Shortly after Houston punched its ticket to the ALCS Wednesday night, Derek Jeter was on FS1 delivering a declaration.
“It’s Dusty [Baker] against [Bruce] Bochy,” Jeter said. “This is a win for old school baseball.”
Jeter’s statement warmed the hearts of a segment of Fox’s baseball audience who are not sold on the paint by numbers approach of some managers. Especially those practitioners who don’t have nearly the longevity of a Baker, 74, the Astros skipper, or Bochy, 68, who brings Texas into ALCS Game 1 on Sunday night for the first time since 2011.
This isn’t the first time Jeter, who ran the Marlins before signing on with Fox, launching another chapter of his post-playing career (the network introduced him during their Super Bowl pregame), has questioned the use of analytics during the postseason. In an interview on “Flippin’ Bats,” Jeter left no question where he stands.
“It’s too much [analytics]. It’s too much,” Jeter told host Ben Verlander. “As Mr. [Joe] Torre has always said: ‘Players have heart beats. There’s no analytical formula for heart beats.’”
Clear. Concise. Jeter gets in and out. And there’s no wondering where he stands on the subject. Somewhat surprising for those of us who characterized him as vanilla during his playing days. Those of us who believed he would tilt toward the speak-no-evil approach on TV.
Now, it’s not like the steady rocking Derek Jeter has suddenly morphed into the unpredictable Mr. Controversy, or an analyst looking to make headlines or generate millions of clicks with his opinions. What Jeter is doing is being himself while revealing more of himself. Like his dry sense of humor.
During an ALDS Game 3 postgame interview on FS1, following the Astros 9-1 win over Minny Tuesday night, Jeter asked Alex Bregman how the team stays so “relaxed?” The third baseman answered, in part, that Houston’s players “grew up” watching the Yankees navigate through the playoffs. Bregman went on to say Jeter’s question was “fantastic.”
“He [Bregman] was very ‘kind’ calling us old, saying he grew up watching us,” Jeter said sarcastically. “You were watching us in college.”
Jeter’s work ethic is apparent too. Before he hit the screen in the baseball studio, Jeter agreed to interview Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on Fox’s NFL Sunday. The entertaining one-on-one, showed a different side of both men. It also indicated Jeter’s job at Fox is not ceremonial in nature.
Due to the distinct personalities on the baseball panel, smoothly anchored by Kevin Burkhardt, the seeds of chemistry are already planted. Jeter’s persona doesn’t clash with either David (Big Papi) Ortiz, who is regularly boisterous while going for laughs, or Alex Rodriguez, whose wide variety of analysis appears to be designed to convince the unwashed masses he actually invented baseball.
Nonetheless, considering his history with Jeter, A-Rod’s presence on the set, leaves the door open for perceived conflict. And just the possibility of some controversial moments is not bad for attracting eyeballs to the studio show, either.
Still, with the Captain on board, even if it’s in front of a camera, expect things to remain cool. Just as always.
ALL GAS, NO BRAKES
The next time a WFAN Gasbag is held accountable for something he or she says will be the first.
For example, take afternoon-drive mouth Evan Roberts. When a report recently surfaced that MLB is investigating the Mets for improper use of the IL, Roberts stated, as fact, that this investigation was launched at the behest of other MLB owners who “were out to get” Mets boss Steve Cohen.
Roberts was adamant, but he had not one concrete FACT to confirm his claim. Even after multiple sourced stories said Cohen was “not a target,” Roberts was reluctant to deep-six what really was just an opinion based on his own belief.
This was not surprising. This is the same guy who when Tampa Bay was on its way to a 13-game winning streak to begin the 2023 season, said the Rays had to be cheating. Again, Roberts couldn’t offer one concrete piece of evidence to support his “story.”
So why should anyone believe what comes out of his mouth?
NFL GROOVE
After a month of working together, the former players who comprise the “Inside the NFL” cast on CW11 (aka Ch.11) have found a groove.
Not easy for five voices who cherish their own opinion. But the cast (Host Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, Jay Cutler, Chad Johnson, Chris Long) has found a way to make it work, turning the new version of “Inside the NFL” into an entertaining product.
Kudos to Clark for adjusting quickly to the host role.
NEW SEASON, OLD DISPUTE
Some things never change, especially in the world of cable TV.
The Rangers opened their season on Wednesday and the Knicks open on Oct. 25, but subscribers to Comcast Xfinity in New Jersey and Connecticut still can’t access the Madison Square Garden Network. That also means no Devils, Islanders, or any other MSG programming.
The carriage dispute is entering its third year with no end in sight. Guess neither company feels enough pressure to make a deal or care enough about fans impacted by the blackout.
AROUND THE DIAL
Evidence already provided this season suggests Giants-Bills could be one of NBC’s Sunday Night Football’s lowest rated games. And without Daniel Jones, the sideline exchanges won’t be as spicy. Nonetheless, the network should have its Daboll Cam cranking. As the season appears to be slipping away, the coach could wind up being Mara Tech’s most entertaining component. … How long before the multi-talented Bad Tiki (Barber) replaces the Real Tiki on WFAN? Audacy, FAN’s parent company, is headed for bankruptcy and Bad Tiki works cheaper. … The most surprising byproduct of Alanna Rizzo’s MLBN, “High Heat,” rant about “reporters” in postseason clubhouses is it rendered her colleague Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo speechless. … Who better to relate to the trials and tribulations of Zach Wilson than Mark Sanchez? The former Jets QB will be in Fox’s Meadowlands booth for Sunday’s Eagles-Gang Green tilt. Sanchez has proven to be a straight-shooter who won’t be inclined to prop up Count Zachula. The righteous Kevin Kugler will be on the play-by-play.
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: SHANNON SHARPE
America’s Gasbag deserves credit. His seamless transition to ESPN’s “First Take” should not be taken for granted. Sharpe’s experience in navigating live TV has helped make him a star attraction. And he never shrinks when Stephen A. looms.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: MARIO CRISTOBAL
Yes, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. How a veteran head coach, at a program like Miami, makes a bonehead decision to not have his quarterback take a knee to ice the game, and then proceeds to lose with :02 left, is a Dweeb Hall of Fame move.
DOUBLE TALK
What Hal Steinbrenner said: “We’re trying to give them [the players] a better dining area [in the clubhouse].”
What Hal Steinbrenner meant to say: “We’re hearing a better dining area can improve exit velo.”
