Father Time:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Picture by Bags]
Magic Denied
Brandon McCarthy had a rare crappy outing and Derek Jeter had but one lousy infield hit. Still, there was the Captain in the bottom of the 9th inning, tying run on first.
One last moment? We wuz cheering. But it wasn’t to be. He struck out and the Yanks lost, 5-4.
Picture by Bags.
Going, Going…
Three home games left for DJ.
Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Brian McCann C
Chase Headley 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Chris Young LF
Stephen Drew 2B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jose Pirela DH
Never mind the sunset:
Let’s Go Yan-kees!
Picture by Bags.
Once Last Time Around the Ball Park
We’ve payed special attention to Derek Jeter all season, taken the time to appreciate every last hit, stolen base or nice play in the field. The hits are gratifying, of course, but I think the moments that have provided the deepest satisfaction is when Jeter’s fouled off a two-strike pitch to keep an at bat alive. He did it again yesterday in his third at bat. He was 0-2 at that point with an RBI. Second pitch he rips foul down the left field line. Would have been a 2-RBI double. So what happens? Jeter works the count full, fouls off another pitch and then hits a 2 RBI double to left. Again, to left. I’m not sure if he’s cheating or if he’s slightly changed his approach but a majority of Jeter’s hits on this homestand have been to left.
Michael Pineda was fantastic, the Yanks won 5-0, and Jeter gave us reason to cheer.
The man does rise to the occasion, doesn’t he?
[Picture by Bags]
Afternoon Art
Picture by Graham Hamby via MPD.
All in the Family
There have been many constants in Derek Jeter’s career—hits, runs, rings, endorsements, and beautiful girlfriends—none more endearing than the site of his family watching him from the stands. They are the modern family—his father Charles is African American, his mother Dorothy is Irish and German. Fifty years ago Jeter’s blackness would have been an issue; today, in the age of Obama, race has never been an issue for Jeter—it’s as if he’s beyond race. They are often joined by Jeter’s younger sister, Sharlee, her two-year old son, Jalen, now in tow. Sometimes there’s an aunt or a girlfriend.
They are still here at the end, rooting harder than ever—suffering with every near miss—as if he were a rookie or a kid playing an American Legion game on a cold rainy spring morning. When Jeter makes an out, their suffering seems worse because the inescapable truth is that his time is short. Including yesterday’s 5-2 win over the Blue Jays in which Jeter had 2 hits for the 4th straight game, he has—what, 20-25 at bats left at Yankee Stadium? Each at bat is precious and if Jeter has retained his usual stoic countenance you can see the desperation in his parents’ reactions.
A few weeks ago, when he was in the middle of a slump, Jeter hit a ball to deep left center field against the Rays. It was his third at bat of the game (0-2: groundout, flyout, both weak) and he hadn’t turned on a pitch in what seemed liked forever. He hit it hard enough for the crowd to react but not well enough to go over the outfielders head. The ball was caught at the warning track.
The TV replay showed Charles Jeter in his seat watching the flight of the ball. Next to him, Dorothy sat up straight and said “Oh” when the ball was struck. As the watched it she said, “Please go, please go, please go.” She paused a beat and said it one last time. She jerked back into her seat when the ball was caught, clasped her hands behind her head and leaned back. Charles Jeter smiled and looked down, almost sheepish as if it was greedy to expect more.
On Friday night, Jeter sent another fly ball to the warning track in left field. He’d already gotten 2 hits in the game and there was hope that he had one last flourish left in him during his final home stand. Jeter’s dad stood up when his son hit the ball. Dorothy gasped and put her hands on her cheek, eyes were wide with concern. Her sister was next to her leaning forward, hands pressed together in prayer. Dorothy covered her eyes when the ball was caught. She fell back into her seat. Oh, a mother’s agony.
Charles Jeter smiled and sat down. Their son has given them more thrills than they ever could have ever dreamed of and you can’t blame them for wanting more.
The $64,000 question around the Yankees is will Jeter cry before the season is over? Chances are he won’t, but if he does, I suspect it will be in his parents’ arms.
Tanaka Time
If the Yanks play and lose does it matter so long as Jeets gets his two hits? Well, they played and lost yesterday but Jeter got 2 hits so you tell me.
Five home games left for the Captain. That’s what–20-25 at bats?
Tanaka’s back:
Let’s Go Yankees!
Picture by Bags.
"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver
--Earl Weaver